The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-06
FAVORS PRESENT
LIQUOR CONTROL
Wcdderburn, Candidate for Lieu
tenant-Governor, Gives
His Views.
NOT ALWAYS A RING MAN
Says Statewide Prohibition
Laws Are Openly and
Brazenly Ignored.

Coming out against the enabling not
and for local option. and denying that
ne was IN any sense candidate of tho
Ring" IN Virginia politics. Alexander
J. Wcddcrburn. OF Fairfax County.
Candidate for Lieutenant-G Governor. has
ISSUED statement OF his platform
IN the shape OF an address to the vot-
efs OF Virginia In regard to the en-
aiding act. Mr.. Wedderburn says:
one OF the principal issues before
the people to-day is the question OF tn.
enabling act. or statewide prohibition
and while 1t is to be regretted that
such a question should enter our State
politics, IL II Is dragged In by those
VINO seek TO profit by using such uucs
tons TO advance their private inter
ests. far be 1t from me TO dodge or
hedge on the question. | am a Demo-
crat and do not believe In patcrnalism.
| deny the right OF any man or com
mun!ty. outside OF my own locality. to
dictate TO me what shall eat. or what
l shall drink. or wherewithal shall
be clothed. and 1t Is undeniable that
IT one of these three is logically cor
rect, the other Is equally so. On the
other hand. however, do believe that
each locality has a right 20 regulate
the liquor, traffic in lis midst,
Such Ln~s Openly Ignored
Statewide prohibition would no
more prevent the sale or consumption
Of liquor in Virginia than 1t has pre-
vented It in Maine and Kansas and
other socalled dry States in the past
half century, and l know from per-
sonal experience that such laws are
openly and brazcnly ignored In my
home county OF Fairfax we have local
option and we're the question an Is
sue in my ne!ghborhood, most as
suredly would vote to continue the
present status. bur where proper po-
lice protection can be secured. ! deem
1t better that those who sell LIQUOR
should bear part at least OF the ex-
pense that its consumption costs the
State and community. rather than tina,
liquor should be sold by the boot leg
ger or in the speak easy thus Gre
ating three sets OF lawbreaiters-th
seller, tho purchaser and the Official
who winks, generally for consider
alton at the sale, thus increasing dis
regard for law and making the vio-
lation Of other statutes easier"
After reviewing his political record
for many years past Mr.. Weddenburn
says In regard TO the charge made
some weeks ago that he was Induced
Democratic party, in order to split the
vote OF Lewis IL Machen OF Alcxan-
dria, and so insure the reelection OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT j. Taylor Ellyson,
who. as chairman Of the State Democra-
tic Committee, Is closely allied with
the machine.
Not Always IN Ringmnn.
This leads 10 the statement that
several papers of the State have seen
tit TO, charge that I am n candidate
brought out by the ring in their inter
ests. can assure the writers that
the ring has no very great friendship
for me, and il knows that when differ
from their views. | never hesitate In
following my own convictions and have
always done what / considered to be
for the best interests of the people.
without regard TO others"
In support Of this assertion, Mr..
Wedderburn states that on the oc-
casions he has run for State Senator
from the Fourteenth Senatorial Dis
trict. the ring" always opposed him:
that he was n delegate TO the May con
vention. and worked to secure a direct
vote for election OF United States SEN
ators by the people, and that he sup
ported II. ST. George Tucker for Gov
ernor four years ago. Mr. Wcdder-
burn closes this section of his paper
with defense of ring methods and
an appeal 10 the people to retain tried
men in office, saying:
Il believe in organization. knowing,
as every sensible man who knows
aught OF politics must know, that no
party can succeed unless organized;
dicta ton, however, is another matter.
and should not be tolerated All this
talk about rings comes from the ring
on the outside which desires TO become
The Ring with a big r on the inside
Between the two, the people are n
court OF last resort, and must decide
whether IL is the part OF wisdom to
turn out capable. honest, patriotic, en-
perienced men, who have been tried
and proven, and substitute as an ex-
pertinent inexperienced and untried
men"
Mr.. Wedderburn goes on to say that
he supported Messrs. Martin and Swan
son In the last senatorial campaign
He charges that the present system in
vogue in State and county affairs is
eXtraVagant and wasteful; that taxes
and licenses are eXccssiYe; that road
funds are wasted that criminal eX-
penses are excessive; that legal DELAYS
are expensive and annoying. and should
be corrected; that the present system
Of assessment and liquor license is
wrong: that the fee system
should be abolished and all officials
paid fair salaries, while all fees should
go into the State treasury; that the
public service should be run on bust
ness principles. and that the children of
The State should be furnished with free
ext hooks