The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-26
THE DOLLAR OR THE MAN.

Richmond Chamber cf Commerce declared that
IL to be body primarily organized to foster
and protect the manufacturing and commercial
inteiest of Richmond; that while, rule.
1t studiously avoids being involved in religious
and political questions and issues of that char
aeter as beyond its province" nevertheless un-
der certain circumstances 1T feels warranted in
considering the evil effects of the unwise and
tmisdirectod agitation OF those questions"
II would have been the part of wisdom for this
body of representative men to live up to the
definition of its purpose first quoted surely 1t
Is not pleasing spectacle for the people Of
Richmond or of the State TO the responsible
board OF the Chamber opposing measure that
comes fresh from the people. the stated
ground of a constitutional question, in the first
instance and then STOPPING to bring to the aid
of such contention argument taken out of
the very mouths of the ever venal and cor npt
forces dominating the liquor traffic!
The directors of the Chamber of Commerce
are business men and fnanciers With all due
respect to their knowledge of the science of
government, may be permitted to doubt their
! ability to iHstfHe the Legislature upon the sub
icct of its duty with respect to a referendum.
Bar, thing is certain Having elected 10
give the referendum the basis of their reso-
luton. they weaken the respect IN which their
opinion would otherwise be held by Juggling in
the familiar paiaphernalia OF the liquor apollo
eis.
They do this when they give as additional
reasons the distractng effects of bitter and
relentless campaign" which would be most la
mentahle and disastrous" And they do 1t when
they mention mot only that class of citizens of
+ the State whose property would be annihlated
/ by Statewide prohibition but also u number
/ who would be bitterly opposed to AN increase
! In the State tax rate which must inevitably
suit from the loss of State revenue from the
liquor traffic which prohibition would cause
i These arguments. with all due respect to the
character of the Chambers director ate. are the
arguments OF the barroom, and of the paid
emissaries of the liquor traffic The directorate
belittlc themselves by their adoption. both be-
! cause of their genesis and because Of the fact
/ that they have been so uniformly and effectively
dsproved in practice. They are assumptions
alike discreditabie to fine intelligence of the
men who make them and to the people at whom
| they are iepeIed we believe that the time has
! come when the people a whole can express
their opinion on an issue raising moral crisis
without being thereby swayed by passion to
excess do not believe that in the facing of
such crisis. they can be brought to see tn the
! immediate dollar something that outweghs the
larger mad more benefcent public good
. Now that the directors OF the Chamber have
spoken what remains. as 1t remained before
they expressed themselves?
| J. A moral question pressing for decision
springlng from the people, expressing the de-
sire of the people to rule. If to do so they must
for once in a while. instruct the men they have
sent to Richmond TO represent them.
| . Upon the constitutionalty Of the proposed
law, the General Assembly, and not the Rich
, mond Chamber of Commerce. Is the immediate
judge, and the courts of the State the final
| judges IT. in such a matter, there be any room
for doubt, the doubt should be resolved in
favor of the people who desire to rid themselves
| favor of the mercenary interests that wish the
continued privilege OF fattening such a
! compulsory alliance.
t. 3, Without exception, the experience Of coun-
f<ticst~r citfts and states wffich arc tfnder pro
/ hibtory laws shows that the tax rate is not
raised, since the decrease OF liquor revenue Is
generally offset by increase IN taxable property.
/ by more prosperous business conditions, by
t economies IN government following on decrease
! in crime, by more hopeful and more vigorous
! and effective citizenship
| 4. but there rcmatns This. question. which the
+ people as a whole should put to themselves, and
which egisato s. knowing the sentiment their
constituents should put to themselves the
! executors of the popular will: II prohibition
/ should result in a temporary increase in the
tax rate the average citizen of means should
for the moment be compelled to pay to the State
a cent mo, advance in assessment-for that
reason ought there to be stfed either a princi.
pie which would work to the saving of lives. the
! preservation of manhood, and the raising of the
moral standards of the whole people
That Is what the people Of VII ginia believe
prohibition will accomplish. within the posi-