The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-01

| in our own State. then the citaes beyond our
borders would ply this trade. OF course. whom
4 ever this proposition was mentioned all the
cities in which the sale Of liquor was licensed
| united to resist such legislation At length,
| after the relief which was sought had been
over and over again denied the citizenship OF
this State began to demand, and have been
| for several years continuing TO demand the
right to vote the question for the entire State,
and whenever they have come to the Legislature
ASKING for this privilege they have been met
| by the same consolidated city opposition
IL ought to be plain pike star to the
ordinary observer of public affairs that Viz
ginia means to have the enabling act. It Is
| almost II not quite equally plain that Virginia
is going TO attempt Statewide prohibition Her
| progress toward this may be hindered here and
there. The will of the people may be temporarily
thwarted. Still it Is as certain as anything in
the future be that the reign of the open
saloon Is ended In this State. If cities per-
sist not only in resisting the demand of the
people for an opportunity to vote on the ques-
ton, but If when that opportunity shall be given,
they also unite with all their political power
In supporting the open saloon, the rift between
city and country will be deepened and the di-
vision which, under all circumstances. is to
be deplored will be more marked and perma~
nent.
1t Is high time that thinking folk in our
cities, the men who command the vast business
interests that center there. should ask the
question and answer 1t honestly and fearlessly.
whether the cities have not already gone too
far in identifying themselves with business
which is already practically outlawed. Rich
mond city has five representatives in the house
| of delegates. Richmond Is the greatest of our
Virginia cities. in history, in finance, in COM
merce and manufacture, an educational center
and the capital of the State. No one can
! blink the fact that the issue tried out in the
| house of delegates on Thursday evening was a
straight issue in it's essential significance be-
| tween the continuance OF the saloon and its
! abolition On this issue all five of the represen-
tatives of this city, this community of churches,
| of religious organizations. Of colleges and
schools, of banks and trust companies OF insur-
every variety of their calling, OF ministers and
| teachers, of lawyers and physicians of sturdy
and honest laborers with their hands, of enter
| prising manufacturers in all manner Of praise
| worthy occupations-all five of the represe nta-
| tives of this community lined up with the open
| saloon.
OF the nienteen who voted in the house against
| the enabling act, fourteen represented cities.
one was from county Immediately adjoining
| Richmond another from district Immediately
| adjoining South Richmond, another was from
a county Immediately adjacent to Alexandria,
and there only two In the entire nineteen
who represented country districts at all removed
from the immediate influence of the cities.
| Certainly there Is food for earnest thought in
| this Observation-Disclosures Herald