The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-21

common seusa they always plead tn,
constitution. II say the bill IL con
stttuttonal." Occurred the speaker with
emphasis. the people are all power
ful save wh<re they. voluntarily re-
strict their powers The constitution
IL not an enabling but restrictive
power and when the constitution
speaks not al all, then the p-orat
may act. That being the case the
only thing that can prevent a referen-
dunn would be for the constitution
to cay that the people may not hold
one"
He read section So of the oonsti-
tuition. He declared the claim of the
unconstitutionalty of the measure was
a mere ghost. chimera. to scare the
gentlemen on the fioer 10 keep them
from doing their duty.
People Are Back Of It.
Not coming to the House with Gre
deutiais9" suddenly Inquired Mr.
Byrd, gianring AT the Norfolk mem
ber. Il venture to say that the large
proportion of the intelligent public
optnion e the State is behind this
measure, and II is permanent and
not an evanescent opinion. The power
and might or the sovereign people of
Virginia Will have their will carried
out"
Turning 10 the political view of the
situation Mr.. Byrd said. AS a Dem
ocrat | would say tina; IT IL always ex-
pedtent politically TO do that which
is right morally. and that 1t is always
inexpedient politically to do that
which is wrong morally. The most In
eSpedinent thing the Democratic party
can do is to prevent the people from
settlin~ this burning question for
themselves"
This should remain a popular ques-
zion, declared the temperance cham
pion. II should not be allowed to be-
come political question From the
s1and~oint of ~oliticai expediency
alone We should make haste 10 make
= absolutely a popular question.
The people who have power can't
escape responsibility The people
whose Will controls nust he respon-
sible. The people will hold the Demo-
cratic party responsible for what is
done"
Mr.. Byrd closed with expressing the
no-'e that Whatever was done else
where in the Capitol the House wou'd
DO its dptv.
Mr.. White for Vets.
Mr.. White, Of Eoekbridge. made
from the wet standpoint
He said II seemed now that II was
merely question whether the House
would acquiesee in and adopt such a
measure AZ the Anti loon ~ess and
mouth-piece mad suggested for the
people, This is a representative gov
eminent, asserted Mr.. White. who
gave a good deal OF attention to the
editorial discussion OF the enabling
act in The Richmond Vir~inian. He
declared that he was willing Ia sup
port measure that gave the people
the right to vote in an advisory man.
ner and asked he, who was right the
bill or The Virgtnian. which paner he
declared. was the mouth niece of the
Anti-SAioon League. intpntioaai,y
or not the people had been deceived
declared the RTickhridge mefQher H.
declared the Anti-Saioon League aas
either ignorant of what II wanted or
IL was fooling the people He declar-
ed that by the laws of Virginia, the
Legislature lis the iaw-matiny power.
but this bill would give to the peo-
pie right which the Constitution had
specifically said they should not have.
i will not vote, SO help me God TO
violate my OATH shouted the Rock
bridge member. He declared that he
was willing 10 vote for such a meas
ure as he had been led to believe was
asked for. He knew the Nirglnan
to he clean. good paper. Legitimate
and proper. but he declared that the
Anti-Saloon League was either ignor-
ant or deceiving the people.
He declared that the Constitution
and bin OF rights are The fundamentals
10 protect the people, and when II came
down to whistle the Constitution
down the wind he would stand fol-
the Constitution.
Reading from the Ntrginian editorial
of February 20,h, he declared tina,
tbs people had been either knowingly
or unknowingly deceived. as the edi-
torial had declared that the vote OF
the people would be but TO place the
Legislature under a moral obligation
to vote for the law endorsed by the
people.
MIR. White said he came perfectly
willing to vote for such s. measure
as would provide for the advisory vote
as 1t does not create law.
The Rockbridge member discussed
section So of the Constitution, and as
serted that the only option described
therein was local option. Local RICH,
70 self government had come down
through ihe charters of English llber-
ties. Local self government was part
and parcel Of our constitutional rights,
Rights OF the People.
Mr.. Weaver. OF Warren. asked II the
Legislature had the right to delegate
power To Councils of towns to make
laws why did they not have the same
right to delegate such right to the
people,
Mr.. White said he would defy anyone
to show that they had such right ex-
cept by reference To, and In conform
ity to, the Constitution. Until yes
terday. ssid he. the right of the States
10 have the initiative and referendum
In their constitutions was not set
tied, and the Supreme Court had now
declared that where II was placed In
the Constitution IL was binding.
Mfr. White declared that II sections
a. anal ~ Of the jartian enabling set
: s.ere Ia wfai Ttrcfaisa ~ns-> iivsfig~ Hn-
der wide-open initiative and referen-
dun system. He offered as an amend-
ment that tfese sections be stricken
from the bill. made stirring appeal
for the House TO vote against any
thing smacking Of a referendum which
would make the people at large the
law-making power.
With Mr.. White still In possession
at the floor. the House at 2 O'Clock
took recess until 4 o'clock.
When the. House recanvened Mr..
White said that he had nothing further
in the way of argument to add to
what he had already said. He thought
the public had been mislead. He de-
clared that he did not Intend to say