The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-29

doubt many of our people viii not feel
free 10 exercise TINS choice X tnis
question mast go back mao every eiec-
tion mat rs heiu. lney feel so pro-
founa.y dat Inc puahc drinking pace
ought TO fe ABOLISHED. their moral
con. lotions on TINS matter are 80 deep
ana tneraaiIapie that they are gong
10 airport the men who share these
conslctions with them. They are So
ing TO make this the main test OF
his ntness for public position. My
own judgment is that this would be a
deplorapie state of things. ana / am
equally clear in the conviction that the
continued refusal of the Legislatu, :.
of Virginia TO give the people the right
to separate this question from ordi-
nary political issues and to settle II for
themselves, and by itself will precipi-
tate this condition throughout VIZ
sinie. | do not undertake, gentlemen.
to prescribe for you your liae Of duty
IL, however. ] were State Senator
at this juncture, ! should vote for
the enabling act for many reasons,
these which I have named would be
among them.
DIR. Wicker Comes Back.
Rev. J. J. Wicker. pastor OF the
Leigh-Street Baptist church. whose
attack upon the Chamber of COM
merce on Monday night created some
thing of a sensation. was the fourth
speaker to he heard. He, TOO, that
ne might steer clear Of utterances that
might atterward be regretted, had
also put his speech in black and
white. He said:
DR.. Wicker speaks.
Mr.. Chairman.-The question be-
hrll If r.
gtnia be. allowed to speak on one ct
the greatest ssues relating to her go
cial and moral, but not, as some as
sert, financial life. The Legislature Is
the only body In the State authorized
and empowered to answer this ques-
ton and grant to her citizens the use
OF the ballot In the settlement OF this
matter, and only a few more days
remain for this body to act.
. Democracy ts the rule by the ma
jority of the people Any who OPP
poses the ruls of the people on any
question whatsoever is un=AmurtCan
and has no right to citizenship in a
republic
II the enabling act passes 1t does
not follow that prohibition will sue
coed at the polls In this State. but 1t
does say that the people shall decide
the VueEllOu. anu, dS n Hldu II NC III
the genius OF his country and stand
ing for the will OF the majority of the
people / this republic, l say tonight
that II a. the polls the people decide
to continue the present condition, so
let II be.
Simply Hit a Situation.
At the last sitting OF this com n1lt-
tee / did not discuss any single indi-
vidual, nor make reference TO any
man. simply hit into a situation
and out popped some one and shout
ed he was hit The man who fired
into the situation was denounced a.
hypocrite.- But, Mr. Chairman. IL
Is known By all lawyers that when
one has no answer to the argumen,
of his opponent he must abuse and
villify the other side before the jury.
Tho thing l discussed was COM
munication that came from a body
OF men that ought to represent the
best business brains controlled b!
highest intellectual and moral ideals
In our civic life. without regard te
creed in politics and religion.
| This body came up with a petition
! invested with venerable dignity assert
ing that fhey were opposed to agi.
| tation on this, the greatest question
/ that confronts every individual ir
| every department of life and activity
The petition said: should the bill
! providing for the submission OF THU
| question to vote Of the people under
certain conditions be enacted into
| law. and should those conditions bt
l. complied with. a bitter and relentless
! campaign will distract the people o
1 Virginia to a degree that would b4
! most lamentable and disastrous Gen
tlcmen. agitation leads to education
on all public questions. The saloor
can only thrive through ignorance
I and | can only conclude that to pre-
fer TO remain silent Is to endorse thu
| present conditions of affairs. and l as
sert that a plea for the came by tn,
| Chamber of Commerce Of this city Il
| unworthy of that body.
The Financial Situation.
| The se.ona contention 10, the QueA
| ton OF toAation.
| Now. IL Ia NY. no means certain tina
| the taxes wni ue na..rsA iiy Increased
/ by pronioitIun. Inc saioon custs tn
I sla,e Iu.re Imam II pays back III ooi
( iAls anu cents. Shoulu promotion Oh
4 tain tne m.ney Invested IN me iAqdo
! business wnl 80 in,o cnannets OF NON
/ oiaLIe ana worthy unaer,akIng, an.
| The state will be none ,ne pooAer oe
/ cause she undertakes to give Oppor
! tunlty to her ti.,zeus tor oniy honor
! Awe employ ment. but the IhamUer q
| Commerce teas us tLat properly WA
/ be annlhiilated by STATEWIDE prom
! bition." and tHat many VINO sympa
J thize with Sucn properly hoiuers. ant
| people who are consclentiousiy OPP
| posed to an increase In the state TIA!
rate, when must inevitably result
! from tbs boss OF State Teseaue iron
I The liquor tratiic. Would be arrayet
| against the advocates OF this measure
| In a bitter campaign.
/ II l were to cCme up before tn,
! Legislature and offer the treasury o
! Virginia million dollars a yea
! for the privilege of producing Int
! same effect ON her horses that TIN
/ liquor traii.c does on her sons am
| daughters you would claim that hat
! insuitea you and that l should b,
placed In the penltentiary TOR cruelt.
Ito animals.
All / ask Ia, that you give to tn,
| people Of Virginia chance to sa.
at the polls that they think as muci
of their boys as they do Of their mules
Such Argument An Insult.
To argue before the Virginia Legis
| lature financial consideration at tn,
expense Of morality, as a reason To-
refusing to the voters OF the State Al
! opportunity to pass upon this ques
ton 10 to insult every instinct Of
manhood. and this IL what resent II
the name OF all people who are willtnl
to pay for the conduct Of public at
fairs without inviting the assistance
OF an immoral institution. II THU
kx> lv,A ~