The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-18
PEOPLES FORUM
Local SeIf-Goyernment.

Gan open letter to the Local Self Government
Association Of Virginia.)
To Chas A. Banton. NJ. d: Judge Geo. l.
Christian; NJ. NJ Gillian. Esq, and others
Genrlemen,~-I have read your call for mass
meeting to hear addresses and voice a protest
against the overthrow, you express 1t, of
who believe in olcsd seh-government par
tcipate in your meeting, regardless of where
they live in the State, Being one of those who
believe in that great principle and being un-
able to attend the meeting in Richmond. take
the liberty of addressing this letter to you
through the public press where 1 read your
invitation.
/ take IT there differences among
good citizens as to their desires to promote
those measures which make for the hest and
highest interests of all the people, We may
differ sometimes as to just what is wise. but
all good citizens seek what is best for the
of the people. Any who have not such de-
sres and aims be cassed with gen
tlemen like you good citizens I have al.
ways advocated the principle of local option
in regard to the sale of intoxicants, which
means prohibition in the locality voting for
il, and throughout the whole area in which
the voters live. The language of your call
and invitation implies that Statewide prohibi-
ton" is infrnical to the principle of local self
government Right there is where differ.
| want Statewide prohibition because | believe
in local elf-govegnment. | want the local
area to include all the people whose interests
affected by the sale Of liquor. | maintain
that the sale Of intoxioants anywhere in the
State affects the welfare OF all the people of
the State. and, therefore. all ought to have
voice in determining whether it shah be
sold anywhere IN the State. Certainly with
gentlemen of your intelligence this proposition
needs no argument, though you seem strangely
to have overlooked It,
Suffer to ask you a few questions. Is
1t not true that about so per cent of the crime
Of the country; so per cent Of the insanity in
men; SO per cent Of the pauperism Of the land.
is caused by drink? Do not the enormous
penses of the prosecution and care of crmi-
nails, of the of the poor and the insane,
come out of pockets of the people of the whole
State? Are they not therefore interested and
should they not have vote the question
OF it's sale? In applying the principle Of local
option do you limit II each ward of your
cities, extend il to the whole municipality?
Should ward give large majority against
election for the whole city, would you say the
principle OF local self-government was over
thrown In that ward? Statewide prohibition
does not violate the principle Of local option
any more than that would We simply ask that
ii be applied to the whole State on the same
principle which 1t is applied the cities
Again, gentlemen. the people of the whole
State should have vote on the question be-
cause the liquor men in your cities seek to
tricts in all manner Of ways BY advertisement.
circulars and otherwise they drum for trade
Take this case which came under my own obser-
walton. A grocer in dry" county got 100
pint bottles .of liquor, packed In sawdust. in
sugar barrel. The dealer in the city who