The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-01
In Defense of the Local
Self-Governnent League

Cannon. Hough. Peters. and other
anti-saioon workers, and this question.
do we need such men to help us
run our State?" This bothered mo-
body. Prohibition leaders only
smiled, for they knew nothing in the
campaign would do more to disgust
the public and show the hand of the
linuor interests.
Virginians know Cannon, Hough,
Peters, and all the other work ers
against the saloon. They know these
men have worked day and night
against the saloon at n great sacrifice
10 themselves, not only not receiving
any salary from Anti-Saloon league,
but also giving large sums Of money
themselves to the cause. am not
prepared to say to what extent this
could be said of the other side.
V;rginians honor these men for what
they have done, for what they are.
FOR the enemies they have made. and
for the folks that curse them. This
IIanly cartoon greatly increased the
dry vote.
There are other things. but this
Is enough. and 1t Is recalled after the
battle. not to criticise the Local Self
Government league, but to defend 1t,
and give credit to whom credit is
due, These gentlemen rejoice with
us that our victory Is so large; they
propose to enforce the law; they claim
To have fought clean and honora BILE
fight. They must have desired a big
majority, or they would not rejoice
with us in it. They must believe the
law can be enforced, or they would
Eot propose to do 1t. They must
have used these means to produce a
big majority since they are glad we
got 1t. They felt the end would JUS
-.
tive was good. and they can say they
have fought clean. honest fight.
l may be mistaken, but think the
local self-government needs some more
money to wind up it affairs and pay
It's funeral expenses The reason /
gay this Is because of a conversation
heard between three men who were
greatly interested in its work, be-
cause a.. what they had at stake.
One said, We'll. what must we do
about it?" Another said. Il guess
we better borrow the money and pay
the fellows for what they did for
us" Now I feel sure the league
made fifteen thousand votes for us,
and / desire to show my appreciation
ty helping them. /, therefore, desire
{ to offer my services to help raise
THAT money they owe THE fellows
for what they did for u.s." If that Is
what those members of the league
were talking about. I have only one
condition. / have always felt such
money matters should be open and
clear, and ] would like an itemized
account of who contributed every
dollar Of the campaign fund and how
IL was spent
We must stop criticisinE these gen.
tlemen and cooperate with them.
, They rejoice with us in the great
majority they 50 efficiently helped
us win. They propose to help us
enforce the law. So l am writing
this to make the matter clear and
stop all my friends from criticism.
1t Is time to move forward with
united hands and hearts, with all
differences buried. as we march for
ward TO brighter day for our glo-
rious Commonwealth. or words to thai
effect. We must do 1t notwithstand-
ing the fact that the time-honored.
invalienable. age-iong Jeffersonian
doctrine of local self-government has
been ruthiessly murdered by Vir-
ginians in the effort to wash their
hands of the dy-blighting. mind
wreck ing. soul-damning liquor traf-
fic We must get together. We are
together now. Local self government
Is dead. and they have nothing left
but; league. The saloon is dead. and
We must scratch out anti-saloon and
leave the word league" Then we
will unite in one big league of Vir-
GINA brothers. TO usher in our bet
ter day. Don't that sound good? /
hope / have made myself clear. My
heart is right. but my head is little
cloudy.
J. NJ. ROWLAND.
Richmond. Va.