The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-20

their people by their votes. 1t must
he our duty to show them the wishes
Of their people when the next gem
cral assembly meets. And we earnest
~ request them in the meantime to try
to inform thmselyes of the wishes of
their people.
Why Did They Vote So?
Why did these senators vote against
the bill?
The ever present always convenient
argument OF "unconstitutionaF was
paraded backward and forward. and
the spectators In the gallery suddenly
became aware of the great reverence
with which the constitution was re-
garded by men. whom they would
never have suspected OF being such
ardent patriots or such profound con-
stitutiunal lawyers. But so 1t was
declared. and despite the fact that
men recognized all over the State as
able constitutional lawyers and some
Of them on the floor OF the senate
declared that the constitution gave to
the general assembly full authority to
pass local option and any other laws
IL deemed proper concerning the
liquor traffic. and. therefore, gave the
right to pass law submitting to the
people the determination of whether
license should be granted to sell in
toxicants anywhere in Virginia, and
despite the fact that the law already
gave to the people In the counties,
towns and cities Of the State the right
to call an election to determine this
question for their various localities.
which is exactly the same principle as
the one involved In the enabling act;
despite these things. senator after
senator gravely. solsmniy, In some
cases dramatically, declared that the
bin was unconstitutional and ieft IT
to the spectators TO decide for them.
selves how greatly this devotion &c the
constitution was intensified because OF
an ever greater devotion 20 the in
terests of the liquor traffic
Certain II is that whatever other
reason Influenced the vote, the brew
ers distiliers, saloonkeepers aR9d their
paid attorneys were present In great
force and were the constant asso~
ciates and counseiors of many Of the
senators who voted against the bill.
and IL was apparent that the great
object WAS to prevent the people of the
State from voting on the question. In
deed Ii was taken for granted by many
Of the liquor leaders that were the
bill To become a law the people OF
the State would certainly abolish the
license system.
Argument of Revenue.
And then the argument that the
c~FAtR CANNOT Htsfff tile RB6E IA TSN%s~
30 Of revene. obtained by dehauching
her sons and daughters, WAS also set
forth bv those who apparently place
money above all things else In heaven
or earth II was graveiy assumed by
these gentlemen that rather than In
crease the taxation Of the people or
the State by the pitifui sum OF TWEEN
fy-five cents per annum per capita
the State should continue TO license
nine hundred trans for the destruc-
lion oT the strength. inteiiigeuce. mo-
rality and earning capacity of her
sons, and the modesty. virtue and
r1atheriy capacities OF her daugh~
nrs; that the statas shoald make
v~aupers. Idiots, lunaA3csg arunsa rds,
fyariots. thieves ara TnHraerers of her
sons and daughters rather than to
lose paltry 100000. No greater
insult has ever been offered to the
patriotism of the Old Dominion than
10 ask her 10 weigh the welfare OF
her sons ard daughters In the balances
with one-haif n million dollars or
twenty-five cents per capita. Her three
hundred years of history I'm made
glorious by her noble army Of men
and women who have not counted
property or life dear unto themselves
IN II became necessary TO sacrifice
either or both for the highest welfare
Of Virginia Those defenders and ad-
yorstes Of the brewers and distiilers
and saIonnkeerers may call upon the
people Of Virginia 10 join with them
I'm the worship OF the golden calf. but
we simply ask these gentlemen TO al
low the people OF Virginia TO speak
for themselves The people can pro-
,ect themselves Let them say
whether thew would prefer, II neces-
sary, as we do not believe II would he,
TO Increase the tax rate 10 such an ex-
tent as to produce $500. geo more
revenue. or 10 continue the present
system and allow the 100000 70 be
collected by the drunkard- makers
from their victims. the citizens of Nir-
sysY7sa a nd tyqg re- turned tsata the State
treasury, that the said drunkard-
makers may have the privilege Of TAX
ing from the people not less than I'll D. :
900 200 per annun, and giving back
10 them temporal and eeernaf rum
we Insist that the people are eoHpe-
tent To decide this question of revenue,
and the bill which the senate de-
feated would leave this revenue
question with the people.
But these gentlemen tell as that
this In dangerous question 70 SUD
nit TO the people. We are informed
nv them and by their allies, the op-
posing newspapers of Virginia. that
an election on this question wonid STIR
: the state from GsHtSf ~ F~Af -"'st
ference. that netehhor would he turn
ed against neighbor and brother
against brother, that even churches
would be rent asuraer and breaches
would be made which would not ne
healed for years Well our ex-
perience in the past hae proven the
truth Of the Scripture that the 'devii
goeth about like a roaring lion seek
ing whom he may devour.' Our LORD
and Master tells us that the thiet
corneth not but to steal and 10 XIII
and to destroy. ] am come that theN
might have life and that they might
have II more ahundantly." And 81
( John tells us that 'the Son OF 600
was manifested to destroy the WORKS
Of the devil. - But this great purpose
of the Master was not accomplished
/ without resistance and strife he
prophesied that MANY shall be OF
I Tended and shall betray one another
! and hate one another" Suppose We
/ that I am come to give peace on
earthe ! tell you. nay: but rather
/ division" And again. For am come
to set q man at variance against his
] father. and the daughter against her
| mother. and the daughter-in- la5s
against her mother-in-law, And q
mans foes shall be they of his own
+ household" No effort to bring In the
kingdom of God can be successful
without a struggle with the powers OF
AZ ytxpaSe Certainly there viii he