The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-10
MApr.pENNINGToN AxT1. SHIPPING R1LL.

MAPP-PENNINGTON ANTT-sHIPPTSG BILL
The article in The Tirgtnian Of yesterday
morning by Dr. J. II Light on Pulling the
Tigers Teeth" or Criticisms Of the Mapp-
Pennington Bill BY Certain Absentee Reform
ers" * specially interesting coming from the
former secretary Of publications Of the Anti
Saloon league Dr. Light was present at the
session Of the general assembly Of 1912 when
MI. Waiter Addison, If the Lynchburg News
secured the introduction of bill into the gen.
eral assembly prohibiting absolutely the ship
ments Of liquor from wet into dry territory
Mr.. Addisons bill was actively supported by
the Anti-Saloon League of Virginia but never
received favorable report from the committee
OF the house Of delegates, although the house
OF delegates voted for the Jordan bill by a ma
jority Of two to one. Having been present and
having witnessed that crushing defeat DR.
Light realized the truth Of the statement of
DR. Cannon. the state superintendent. In his
reply to the Lynchburg Netcs that a bill pro-
hibiting all shipments Of liquor from wet into
dry territory cannot be passed through the
general assembly" and. furthermore, that the
Mapp-Pennington bill is the best we can get
from this Legislature"
The morning Bryan Hquor organ, the Times
Dispatch. did its best 10 defeat the enabling act
in the general assembly. 1t could not look
with enuanimty upon the loss of its steady
liquor advertising patronage but after a ter
rife fight led by the Anti-Saloon League of
Virginia the enabling act was passed by the
casting vote Of the Lieutenant Governor break
Ing The tie. ANY sensible person who watched
the progress Of that fight knows that the pres
ent senate Of Virginia will not pass a drastic
anti-shippng bin. Bot defeated in its pur-
pose to prevent the passage Of the enabling
act the Tjmcs-Djspatch has recourse to its fay
critic weapon Of hypocrisy and enters the con
lict which will be terminated on the twenty
second ia yof September, by making studied
and determined effort not only to minimize the
leadership Of the Antisaloon league. but to also
destroy tho confidence OF the temperance peo
pie In the honesty and sincerity OF that leader
ship
Tho actions NJ this liquor organ would
really he amusing If they we're not so con
temptlbe. II declares, We believe the time
has come when temperance sentiment in Wiz
ginia Will approve and enforce an anti-shinmen,
law. But We believe that the people want ar
honest law, Can they get II? Are the cham
: pions q the enabling act afraid to give it,.
These are the concluding words of an edi
torial Of more than column in the issue O.
the liquor organ Of March Cd Coinmentin,
upon this editorial the BristotHcrald Courfe,
declares that the spectacle Of the Times,Dis
patch posing a champion of tht
cause Of real temperance is something unnsua
under the sun. 1t is so unusual as to Great,
reasonable doubt TO our contemporary
motives, 1t has never offered the slightest pro
test against the intra,State shipments OF whis
key from wet territory into dry territory
II has not at any time shown the Least
sympathy with any movement against tn.
liquor traffic. Therefore ii appears in 9
rather strange role when ii crticises proposed
prohjbitory legislation on the ground that The
law would be too liberal"
What right has this liquor organ TO Offer
ary advice TO the temperance people Of yjr
ginia7 When has it ever favored any temper
ance legislation? II fought the Mann law. /,
fought the BYRD law # criticised the leader.
Of the Anti-saIoon league In both Of those
battles. and tried To destroy the confidence OF
the Temperance people in them. IT now praises
both the Mann law and the Byrd law, which
zero put on the statute books when the Anti
Saloon league had the same leaders which II
has today II has just fought losing battle
with those same leaders. and is now irving
to persuade the people that those leaders are
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