The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-19
Local seIf-Government ana License.
w. NJ. Bickers.

! W. NJ.
/ Local self government is In harmony with
our fundamental social adolns only as such
governmental functions circumscribed within
I the limits of just regard for the rights and
welfare of the State at large. Otherwise 1t
would he local selfish government" and indie
| feasible by any recognized standard Of political
economy. AS there Is no such recognized thing
/ as absolute personal rights. there can be no
such thing absolute community rights, else
we would have social organism.
Each city and county in State may fix
/ It's own local tax rate and make its petty
! penal code hut who will say that Il is in
! fringement Of the right of local self govern
ment for the state to Ak the State tax rate
and maintain general penal code? Then why
Is II claimed if the sovereign people Of a State
decree by large majority vote that a certain
traffic In any locality is detrimental TO the
State at large and prohibit II within the State
such act is subversive of local self-Eovern-
mem?' Per contra, II Is subversive Of the
States rights If any locality promote generally
harmful thing
Does state legislative body hesitate to
enact Statewide laws for the general welfare
| because of opposition TO such laws by certain
communities? Surely any such consideration
would defeat well ordered state autonomy.
Now why this hue and cry about infringing
on the prerogative of local self government by
enacting Statewide or general law prohibit
Ing the liquor traffic? DO we hear of organic
ed efforts of local self government to defeat
any oLher proposed law or suCn protests against
any existing general law? Why. oh, why. is
this one thing to be singled out as undemacrat-
&c and vio1atTve of local seT-government?
II the licensed liquor traffic Is deemed by
the people of Virginia to be inimical to the
States general welfare II should be prohibited
| Notwithstanding particular communities may
very strenuously object that they want either
local option or want liquor cold In their mtds,
| for revenue" business prestige 60 that
/ they may use It for their own comfort
| Suppose, for the arguments sake, that Rich
mond, the capital city, should desire to retain
the whs&ey business and strenuousy object
I TO giving 1t up. Notwithstanding the sentiment
| Of the State regards the traffic as harm
full TO the highest moral and material interests
| of the State large, what just equitable
right has Richmond to supply dry localities
/ with the beverage or to be rendezvous for
| the thirsty from such dry localities or to put
| temptation in the way of men? Or vet to do
| hurt to her citizens who none the
less the citizens of the state?
While IS true that man may he a
| local optionist" and local dry man, it Is
significant that generally speaking if you
scratch a local optionist you will discover a
wet" ndvocate-not necessarily nor yet SO
generally tippler, but advocate of the
principle of liquor license And, by the same
| token, 1t will he found that the real motive
| that underlies the local option local self
government organized efforts Is antagon1*,n
| of the prohibition principle, both local and
! Statewide. which Is not saying that every IT.
/ dividual in the ranks is advocate, al
though his attitude throws the weight of his
! influence Enthusiastically in that direction.
Now, 1t is. mistake for the Local Self
/ Government Academy meeting TO be heraldcd
a mass meeting If Richmonds business
| men, for, without rejection on those of that
class represented in the meeting. 1T will hardly
| be claimed by the ardent license adVo-
Gates that anything like a majority of Rich.
mond's business men took part in the meet
ing That the organization Of the Local Self
| Government people is nsidious holsterinR
| of the license principle is plainly evidenced
| by the stress laid upon the alleged infirmity
of prohibition by States and tine absence of any
! reference to the success of prohibition under
| local option At any rate, the purpose of the
| meeting confessed the platform tn
be the defeat of Statewide prohibition and that
platform is full OF holes a sifter-and
/ larger holes.
All attempts 10 defeat Statewide prohibition
| will prove abortive The record of the prohi-
hition States ia overwhelming the dry side
for material prosperity and general orderliness
whereas, aside from any statistical study the
observation of the Virginia on the dire
full effects Of the liquor traffic is quite suf
| fcient to cause the electorate of the Old
Mother State to put under the han Of a State
wide law such a prolific source Of evil. And
! this will he consistent with the foundation
principle of all law. which Is TO make Il easier
for men to do right and harder for them TO
do wrong, and with the motive Of our great
Declaration of Independence "the right Of life
| liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and Of
our national constitutions purpose to "estab-
| lish justice, insure domestic tranquility pro
/ vide for the commpn defense, promote the
general welfare and the blessings OF
/ liberty TO ourselves and our posterity"
Richmond Va, May II, 1914,
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