The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-16

About thirteen months ago the Richmond
Times. dispatch WAS defeated in lis opposition
ID several constitutional amendments after
campaign on its part Of virulence, incorporate
language and bitter personalities that probably
helped Increase the majority against It. Losing
this fight It lost also the little discretion
possessed. and published TRADE rejecting Sc
riously upon the intelligence Of tire people Of
Virginia.
To-day there is no campaign in process IN
virginia, hut down in Alabama the arch-foe OF
all friends and supporters Of the liquor traffic
is carrying the prohibition banner, and with
excellent prospects Of success Richmond P
Hobson, naval officer with record Of viliant
service 10 the public a congressman OF Tecog'
nized ability prohjbIuonist whose service to
the cause can best be measured by the bitter
ness Of the opposition to him, is opposing Oscar
Underwood. another statesman who deserves well
Of his people The issue is prohibition, and
neutrality-suspicious. and within Alabama all the
distlllers. saloon keepers and their friends and
supporters are fighting Hohson fiereely.
So it ls that the Tfmcs-Dtspatch is also fight
iug Robson There may he, and probably are,
other reasons fer the opposition Of the Times
D.sp4t-f foF Underwood is an able man. worthy
IL reuEesant nv STATE In the United States
senate. Rut IT Is not the motive compelling the
Tfmrs.HsDateh 10 support rndcrwood-though
but fa- the prohibition issue that support of
Underwood would probably not be enthusiast
tie. end 3ts opposition TO Hobson SO Intense
that wa have to de- but with the methods IL
Illustrated In IT'S issue Of Saturday morning
These methods bear such striking similarity to
its behavior Of thirteen months ago that none
can fail to recognize IT Then the Timcs-Dispatoh
saw fit to print animadversons upon the in.
telligence Of the electorate Of Virginia, and to
cast reflections upon It's ability 10 acquire in
formation concerning questions at issue, Today
II is casting the same reflections upon the people
of Alabama this time even before the returns
are In Situated hundreds Of miles from the
scene; indicating no special knowledge Of con
ditons. and apparently woefully lacking IN in
formation as 10 the issue involved and the char
actor of one OF the contestants, it presumes to
lay down the dictum that unless Alabama elect
Oscar Underwood 10 the senate, and defeat the
aspirations Of Congressman Hobson, its people
are unworthy ignorant and lacking in nfor-
nation The Times Dspatch had the grace to
wait until lis campaign had proven over.
widening failure before venting its wrath upon
the people of Virginia, but this time it marshals
it's forces for an attack upon the Alabama cleo
torate even before 1t is certain that that electo-
rate has had the hardihood 10 disregard its
advice The result Of the election. II says viii
give an idea OF the character of the Alabama
electorate The voters Of Alabama viii have an
opportunity to choose between the ideals Of states
nanship and Of opportunism. 1t declares and in
dictates clearly that the opinion of the esteemed
Times Dispatch Of the intelligence OF the voters
OF Alabama depends upon the result; that II
Hobson be elected and Underwood defeated 1t
VIII conclude that the electorate Of that State is
unworthy, and that Its people not far enough
advanced to be capable OF the exercise OF the
ballot The voters OF Alabama given fair
warning Let them elect IIobson to their sorrow.
This is ever the way Of the sefannointed
Supreme All who agree with IL are well-in-
formed. intelligent splendid citizens All who
are opposed are either ignorant hllI,billies or
dishonest politicians and gratters
But let us follow the advice Of the Times.
Dispatch in one particular. Let ug keep an eye
ON Alabama. The Vfrgtnian is not so swollen
with vain-glory; not confident Of Its own
opinion of things many miles away; not SO
sure of It's Judgement formed here in Virginia
OF conditions IN Alabama that 1T is willing to
write down hundred thousand people as lack.
ing in all intelligence and Of responsibility
and desire for good government and gratitude
merely because they vote contrary TO that opin-
ion aud that judgment The ViTginidn say
however, with all confidence that the result in
Alabama can be accepted in large measure as
an indication of the strength of prohibition in
that state The Times-Dispatch declares that
Mr. Hobson "has nothing to commend him save
d doubtful jingoism whatever that Isl and a
!. very pronounced prohibition policy" Az there