The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-23
CURRENT COMMENT
is He Strong Enough For That?

is the country to have a business crisis, or is
1t to be allowed to go on it's somewhat cramped
condition without any serious change?
1t has been generally held that every time
national government, which occurs every four
years, something of a spasm results in the bust
world. If this be so when the same party
remains in power, what must be expected when
there is a change of parties?
made president by the electoral commission both
senate and house were Democratic, and in
oIevelands first term the senate was Repu6iican
lands second term the senate became Demo-
cratic, while the house was Republican. So
that since 1851 there has never been time when
the president of the United States and both
houses of congress were in control of the Demo-
cratic party. In all that time there were many
changes in the business affairs of the country,
including the great financial panics Of 1873, 1898
Within very brief period there will be- q
Democratic president in the White House, and
of congress What is to be the effect on busi-
ness? This question becomes important be-
cause business Is the life of the nation. Active
business means prosperity while strangled BUSH
ness means disaster.
President Elect Wilson is sphinx far as
any definite information goes as to the policy
and course of public action he proposes. He
is a man Of strong convictions and determination
for action comes but he lis not going to parade
his intentions beforehand.
is going to act up to them, Is not to be doubted.
One of the last public speeches made by him
was made before the New Jersey presidential
13th. in the course of which ne said
THE people of the United States have turned
their faces in definite direction, and any party,
any man. who does not go with them in that
direction they will reject. and they ought to
reject
Therefore in looking forward to the respon-
sibilites that am about to assume, feel first.
representative capacity. l am hidden to inter-
pref as well as can the purposes of the people
OF the unisa states ana o, to act SO Tar as my
instrumentality OF persons who also represent
tha. choice ! have no liberty in the matter 2. ,a
volved, and nothing more could be involved.
Therefore, shall not be acting as n partisan
when I pick out progressives and only pro-
gressves / shall be acting as a representative
of the people of this great country, and. there
to find in every direction. turn about from
group of men to another, that mems minds
and mems consciences and mems purposes, are
yielding to that great impulse that moves
the whole people of the United States
And what Is that great impulse that moves
seen in the movement against trusts, combina-
tons, monopoiies and great capitalistc cor
porations. Does this mean that there shall be
no great business. no more great indus
trial. commercial and transportatonal activity,
fashion public sentiment and public passion as
to maintain business upon the scale of activity
the needs OF the people who live by their labor
and must earn wages in order TO live?-New Or
leans Picayune.
Why?
Why la the Anti-Saloen league convention
meeting in Roanoke this year?
An answer to this question depends largely on
the individual point of view Persons of wet
persuasion will not give the same reply as per-
sons OF dry persuasion.
The ''wet" man will insist that the conven-
ton is the outgrowth Of an endeavor TO curtail
personal liberty. He will that temper
ance Is narrow minded. inconsiderate and I'm
scientific, and that the only proper policy is a
wide-open town and the exercise of Individual
conscience. He grows angry whenever the words
'Anti-Saloon league" are mentioned and gets
into towering rage when anyone asserts that
a temperance advocate Is sincere His brain
tian people try to make community soper
With bitterness and sarcasm he greets the ef-
forts of Anti-Saloon workers. Hired speakers
and Hypocrisy are two of his favorite weapons
and he uses them all occasions. To expect
such man to give fair answer to our question
would be to expect the sun to stand still and the
tides to cease their energy.
The dry" man will insist that the convention
is the outgrowth of a great and orderly move
ment. the product OF natural evolution and
therefore with open arms and a warm heart
he welcomes the delegates and bids them be at
home He knows that the words ANTI saloon
league" stand for wonderful movement organ
lied in the year 1891, twenty-five years ago,
and blessed with marvellous results. He knows
that through its efforts the army canteen has
been abolished: that the saloon at the capitol
and In immigrant stations has been eliminaed:
that the law against selling liquor Indians il
being enforced by government at a cost OF as
900 Per year; that nine States have adopted pro-
hibition: that 1,732 of the 2.893 counties In the
Tyrfk Al tat dpxyss hot 49,