The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-22
GET CLEAR OF THE MIsTs.
Ioday tho House will finally come TO a vote

$o0Ay the House viii finally come 10 vote
= the Jordan Enabling Act
~ result is a foregone conclusion. The BILL
Ettng from the long desire of the people.
I'd to represent their wishes, will be given
a0rmative vote.
3his result will come after campaign that
- the beginning has had delay as its prime
R1ect md diversion OF the real issue into the
1T tracks OF sophistry as its reserve sup
- Every device that shrewd lawyers could
sst that desperately interested representa-
~ Of the liquor interest could manufacture,
ut, the opposition has turned blithely TO an,
~ attempt to confuse and distract the issue.
~. after weeks OF effort to reach point that
9Eh open and frank acceptance Of the question
lid have been reached In ten days, the propo-
lien comes up for settlement by the House at
= enact point at which 1t started,
That point is simply this:
II It possible In Virginia for the people TO
reuter their opinion upon the necessity OF r.
" they desire as to make their influence suf
snfiy potent with the Legislature to insure
passage OF such law?
That Ii the beginning and end of the Jordan
Il Il conceived and framed in the afirma-
p Of that query. 1t comes before the Legis-
nre ~ the fresh reflection OF the popular de-
-. Beside the issue SO raised, all the talk
SAGlay. all the talk OF party expediency, all
y twaddle about economics. all the specious
ding Of constitutional objection to provide
1Dop-h hole for an opposition that prefers In
Section TO direction, vanishes Into the mist OF
y own pretense- The Legislature. on this d.
lien. II itself at the parting Of the ways. What
- people think ia clear cut and decided. What
- Legislature thinks In not one-half SO I'M
ea6nt a. what the Legislature does.
~ We have said. there Is practically no
III ~ To how the House will today deter
the it, duty. 1t will pass the bill. VIII fol-
~ the more dubious question OF the attitude
= the Senate.
Mat Il Ii that lends to a so-called higher legis-
tive body the fiction Of superiority, not only
y the lower house, but to the people which a
eoste represents. or is supposed TO represent,
taualiy with those Legislators who come more
-lfectly and more intimately with ths<opinion
Z the electorate impressed upon their minds.
~ the same time 1t must appeal to reason tnas
- Senate Ia no less under obligation to the
<sople BY whom II IA created than the House.
<nt Il remains the fact that what was urged
r. 49, rfr tpe,r
k1ou than anything else win In the Senate be
lid with the greater confidence, because Of
E6e assumption that the Senate is more techni-
I6a. more ypecious, less representative than the
Ilesse.
TO the Senate we would say: Keep the issue
<1ear. Avoid the confusion OF argument. Be-
hire the wiles Of distraction There will be
llnch talk of "constitutionality. On this point
D1sry layman with experience knows that a
ssitutteaal question In tho last shot Ia, tbs
Wyer's locker. . 1t is his reserve ammunition,
FL - brought forward when everything else is
1T II is the plea that always remains to
MIN TO raise. Rest assured that, were the I'M
OF the Jordan bill established
N tue bktleiaCtlVu VI tuc hQuuT cScc1s tHciS
3euld never before the Legislature be a wills
- R the tact. They would then fight the blu
II Its merits, relying In case OF defeat upon
n1nulllng the law by appeal to the courts. When
~ liquor interests base their night on the con-
alton that proposed legislation is unconstitu-
l1o0al. rest assured that they realize that they
1nnot hope for successful opposition on the
6isits.
this. then, 10 the case:
4 The people OF Virginia have suffered the dom
alton Of liquor to the point that they have
me to feel themselves strong to demand that
ley 20 out Of partnership with u curse.
The conscience OF the State holds this to be
right
$Edha manhood Of the State demands that such
&r1gAt OF self-protection ind the opportunity
exercise 1T the hands OF representative
NJ
10 . crisis. representative government has
must yield to = measure Of direct govern
Such . criais has now arisen. 1t would
I'll fer the Senate and well for the State.
10 Senate should put aAide the clouds of
11sant objection and zee this fact clearly.
ssad In II the duty II % clearly implies