The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-04
PEOPLES FORUM
An Unrepressntative Senate.

Editor of The virginian:
Sir,-The Enabling Act is deadfor this time
1t was murdered In the Senate by group OF
unresponsve ito the better sentiment OF
the State. determined for some reason that the
people should not have the opportunity OF voting
upon the question Of Statewide prohibition One
guess at the reason Is that they feared to lace
the issue at the polls.
We are thoroughly convinced now. as we look
back over the history OF the fight, that there
was but little hope of it's success at any time AT
the hands of the present Senate. We supposed
al me outset II the people would express theln-
selves sufficiently clearly, that their represen-
tatlNes would not dare refuse their requests
and their rights We mistaken. The peo-
pie did express themselves. We sure that
representatives We're never so flooded with petit
tons as has been the present Legislature with
petitions in favor of the Enabling Act. We un-
derfakc to say that no man in that body doubts
the public demand in this direction No man
there has ever required such expressions Of pub
lie sentiment to assure him of its existence. The
House recognized the public demand and re-
spondcd by passing the bill by vote of two
to IN its favor. But when this tidal wave
Of petitions swept upon the Senate the wei
members of that body lodged the clear-cut issue
presented by the public demand for the passag e
OF the bin by expressions of horror the method
pursued in ascertanng the will of constituents
The whole performance degenerated INTO
game Of hide and seek, in which certain Sena-
tors lodged behind any available excuse to avoid
the eye of the voter at home. 1t became IN
/ creasly evident that they were In quest OF con
vcnient refuge. They didn't want to vote for
! the measure. and yet they were afraid not to:
50 they darted panic-stricken hither and thither,
unable to locate any friendly asylum. until they
began To declam with noise to awaken sus-
picon of inslncerity against the "dishonorahle
tricks" Of the Anti-Saloon League in ascertain
ing the sentiment OF their constituents. They
finally reached the last limit of illogical and in
consistent action when they disregardrd en-
tirely the merits of the proposed bill and offered
the alleged dement's OF some of it's supporters
the reason Of their opposition
Such frenzy ridiculous The referendum
was invoked by the General Assembly in the
case OF county and city treasurer. but the souls
-F Yhc los of Va e.
.~l4l.ained-calrl- Observation-Disclosures Thought,
however, of referendum in the case of the II
quor business provoked paroxysms OF fear and
rage. \ Representatives was permitted to indulge
in the cheapest, coarsest nppancy and the most
gratuituus insults at the expense Of those who
supported the bill, including ministers of the
gospel without word of protest. but when a
/ minister resented the insult in his pulpit and
branded its perpetrator. there arose a sudden and
indignant zeal for the protection of men-trais,-
+ TIE assaults of the pulpit There We're spasins
Of offended virtue at what was termed the tricks
Of the :iIlti-st,loan lobbyists supporters
the bill called .Purit4ns weaklings
biacklcgS.' but word OF Censure was uttered
against the widely known and universally prac-
/ tced dishonorab'e tactics OF the saloon, nor was
( 1t pointed out that all dive keepers criminals
and social parahs were lined up in opposition
( to the hill
one thing stands forth clearly as the lesson
Of the hour-Nirgina has Senate that does
represent her people. Had only those Senators
with wet constituencies opposed the bill, IT would
have passed by large majority. But for some
{ unknown reason in obedience to some unknown
lower the senate ignored its dry constituencies,
hung defiance into the face of public sentiment
and killed a measure that should have found
adoption by every consideration OF right reason
and representation. This Enabling Act does not
furnish the only instance: The Byrd primary
phi the West fee BILL the pure elections law
| Well. mistake the temper OF Virginia citi-
zenship II her people propose to submissively
submit to the thwarting OF their will by
handful OF men.
! We haven't heard the last of this matter by
! any means Representative government to-day
is lettering upon its foundation because its rep
resentatires have failed of their opportunity,
| The movement towards direct legislation Is daily
gaining ground because OF Just situations
! this.
| c.. II. LAMBETH.
! Richmond. Va March 5. 1912.