The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-21
7tlrRr II But OH issUE:
MN II THE SALOON


The Richmond Frrn.n9 Iogf7,0i or yesterday
rrinted an editorial, les Stick 70 the Issue
in which IL states that in the present campaign
in Virginia The issue is the one Of the F1fht
10 local selfF6 yernment."
ii is not surprising, ia view of he fact that
he Toar7sal is allowing its policy and attitude in
the Statewide issue q tae saloon TO be dictated
BY the liquor people. that it should be found
constantly in the endeayor to mislead, deceive
and catch the voters Of the state by specious
nloas. all aimed at the one end Of diverting at
enticn from the one single issue Of the saloon
Evidently there is some disagreement in the
direction Of the editorial policy of the journal.
Tor us osa~ columns Of the past few days and
weeks have been devoted most largely almost
exclusively to the discussion OF matters which
II now declares are absolutely unessential to the
question IN hand, In its liquor front-page,
anubIecoiumn. dorbe-leaded. blackface-type and
streamer headline editorial department ii has Of
late been discussing matters Of the following
widely diversified nature; August S, NO De
crease Of Criminal Expenses III Tennessee"
august e. The Truth More Eloquent Than
Denial--Aati-ro Tobacco Crusade Again August
II. Huge Dehcit For Virginia" August II,
state Cannot Issue Bonds, August -, Liar
ana Hobo Choice Terms" August 16, Bishop
i<iigo Contradicted" The virginian asks to be
excused 5ust here TO indulge in a smoker over
that very effective contradiction; August Is.
Prohibition In Carolina; August II, Prove
Failure Of tie Experiment" August 49, Rank
II
Works IN Tennessee" August 20 THE very day
The inside editorial declares there is only one
issue and that is local selfgoyernneut). the out
side bacl-face fellow screams Higher Taxes VIII
Follow"
So then from its Journey over fifteen States
having marched through Georgia, traned through
Tennessee. ana meaudt red goodness knows where
In those poor forsaken localities the inside edi-
torial returns soberl to the conclusion that there
IS only one issue and that issue is local option.
The Durham Aasco must have disheartened the
outside partner as well as the inside. for the
former has delcatey refrained from further
mention Of Carolina. while the latter proclaims:
1.-THE campaign -" Is not being fought In Geor
gia or Tennessee or North Carolina, Texas
o. Maine II further announces that it has
concluded me issue is not that of the exact nrm-
her OF drinks consumed in any one locality. or
che remarkable increase in crime" or the TN
crease In taxes
The domination OF the outside partner of the
double eofmns seems to have reacted oisas
trousy and In view oJ this domination 1T is
not surprising that The journal should lay down
the false premise that local self government is
tic issue In tie prohibition campaign. 1t is not
surprising that this paper should take SO abso-
futely untenahe position. when its own columns
FOR the past few weeks offer the most con-
1inoing testimony Of the fact that this issue.
which the journal claims IS the only question
al stake IS merely Of the manifold masks
provided BY The liquor dealers to conceal the
saloon in tbe background.
The issue in the present campaign is the saloon
We're there no saloons in Virginia there would
BE- no campaign The matter g, local self.
government is not even remotely connected with
tire question Of the saloon, for the liquor trarnc
Is legalzed by a Statewide law 1t is In the
state today because the State Of Virginia at large
Is authority for its being here. and only when
she state a whole votes to abolish the saloon
AN il be abolished. The city Of Richmond has
10 more authority to legalize a saloon in her
midst. under the local option and local self
government principle than has the country dis
rict where the saloon Is now outawed by State
rrohbitory law, right to reinstate IT, The.
STATE has the right Of Statewide prohibition OF
he liquor traffic just ii has the right Of State
ide prohibition Of the cocaine tras8c and muir
der, just as it has the right Of passing Statewide
aealth regulations that absolutely deny the right
u local self-government to the various localities
II Virginia. In fact, the laws Of the State in
regard to health regulations explicitly deny the
tight of individual localities 10 govern their own
ealth affairs in where the wider interest
u the State is concerned.
The issue in this campaign Is not local self
government nor local option The Issue the
orly issue. is-The Saloon.