The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-19
Prescription and Prohibition

THE Rev +. G.. Dinwiddie is a conspicuous
member of the organization which calls
itself the Anti-Saloon League because it may
get more votes under that description than
il il used some more accurate name such as
Aut-Local Government League, or Morality by
Legislation Society. His opponents call him
the national lobbyist Of the prohbitionsts,
and his friends by less repellent designa-
ton meaning the same thing. The reverend
gentleman is, whatever his official title may
be- among the most prominent workers In
this country for the destruction OF local self
government He may safely be assumed to
speak with authority: expression OF opin-
ion from him must be regarded as the voice
OF the prohibition movement.
Therefore, it would be judicious for the
voters OF Virginia to carefully weigh the Rev
Mr. !linwiddc's opinion of what constitutes
a dcsiidhlc candidate for public Office The
moral strength of the Statewide prohibition
lovcmcn may be Judged to an interesting
extent by examining the views of the anti
local government forces on this very IMPORT
ant matter
The Rev. Mr.. Dinwiddie. in All interview,
widely published and never disavowcd de-
clared. after the prohibitioniss convention
IN 1913, that the Anti-Saloon League would
remove from public life every man that did
not take the oath OF allegiance 10 the prin-
;iElcs OF the imperial Anti-Saoon Lea que. aud
is reported to have used words which sound
queer coming from a Christian pastors iiDy
however fitting they might BE- if used by Il
European war lord. They are: The graves
of man! State legislators and mclnbcrs Of
Congress mark our line Of march and maEy
mon" will doubtless be seen along our line
ot march toward nationwide prohibition
While the ruthless march OF this army
through Aabam2 and Texas is marked with
the political corpscs--to adop. the lev MIR.
Dinwiddes timely terminology-of those
that had bowed the knee to it and not OF
those that refused to surrender. sill, there is
no doubt that number Of candidate: for
Congress and State Legislatures have. for
votc-cat ching purposes. adopted the Anti
Saloon Leagues curious form Of political
morality.
Under this prescription Il candidates st.
ness for public service is TO he gauccd Inv
whether or not he has subscribed 10 Il theory
OF salvation through legislation which NAV
be abhorrent TO his conscience He NAV mo
in every respect worthy Of the people's vote -
strong morally and acute mentally, cxpcri-
ehccd III affairs and honestly anxious to fur
thcr the public welfare. But he musi GI
political grave because. as a man of honor he
refuses to adopt theories which he believes
would work harm TO the public Ills in
Terror In every respect is to he elected for NO
other reason than that he is willing 20 uiyc
possibly insincere adherence to his oyerlords
The members of the Anti-Saloon Loacrc
rms form of political morality means tha,
mere are no public questions other than the
drinking of alcoholic beverages All things
must be subscrvcnt to taking away from c,m
muhi'ics the right 10 license the sale OF
| ,'onor. NOT only is this TO be true Of ndiyi-
dual States, but it is also TO he made ,rur -,
the entire nation.
such policy bears every evidence of bring
prouuccd by minds obsessed with ONT. idr,
Ahcnlsts call such obscssion monomauia
IL IL were TO seize upon any large body or
inc public. it would eventually mean thc low
erihs ol inc country's political ability to the
uahecr point. If the only question i'm this
.oun'.E ID inc hauor question. if mans fit
ness 10 participate in legislation is ia be
judged only by his attitude towards the Ami.
Saloon League, then there is brought into
De'nS political point OF view so pathctica,Iv
o'rcuhscrlpcd as to threaten ultimate inca
pacity TO deal with public matters