The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-12

~ stated that It's only objection to the PROPOSE
tion for Statewide prohibition is Its doubt as to
the enforcement of the law, regardless Of the
fact that throughout the campaign 1t has ad-
vanced every objection that could be conceived.
reasons why the proposal for Statewide pro-
hibit!on should not be enacted
On Thursday It declared that the Enabling
act is and has always been unconstitutional. On
yesterday It declared that were prohibition at
tainable at this time 1t would be doubIy desir-
able" for It's beneficial effect on the tax system
OF Virginia. This admission or more properly
this positive declaration, is as strong financial
platform as that laid down by so many Virginia
officials In their published declarations that Vir-
ginia need fear nothing from the financial effects
OF the prohibition law
The Netos Leader now, after having devoted
so much time to things that 1t declares are ut
terly unessential. has arrived at the conclusion
that prohibition is good If It will prohibit The
Nems Leader goes further and says that some
sortsAf prohibition will prohibit-the sort that
1t defines as local prohibition-hut that Statewide
prohibition is an utter impossibility The reason
that the Neics Leader thinks Statewide prohi-
bition will not be success is that it cannot be
enforced In the cities of Virginia, thereby de-
claring both by implication and effect that the
fault lies not with the law ITSELF. which the
Aeios Leader commends. but that the fault is
with the people who will not allow the law to be
enforced. This position and this declaration
mean two things-that the Christian law
abiding citizens of this city and other cities of
Virginia have not the moral stamina, backbone,
ability, patriotism and the integrity of civic
virtue that can enforce the laws of the land
How about 1t, citizens of Richmond? Are you
that sort of men? For its own part The Vir-
gilman does not believe 1t of you.
The Neies Leaders position means another
thing-that the cities Of Virginia are dominated
by the lawless elements of society-by the saloon
and its cohorts-to such an extent that the de-
cent citizens cannot enforce the law. In other
words, Richmond men either will not enforce the
law or cannot enforce it because of the domi
nation of their affairs by corrupt influences. The
backbone of these influences is the saloon To
any reasonable man the first step is to dethrone
these influences and the most effective and thor
ough means that ingenuity has been able to de-
wise to strip man of power Is to brand him
and his business as criminal in the eyes of the
law.
| This much for the Netos Leaders concessions
on the question of State~-ide prohibition. They
are In line with its other moves on the question
of temperance. to illustrate which The Virginian
would ask the following questions, which either
the Neies Leader or those who know Its history
may answer:
| Did the Necs Leader advocate or oppose the
original local option law In Virginia?
Did the Neics Leader advocate or oppose the
passage of the Mann law and the Byrd law, by
the effects of which the crossroads barroom,
which the Ne,os Leader recently stated is gone
forever" in Virginia sent where it belonged :?
! Has the Neacs Leader ever advocated single
temperance measure before the General Assembly
Of Virginia?
! We're the Mann law. the Byrd law, and the
local option law, for all of which the Mems
; Leader is now SO enthusiastic. introduced and
pushed to passage by the Virginia Association
for Local Sef-Government the Neaos Leaders
present ally, by any individual member thereof,
or by the men now leading the movement for
Statewide prohibition in Virginia and whom the
Neaos Leader has taken frequent occasion to de-
nounce as INSCRIPTIONS leaders and misguided
fanatics during the present campaign?
! Has the Netos Leader ever refused single
liquor advertisement. and is the cause of true
temperance advanced retarded by the adver-
tisement of intoxicating liquor?
Finally, if prohibition prohibits locally as con-
coded by the Netcs Leader, II prohibition is a
"doubly desirable" thing II "attainable at this
time" is it not insult to the character Of
Virginia citizenship to State that the Governor,
Attorney General, local officials and intelligent
manhood of Virginia cannot enforce the law Of
the land?
GOOD LESSON FROM COTTON
The FiT0fu;au has only sympathy for the cot