The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-21
PEOPLES FORUM
And. Saloon Lcaguc Net.her Ignorant Nor

IN inc JiOuse Oh DeieHHtes Oh Iuesofs iSStH'
gate Hugh A. White in discussing the consti-
tutionaiity Of the Jordan enabling act, In de-
fault of legal citation to support his aonten-
ton that the Jordan enabling act is unconsti-
tutional adopted the familiar device Of many
lawyers and proceeded to abuse the plaintiffs
attorney, In this case, the Anti-saloon League
of Virginia. AS the chairman of the Legisla-
tive Committee Of the Ant-Saloon League.
desire to make a statement in reply to this
charge Of ignorance or of misrepresentation
made by Mr. White.
The basis of this charge is the fact that
the Richmond vrginian has printed certain
editorials the enabling act which in
terpreted by Mr.. White showing an ignorance
of the provisions of the Jordan bill, an
effort to misrepresent the provisions Mr.
White declared that the Richmond Eirginian
Il the recognized and avowed organ of the Anti
Mr.. White reasoned the Ant-Saloon League is
responsible for these editorials.
II Is not my purpose TO explain or defend
the editorial utferances of the Richmond Nir-
ginian. The editorial writer OF the Richmond
Nirgnan. Is able to take care of himself ana
viii doubtless do So But Mr. White proclaints
his own ignorance when he declares that the
Richmond Virginfan is the avowed organ OF
the Anti-Saloon League OF Virginia The Anti
Saloon League of Virginia has It's avowed
organ the Virginia Issue" which Is under
the direction and control of the State Executive
Committee of the league. which is responsible
Dr. j. II. Light, one Of the most brilliant and
talented writers in the State.
The Anti-Saloon League OF Virginia did not
found the Richmond Virginian; it has never
contributed one dollar to the maintenance OF
that paper: 1t has never given any direction
to any of the officers employees of that paper.
and Is not responsible for any utterance of
that paper. The undersigned while on very
friendly terms with the editor of the Vrginian,
has not only not suggested, he has not even
discussed. the question of the editorial utter
ances of the paper on the Jordan enabling act.
since the bill was introduced on January IL,
nor has any other officer of the league. Any
ntimation therefore that the Anti-Saloon
League has either directly indirectly de-
eeived the people of the state by the editorial
utterances of the Richmond Virginian shows an
Ignorance of facts on the part of Mr.. White.
The Nrginian Is not therefore the organ Of
the Anti-saloon League but 1t has shown its
sympathy with the work of the league. and
in view of the stream of abuse. SANDER and
utilization which have been heaped upon the
league workers by the Wet newspapers of
Richmond which have been heavily subsidized
by liquor advertisements 1t is not strange II
the league workers have appreciated fair treat
ment at the hands of The Nirginian
The official utterances af the Anti-Saloon
League of Virginia are to Re sought for in
the printed and oral ntterances of the officers
of the league. when acting in their official ca
pacity. If Mr. White desires to know just
what position has been taken by the AntiSa
loon League of Virginia he is referred first of
all to the report of the Legislative Committee
of the league. which was read in the Seventh
Street Christian church in the presence OF
bers of the General Assembly, and was printed
I in full in both the morning papers OF Rich
mond and in the Richmond Christian Advo-
cate.
That report declared that the great advance
step which must he taken Is the total destruc-
I ton of the license system OF Virginia This Is
commonly known prohibition. BY
what principle of Democracy is it declared
that the people Of the State have no right to
vote question which is Of vital concern
to all Of the people of the State?' And the
report stated fatty that IL agreed with the
present Governor Of Virginia that the people
of Virginia have the right to settle this and
all other questions as to them shall seem best.
Mr.. White may not have read this report.
but it was printed in full In the morning pa
pers nevertheless Mr. White is referred again
to the Jordan bill for an official statement of
| the position of the league. When the Com
undersigned requested that the bill be read be-
fore the committee, and 1t was read In full.
| including sections and .. to which Mr.. White
now objects
Speakers from every section OF Virginia
spoke In favor of the bill publicly read. and
stressed the fact that the bin provided that
the question of the licensing of the sale of IL
quor should be settled by the people.
The bill was printed in full in the columns
of newspapers and II has been sent out in
printed form To every part of the State. IT
was printed in The Vireinian January Il
front page,
The undersigned. as chairman OF the Legis-
latiye COMMITTEES. made official statement at
the hearing Wednesday night. January 81.
full abstract of which appeared in the Rich
mond Nirginian February 1. He expounded
the provisions Of the bill and declared that If
the state voted dry" it would mean that no
license to sell ardent spirits could be granted
after May l. following the next session of the
General Assembly after the election that
dealers would in any event be given either
eight or twelve months to close our their bust
| ness ~. 54sv g--., - fs eyg
The conStir tIonaty of. the In Ssas tasx1s.
up by the undersigned. and the very questions
which Mr. White threw out as new discovery
were all discussed and the OF Bull vs.
Reed and of Willis Kalmbach We're both
= cd and af fhn e w
urged. as a settlement of the right OF the
clared that the principle is exactly the same
as the present local option law, and that If
the principle of the referendum was wrong for
the whole State it was wrong for part or
the State. and that Ii 1t was uneoustttHttDpai
for the whole state 1t was unconstitutional
for part of the State
These official utterances Of the Anti
Saloon League. and these utterances print
ed In the columns Of the Richmond Virginian,
which Mr.. White declares has misrepresented
the facts to the people. Certainly these statc-
ments made officially in the hall of the House
Of Delegates, packed with people from every
section of the State, did not conceal the real
meaning OF the Jordan bill or deceive any
one as to the purposes of the league.
III Mr. White wants to start discussion
to the exact status OF the law. after the people
shall have voted dry" let him do sep
arate proposition. The writer understands
clearly the rights of the General Assembly In
the matter OF legislation. Only the Constitution
limits the power Of the General Assembly
sembly pass the Jordan BILL and should the
people vote dry that vote would have no
legally binding effect upon the action Of the
NEXT e3cn~rnf Assembly. tt -ruufd, If tt de-