The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-17
THEN AND NOW.


II ia exceedingly amusing to watch the efforts
Of the wet press and the friends OF the licensed
saloon to discount the leadership Judgment.
ability. patriotism and sincerity OF the great
majority Of Virginians who are opposed to the
licensed saloon. These efforts are all the more
amusing because Of the eageruess and haste with
which these same wet interests heap enconums
On the work OF the very whom they de-
nounce and excoriate as hypocrites, fanatics and
ereamers
The effort of these interests Is to draw off
from their allegiance to the interests that have
placed Virginia In the place she now occupies in
regard to Temperance legislation the people Of
Virginia who believe In the lessening of the evils
OF liquor and the substitution In their place Of
those who have in season and out OF season OPP
posed every move for the advancement of tenn
perance in Virginia
The most amusing of these efforts is that of the
Ne,rs Leader to set itself up a genuine tenn
perance leader and advocate of the present
temperance laws of Virginia 1t pats itself de-
lightedly on the back for what Virginia has
achieved
The Byrd liquor law was passed by the General
Assembly OF Virginia In 1908.
The Nens Leader at that time opposed the law
and was as bitter In its denunciation OF the
leaders Of the temperance movement and their
proposals as 1t lie today. The sole difference
today is that the Nsps Leader continues to de-
nounce and oppose the efforts OF those same
leaders and the leaders themselves. but pro-
nounces the work they have done good.
In 1908. when opposing the Byrd Law. the
Ae,os Leader spoke follows:
I'VE never have been able to understand
why or how q saloon Is public nuisance.
necessarily All this outcry against liquor
against the thing itself and against the use
OF it-seems to us to be useless and exag-
gerated ard In the face Of the plain facts.
The way to fight the saloon Mr.. Cannon,
Ia not to lay down the dogmatic theory-in
the face OF the law and the facts-that 1t is
= common nuisance but to reduce its Gus
TONERS to men of tuu age, Judgment and re-
sponsibtlits, and able to use its teares IN
proper moderation" -Neos Leader, Thurs
day. February 81. 1905.
ASatn: THE members of the Virginia General
Assembly, In our view. have permitted them
selves TO be scared and stupefed by shadow.
frightened from their propriety by phantom"
Monday, March 4. 19os-the day following the
passage OF the Byrd liquor law
Speaking Of this came law lthe work OF the
same leaders whom 1t then and now attacks) the
He.cs Leader OF yesterday after critieizing those
who wrought the passage of the law and are now
standing for the advance of their work to the
whole State. says:
TN standing for local option this latter class
OF voters does not wish to hazard the good
virginia has achieved. We want TO press on
70 better things. but propose to move in
the light OF experience, at the orders Of cool
Judgment and in the determination not to slip
backward"
Ii the Ant-Saloon League Of Virginia has been
able to bring about the good Virginia has
achievedr II every bit Of Its restrictive and
prohibitory legislation is now approved by those
who have always opposed 1t, can it not be
trusted to advance the best interests of the State
Sill In advocating Statewide prohibition?