The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-20
'EBRU AIRY 20, 1913.

puoiic nuisance. just AS the drunk
ard Is q public nuisance. for 1t is the
breeding place OF drunkards. This
reasoning is freely admitted In the
case OF evils other than the saloon.
thousands of people without any dis
case travel on the trains They could
use tho railroad common glass and
no OWL results follow. But many other
persons are diseased and they might
infect others. by the use OF the COM
mon cup, and so the common cup,
| which Is great convenience. and
which could be used by many without
any injury Is forbidden because some
persons who are diseased might abuse
their opportunity and use the cup to
the detriment of others. And so. while
we might pass n law prohibiting any
diseased persons to use the cup, we
realize how difficult that would bc of
endorsement and we abolish the cup
as menace to the health OF society
public nuisance which must be
abated.
On exactly the same principle We
say 20 the editor of The Times
that we gladly agree to a law
punishinS severely tho man who gets
drunk as menace to society, a pub
nc nuisance yet because we cannot
ten what men are going to get drunk.
nnd, therefore. cannot arrest them he
iorc they get drunk and cannot fore
see what evil or ruin may he the re-
suit OF their indulgence OF their an
pctitcs Tor strong drink, we declare
| mat the safest and surest way Is To
abolish the saloon, which is the source
Of the evil.
Other examples might be given. but
the principle is clear. We invivo the
editor of The Times to take the
next step and to declare with nc
that not only is tho drunkard n pub
nc nuisance. but tho saloon which
MAKES the drunleard is also a public
nuisance The personal liberty arsu-
nent is obliged to 70 down before fhc
general welfare
Ana there were some OF the Son.
ators who tried to justify thoir course
%! me declaration that if n state
"idc prohibitory law was enacted II
couih not he enforced. But this again
x was not the issue before tho Senate of
virginia. The only question was the
giving to tho people the right Ia do
ci"c 'or themselves whether they de-
sire Il statewide law. Eut these ecn-
tieneh arregatc to themselves the
right TO decide this question for the
peopie' on tho ground that they
should not vote to submit to tho NC
pie this question, wnen II has hccn
IuiiF demonstrated that "Prohibition
is failure." Here again tho Jnci.
Oh logic lis lamentnble; indeed e.
"ouiu ne absurd ridiculous. wero II
10y SO serious In IT'S results Hear
~, no spnent: majority OF the pco
PFC oeclde to forbid the doing Of
Tertain thing. for the sake OF tho n,h,
nc Sood. Some persons determine, tb.t
thcE VIII do the forbidden thing ,nd
understanding the prohibition. they
proceed To do it, Whcreupon il Is ar
,"at because some persons vio
failure cue Ia" is
But was It expected whc, ~
was passed that everybody woulJ oh,,.
ia" was 1t agreed thai II ,r,,
pody violated tho Law. n yo,Id ),
IcPeaicd? AS matter OF fac,
me Ia" passed because certain .hi,
'eihs done which were damauinr
NC n'h'erial or moral welfare OF thn
CITY, state or nation, and tho ,.,,
passed, and penalties annexed to "ns
men from doing those da,nninr ,hi.H
81 ions as the fear of sufre-i,r -
eil'.'E is greater than the an+ic,,s,.n,
v, pieasure TO be obtained from tho Ia -.
'oia'ior. the law viii not bn -
aa'eu; Sut when the prize I. $40,
do,oot, a''.fS'Ne to run the risk OF
r,.;lI ahu OF punishment. the law
fo- ts ''oiateo. But that Is no reason
me repea! of the law II NO,
oe the reason for the strenvthon ,''aa
'ne law and the pressing for -
'"torcemcht. Take. for ox,nrIa
same and oyster laws II :.
iur the good of the State IN. t,,'.,I
"oulu Dc killed and oysters shn,,t.,
to,, from the rocks ONLY a, car-
-, s Certain penalties arc
ahheNed for the violation OF 1haso o.
But there arc certain go, avs
want 10 shoot game and "'io
whenever they please and u,harn,
the'F appetite for food or. tbe,r 80.
LOT money exceeds their TO-.
81 the me or Imprisonment fn,
ial'oh or the law Do the senators
anu plead that the game and ovste,.
80 '"' ne repealed because some
...pn .ioiate the law? DO they cry
'ohloitlon is failure, Iionc,, -
law. Let the game be shot go
oysters DC taken from the rock hn,,.,,,,o
"ppetitc and covetousness win 80,
OBEY the law? Certainly MOI ~.
ueolSre' The law must be enrorcod
ease inc penalties until men viii
"ot DC wiling to run the risk rnr
.ne sake of the possible gain Add
strict patrol tam
The General Assembly OF y,re,r;.
PASSED a law on the subject or co
.ai"e ana provided penalties. I'm,
ne sIaves OF covctousness ana
'tc continue TO run tho risk and yio
late the Law. Has there boan 49,,
-! that prohibition is a failuro :,
me raw should be repealed? No. the
49, 'p OUT the traffic: increase
inc penalties and use grea.er yi.;
lance" 'iSl-
me law of the State endeavors m
pIolect the chastity Of our daughters
from the appetite and covetousncss Or
men and severe penalties are annexed
nut inc age OF consent is violated
seouc,ion under promise OF marriage
Is practiced, and sometimes even hnr
rible assaults are committed and dis
reputable houses ais maintained in
many places
DO these senators rise I'D r, >bcir
places and declare prohibition is a.
ialiure? me laws should be rcpea led
because appetite and covetousnoa. or
men fmpel them to run tho risk Of
oven the death penalty No, there
is no clamor for the repeal OF the
laws protecting our daughters against