The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-17
The Democrats View,

The letter or Judge Christian, which appears
in this issue advertisements. does not carry
the endorsement of the Democrat. Judge Chris
tan says that he has lived in Richmond fifty
years and that he believes in local option
He further believes he says that prohi-
hiton would be curse. We anxious to
know If Judge Christian ever voted for local
option. We are anxious further to know why
Judge Christian believes prohibition would be a
curse. Judge Christian is not alone in his opin-
ions. All of the brewers distillers and saloon
keepers of~the State think. propose to believe
just what Judge Christian says he believes
Judge Christian believes that men should pay
high license in the city OF Richmond to do
business. Every knows that these liquor
dealers ship their liquor into dry territory and
thus defeat the Will Of the people in dry terri
tory, Judge Christian seems TO think that pro-
hibitton which would stop this kind of business
would he curse We do not think so but think
Il would be a blessing. Judge Christian says
that he has lived in Richmond fifty years and
proceeds to tell about the disastrous effects OF
prohibition in Kansas and other States We
have seen yetters from Ex-Governor Stubbs and
Governor Hodges, OF Kansas recHng the great
benefits OF prohibition in that State. We have
heard men living In Kansas. whom we have
known for forty years, and who have lived there
thirty years, and whom we know to
he thoroughly reliable men who went from this
county to Kansas, speak Of the great benefits
o. prohibition in that State. We prefer TO be-
ileVe the testimony Of these good people who
live IN N2fSaSs rather imam adopt the opinion OF
Judge Christian who has lived in high license
Richmond half century and in that long
1,umber Of years has not learned any better idea
of the liquor question than those held by the
brewers, dstillers and saloonkeepers We mo-
t{Co that Judge Christian in his letter says that
he is very charitable TO those who have said
ugly, untrue and unjust things about him
We have not seen any OF these ugly and untrue"
statements. We noticed that Judge Christian
presided at the meeting held in Richmond which
hr-pg4 Ca1Ff
and that ne introduced a man named Goodwin,
from Alabama and that this man Goodwin used
very abusive language about the Anti Saloon
league leaders, calling them wolves in Sleeps
clothing character defamers and men who
would stab in the back. Judge Christian heard
the statements made by this man and was, as
above stated the presiding officer, but failed To
disapprove OF the language of this speaker. A
great many men were surprised that Judge
Christian sat quietly and heard this vituperation
and failed to utter word OF disapproval
The silence of Judge Christian that occa-
sion has been criticised. and we think Justly So
We presume this criticism IS what he complains
of and calls ugly and untrue" statements about
him.
II Judge Christian thinks that his opinion
about Statewide prohibition in Kansas is of more
weight than the testimony Of the men mentioned
above who live in Kansas. he is very much mis-
taken
We believe that the people of Bedford county
and the whole State of Virginia. have made up
their minds that they do not want saloons and
dspensares with their degradation and drunk
ennesr, given the sanction of law any longer.
and that the letters of Judge Christian. DR.
Mcclure. Cabell and the folly of the tobacco
soarecrow will not relieve the situation for the
liquor traffic
The people have never had opportunity
to give their opinion this question before and
they are going to give liquor traffic an everlast-
ing knockout this time
Judge Christians letter appears adver-
ttsement in this issue. The Democrat does not
think like Judge Christian. and invites its friends
To read the editorial columns of this issue We
want the people to know Just where stand
on this question. The tobacco scarecrow IL the
biggest folly which the liquor men have put
out yet. Surely the liquor do not think
that the voters Of this county men who can
be frghte ned by hobCoblns.RedfordD Democrat