The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-13
Tho Enabling Vet.

couraeeynent with reference to the passage Of I
the enabling act by the next house of delegates
II is evident from present reports that we have
lost nothing in the house though there has been
some switching of wet and dry candidates in |
different sections Of the State. And from what
learn Z appears that our cause IN the
aeuat,. Is more hopeful and that It is quite
probable that the enabling act will lie passed
10y that body next year.
We can hardly conceive that those ir the lead
in the political affairs Of tho State would care
to go into the United States senatorial contest
in comparatively short time with another
defeat of the enabling act to their account
MANY temperance men who have long been loyal
to those with whom they have been affiliated
politically for many years arc becoming hearth
" tired Of the very unreasonable denial Of the
right to vote on Statewide prohibition. Such
men finally reach the limit Of patience and then
nothing on earth can control them when they
get ready TO rebuke the palpable permission
of minority rult. That is to say that the re-
/ fusal especially by the senate to permit the
people to vote on Statewide prohibition IS a pro
lection of the interests Of 797 liquor establish
ments in Virginia rather than consideration
OF the appeals of thousands upon thousands OF
citizens who want simply the right to register
their convictions on the liquor question
/ Ii also appears evident that should the enah-
ling act I've defeated again by the senate IN WA
nothing could prevent the people Of Virginia
from rising up and making the question of state
vide prohibition the most promInentissIe In the
state. If anyone is inclined to think Statewide
is unduiy prominent now he would reaii2e in
event Of the defeat of the enabling act In 1914
that there had been only gentle zephyrs IN for
mer years 1t would be like the difference be-
tween the rumhllnG Of thunder and the cyclonic
power of a gathering and outraged pubhc opinion
should the enabling act be defeated in 1914 the
, question would not be disposed Of at all hut
brought more powerfully to the front. and both
house and senate for l9l6 would be elected upon
the one issue of the enabling act or perhaps
, upon the straightout proposition OF Statewide
+t,af Lac rfgl4 o
do not mean to say that efficient men on this
one question would not he elected. and also
on other vital questions; but the on" issue OF
prohibition would be paramount that thou
sands OF citizens would not occupy aemselNes
SO much with many other important questions
as the one propostion-~the prohibition of the
liquor traffic in Virginia. candidate for the
. house or senate would not loom so large IN the
a minds Of the people generally as TO his ability
, 70 leeislate for better systems Of taxation
= schools good roads. etc-the people would want
/ to know beyond shadow Of doubt If he
y were right on the prohibition question and many
- Of them would be much concerned about
the Others The people Of this State e hecom-
e ing heartily tired Of the dallying which has
l. characterized the treatment Of the enabling act
for the last two sessions of the legislature, and
IL the legislature of 1914 should refuse 10 pass
S the enabling act then lamost absolutely GER
f tain revolution the part of the people can
Ire ch rFcd up to no other source han tha'
: responsible for such defeat
article
r. date nor threaten. but merely to give forecast
: of the situation as 1t In the event OF
l. the defeat of the enabling act The Anti-Saloor
Il league and its leaders have been exceedingly
conservative In their demands aud it is ar
" undeniable fact that have not made any
d particular move unless were well assured
o that public sentiment demanded it
- The people Will not longer hold themselves
in check in Virginia, and can only sugges
what we sincerely believe to he the feeling of the
z people with reference 10 the enabling act The
Anti Saloon league has definite plans beyond
v the enabling act. which II has sincerely anc
r earnestly tried TO have passed at the last two
;, sessions Of the legislature. It's province Is no
to stand for or against men, factions or parties
but 1t does feel a sincere interest in the STATE
of Virginia and wishes to solve the prohibition
. problem by the lines of the least resistance ant
without creating any sort of divisions within
r the State. But the people who are sovereign ant
p long suffering elect to do as they please
and as we have already observed, their patience
is practically ont by unreasonable delay
e on the liquor question. and those who oppos
~ their lust demands now may surely look 70
vigorous fighting in the not far distant futur
If we read the sign of the times aright.-Vir
ginia Issue.