The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-22

with the candidates OF any party
This brings me to the consideration
OF your challenge to me 10 enter tho
democratic State convention and de-
maTd the passage of q resolution re-
iudiating the action OF the senat to and
endorsing the action OF the house.
may ice pardoned If ] am somewhat
skepticaf as TO the entire disinterest1
ednsss OF this challenge. IL mis-.
take not you have been somewhat
active In the past in the councils o.
he Republican part In Virginia
hiie II Is true that the Democratic
party il the dominant party In the
senate of Virginia. II is also true that
ca lite matter of the passage of-yh0
enabling act the Republican senators
n@ld the balance of power. Had tho
Republican senators voted unant-
fno'1sty IN Tavor or the BIN, the bis
would IN all probab ility have passed
the senate. SO that the Republican
party 10 as much responsible as IL tn.
democratic party for the defeat c.
the enabling act in the senate. NJ
understanding has been that rese-
.otien fasorfng the passage of the an
aolinA act was offered at the recers
Republican State convention at Roam
oke, and that that resolution was
Fotet down. i do not know whether
you %asored or opposed the passag.
% taatt resolution by the convention.
nut II Is II fact that the Republican
conrenisot declined 10 place itzaIs ca
record as favoring or as opposing tina
enabling act. 1t did riot repudiato me
action Of the four Republican sena-
tors who voted against tho bill but
do not find In your letter any cr;ti-
cism of the action OF the Repub iicsr
convention In this matter, or oven
any statement OF regret at the part
taken By the four Republican s@ns.
ors in the making OF the dtsgracaFuy
record of the senate of 1912, II does
seem, therefore, that Your Challenge
is not entirely because of any great
zeal on Your part for the advance
ment of the work of the Anti Saloon
League of Virginia, but that there "
poined with 1t desire to emharrass
II possible your political opponents
or to at least put the Democrats
party in the same attitude that the
Republican party has already taken on
this question.
AS the superintendent OF the ANTI
Saloon League of Virginia. aud "a
stsaus seft MI -epsese fiatise OF thx :
league. were 10 enter tne convcfis
ton of the Democratic party and en-
deasor to commit the party to thA
policy of the league, 1t would he de-
clared that the league had entered
tHlO pOillltS anu NdS SsluedtQTilE 10
identify itself with the Democratic
party. and such action would be RI:
sented by such Republicans as have
been advocating and voting for the
principles of the league.
Were not a representative OF ihe
league, and were L a delegate is tAA .
conenntion. ! think It very likely thai
| should Introduce q resolution conn
n,endIng the house OF delegates q
1919 for It's position on moral iegisia.
ton. ami regretting the failure OF The
moral issues. But holding the posi-.
ton that l do as worker in the
Anti Saloon league. IL would be VERY
difficult for me 10 60 as a delegate
to the convention and to participate
in the convention proceedings with.
out having my position misunders
stood and misrepresented. although I
might declare IN all sincerity ana
with great emphasis that l was at
tending the convention and actinA
solely In my capacity as citizen 4
Virginia and not as a worker OF 49,
Anti-S Saloon league.
The Anti Saloon League of Virginia
has never made the prohibition qusxs
ton a party issue. It has called upon
men Of all parties to join in the effors
to destroy the beverage liquor traffic
It Ia not the purpose Of the league 10
depart from this its established ,c,.
ley. But II is the purpose OF thx
league to make the beverage LIQUOR
traffic an issue. and. If possible. the
dominant issue in the election held
for governor and the members Of the
house of delegates In 1913. Ths n.
sue will be clearly and sharply drawn
40 that the position of the voters II
the state will be indicated In sucM
fashion that the men elected 70 the
Eovernorship and to the house ~
delegates: and even the lnoidover sen:
asors. VIII know what the people OF
VIRGINIA want in this matter.
The refusal Of the Republican n.rt~
Continued on Page Seven.N1 -