The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-22

care of property are making it mandatory that
their employees should eschew liquor. The gov
eminent. while legaiizing the traffic and per
uniting its citizens to be ruthlessiy slaughtered
by the thousands and multiplying State laws by
issuing internal revenue license in communities
where a majority of its citizens voted against It,
acknowledges that it is not for the welfare OF
the country when IL denies 1t to its soldiers and
seamen The proficiency OF the Workmanship
OF the army and navy since the abolition OF the
"canteen" is about all the evidence that is need
ed to show the country that national prohibition
would make men and the business OF the country
better in every way.
To those who expatiate on and hug to their
breasts the sweet fallacy that prohibition does
not prohibit we would say that they are nursing
one OF the most transparent mirages that ever
existed There are no laws that completely pro
hibit, never have been and never will be. Laws
made to regulate. Our solons are not fools
enough TO even believe that the statutes they
enact will entirely prohibit anything
The laws against murder robbery, usury and
other crimes do not stop them; neither docs the
local option or prohibition law entirely stop
drinking or abolish the illegal sale OF liquor.
They are not made for that purpose. But they
do prohibit the legal sale OF II, which fact is be-
vond controversy as no licensed barrooms can
be found in q local option county in Virginia or
In prohibition Maine. Kansas. or any other State
that is under prohibition
Why not legalize murder. robbery, arson and
other crimes because those crimes are committed
and prisoners are often cleared on legal techni-
calities9 There would really be more in
1t than there is in this cry that prohibition does
not prohibit
With national prohibition we would expect
the law to be violated, as all laws are. since 1t
Is not possible to violate law until we have
But II would be possible for the State to
enforce In large measure the laws when the ma
tfonal government is divorced and forced to dis
solve partnership with the liquor traffic
One great mistake made by the temperance
speakers is that they apologize to the rumseer.
telling him that he Is fns fellow aaj one
of natures noblemen, but 1t is the business that
they abusing The lphonseL Lord
+
fore we can wipe the traffic out How would
the enforcement Of the laws against murder pan
! out II the court apologized TO the murderer
telling him that he was fine fellow, etc, but
that they were after the crime and not him7 We
notice that some people advocate moral
suasion to make people good; but the courts put
the culprit In prison to effect reformation.
hor ~ ir ho
barrel would not cut up any oapers whatever,
but when mans cupidity and love of gain IN
serts spigot in the barrel. and passes the rum
out to the individual. then 1t begins to get in
its hurtful work Even 30 with murder and all
violations OF the law. They lie dormant until
the spigot is put into the barrel.
We believe that this reform is in the near
future-as said in the acknowledgement
! the people beginning to realize that II Is not
a question OF money. but ono OF morality, and
that they cannot afford to capitalize crime, for
to do so would penalize morality and everything
else that is worth while.
| Reno Nevada was built up from n desert
center of 10000 souls into 4arge. lively city
chiefly by the divorce mill but public sentiment
became aroused at the social evil, and an amend
ment was made 10 the divorce laws which will
to a great extent blot out that evil.
No structure stand unless based on a solid
foundation, whether 1t be the human body a
village State. nation. political party or anything
else. There must be pure, healthy moral activ.
ity 10 develop and 20 ahead
In these deductions make no claims to a
prophetic vision. but simply base them on the
] signs OF the time which do not require tele-
scope TO Many people while being advo.
Gates of temperance. and believing In 1t, have
hesitated to give their approval because OF their
! reluctance to interfere with what they term the
rights OF Others and many fear that the liquor
tax being removed. the State would have a
deficit. but those people beginning to realize
that deficit of morals brains and intellect is
more deplorabe than that OF revenue.
People advocating q sans Christmas and
sane Fourth of July; let's knock out this liquor
business and have a sane nation.
PERFECT OUR PRIMARY SYSTEM
Governor Stuart's special message and the
careful consideration being given by the legisla-