The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-08

Our la;e, lamented, genial friend and COM
rade Judge Samuel f. Witt. had before him
on trial in the Hastings Court. of this city an
old coloreG man, charged with having beaten
his wife with A number Of witnesses
testified against him, telling how savagely he
had attacked her. and she herself was present
IN the court. with the various wounds bandaged
and making quite pitiful figure The jury
quickly brought in verdict of guilty, and the
Judge asked the negro If he had anything TO
say before the sentence was pronounced. In
response he. spoke as follows: Judge, them
niggers told the truth. 1t happened just like
they say. But the whole and in the present
circumstances ] am willing to let the matter
drap"
The story has some pertinence to the present
situation. The wet newspapers. the remarkable
gentlemen IN charge of the Local Self Govern
ment lea que headquarters. and pretty much all
others who gave their voice and influence against
the Punishment of the saloon from the state.
seem not only willing but even anxious in all
the circumstances the whole, to ''let the
matter drap" Very we'll, make no COM
plant. anil unless some special occasion arises,
we shall make further reference to TINS
anomalous, interesting, and altogether lovely
situation Nevertheless. there are few morals
that ought TO be pointed before these stirring
times, through which we have been passing
grow dim in our memories, We shall attempt
TO point few, with no pettiness OF spirit
nd a particle OF malice or ill-will toward
anybody anywhere on the race OF the green
earth.
/. Ministers not supposed to know anything
about business matters and public politics and
the like. Yet it may happen that one who is
more less detached from situation. in
spite of ether imperfections may get view
OF things worth while to~4nore matured and ex-
perienced people. Years ago began In
modest way to point out to Richmond folk
that Richmond was not Virginia. and that the
leadership of Richmond In politics, in finance,
ia commerce in education in all the varied
activities of a great community like this. would
do we'll 10 reckon frankly with that tremendous
fact. The warning was needed, but 1t seems to
have produced very little effect. II our great
city Is to maintain her prmacy In the State. IL
she is to hold securely the affection and pride
of our Virginia people and of those sections OF
the South which she is dependent for her
trade, she must, in determining her public pol
icies, keep these people in mind. Richmond
tty, in this recent election, by vote OF a few
over 2,ooo. asserted her independence OF Vir-
ginia, and, in measure her resentment at
any attempt on the part of the State to control
her 1t Is perfectly safe to say that the liquor
establishments, by which we mean the dlstll-
licries, the breweries, the wholesale dealers the
retail dealers and the saloons furnished di-
rectly through the men under their practical
and Immediate control twice this number OF
votes.
The vote against the Punishment Of the saloons
was also greatly increased by totally differ
ent element of our people. Scores hundreds.
lserhaps thousands of our prosperous folk, con-
stitutng what we may call the Club element
IN this city, men who for the most part
identified in honorable and useful ways with
tire professional and business life of the city,
but who know very little of the countryside
and who do not appreciate at its real value the
sturdy. strong and invaluable citizenship of the
State, helped to bring this result Now the
thing which we desire to emphasize is, that this
result tends to isolate this city from the affections
and sympatnies of the vast majority of the citi-
lens of the Commonwealth. We have illus
tration of this game thing smaller scale
In the singular persistency of the State fair
authorities in running open barrooms in their
grounds. They have had abundant testimony,
furnished most respectful, and earnest forms,
that the people of Virginia would rejoice If they
would close the barrooms during the fair. and
thus refute to give their respectable counte-
rance and support to a business regarded by
the people Of Virginia as immoral and injurious
1t remains TO be seen whether these gentlemen,
in the light of the demonstration which has
Just occurred. will change their course, or
whether, for the sake of few hundreds OF dol
lars, which will come to them directly from
the sale of liquor on their grounds, they will
continue to defy the sentiment OF the very peo-
pie whose support and patronage they seek
Since this was written the fair managers have
decided not to sell liquor the grounds).
2 In Settling up we must not fail to say
this: At the beginning of the campaign large
company Ct men--under whose leadership we
do not know-signed call for meeting of
protest against Statewide prohibition 1t was
given out that these gentlemen took this step
because of their belief in what they call local
self government, that is, because they believe
that in matter of this kind the smaller political
unit ought to act rather than the entire State
1t was perfectly honorable position. 1t did
not necessarily involve any approval Of the liquor
traffic. Jne declarations of the leading men
lin this company Of several hundred were en-
titled to be taken at their face value SO far
so good. II these men who were apparently in
the leadership Of this movement had directed
the subsequent campaign conducted under their
name. there would probably be little occasion
for complaint. and more occasion for the ex-
ira binary declaration OF the chairman of their
first and only mass-meeting that 1t was 1.-The
proudest movement" Of his life. life, by the
way which must have had many moments OF
ust ana noble pride. The meeting at the
Academy. to which alusion has just been made
adjourned after two dgnfied and strong ad-
dresses had been made and scurrilous and