The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-11
Underwood VS.. Hobson

Dr, James Capnon. Jr.. writes In recent
issue Of the Christian Advocate as follows:
Tho political situation In Alabama Is drawing
national attention The contest for the gov
ornorship VIII be fought very largely on the
prohibition issue and this same question wi1
figure IN tho race for United States senator be-
tween Nohson and Underwood. There is great
objection by the Underwood supporters to aov
discussion of the liquor question in this cam
pairn. 1t Is intlmated that Mr. Underworld
ability as floor leader of the house and his vic
tory in the passage of the tariff bill should set
lie the question. and temperance people
deprecate raising the temperance issue.
What Proper Position?
Now this question might as well he openly
discussed, and the position of temperance work
ers be thoroughly understood There IS in our
Judgment no issue IN the social, business and
moral life Of the city, State or nation equal in
appearance to the prohibition issue. Tariff
currency, trust, Mexico, all these are great cues
tons, but all OF them combined do not affect tho
lives Of the people of our entire country as
greatly does the traffic in intoxicating nouors
Ihey may affect trade conditions temporarily,
and may cause some business failures and some
Idle workmen, but the liquor traffic is contin-
nous. never-endng cause Of business failures and
+ eft Idle and wrecked worRnen There may be
Some instances when a mans advocacy of pro.
hihiton will not be sufficient to vote for
him In reference to another man. who is luke
warm or who is even opposed to prohibition,
/ His personal character or his mental qualifica-
tons may be such as to make him an un-
worthy representative. But a Of small IN
fuenCe who will vote right, is to be preferred
/ to an exceedingly able who Is opposed to
prohibition. IF mans personal habits are ex.
ccllent hts general character above reproach
! his intellect strong and his position on other
issues entirely satisfactory. and yet he il op-
posed to prohibition. such a ought to he
defeated If prohibition is really desired He Is
far more dangerous than a dissipated man or
a brewer. His virtues give strength to his
opposition The saloon rejoices when II car
get such man IN the lawplaktnG body He Is
quoted final authority IN the newspaper
and IS the toast Of the dram drinkers 1t is near
ly always safe rule In the liquor fight TO fight
ANYTHING Or anybody the saloons favor. Find out
which the club men the professional pol
it.eians, the so-called liberal element the brew
ers and the saloon keepers want and vote
AGAINST him. and IT will he right ninety nine
times out of hundred
Which the Great Issue?
The whole matter resolves itself into settle
ment Of which is the great, the overshadowing
issue, Those who believe that the tariff the
currency tho trusts are the greatest issues, will
give preference to the man who ia sound on
these questions and will tolerate very ICON.
sentative views the prohibition question
But II man believes that prohibition is greater
than any Of these questions indeed than all Of
them combined. when is Iukewarm or
uncertain on this question, all disqualification
on other questions are of no avail for they are
secondary. He is wrong on the all-!mportant
question, and that would be fatal If the ISSUE
/, were another than the liquor question. why
should men who believe the prohibition question
to be the most important issue before the people
today act differently from the way that other
people act under similar circumstances? II men
are expected TO vote against an able man because
they do not agree with his views on the tariff
or currency or trusts. ought they not certainly be
expected TO vote against an able man. with whose
views on the liquor question they can not
agree?
It all resolves itself into the one question
(Which Is the greatest issue7" Is II prohibit
ton? If 1t is, the second question follows OF
necessity namely. How does the candidate
stand this the greatest issue?"
Why should believers In prohibition be con-
sldered foolish and narrow, cause they prefer
q candidate who makes prof oitlon the greatest
issue to a who places other things first
and considers prohibition hardly secondary, in
Aeed almost accidental incident?
This Is the question for Alabama to decide
4 Is the constitutional amendment forbidding the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating beverages
/ the most important issue before the country?
/ II II is, how do these two candidates stand on
this question? VIII both Of them favor the
constitutional amendment and vote for II in
the senate? If both men declare that they will
both work and vote to give to the people the
right to vote that constitutional amend
ment, then the issue Is removed to consid-
cradle extent, and other questions may be given
very great weight But suppose one candidate
refuses TO work for the amendment, and also
refuses even to vote for it, and the other prom
ises not only 10 vote but to work for II Wig
orousy from intense conviction, what shall tenn
perance workers do? Shall they deliberately
vote for a man go to the house or to the sell
ate, when they know that he viii not only not
represent their wishes. but that he will oppose
them. and for years will record the vote OF
the state against the wish of the people on this,
the most important issue?
The question for prohibition workers in Ala
hama and similarly for other States is How
do Hobson and Underwood stand on this, the
most important question: What are their
records? What do they promise to do o.
this question II electad7 The answers to those