The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-19

IS old IS the race itself, but will the Ners
Lcndcf contend that the Statewide prohbitory
law against murder should be repealed, and that
local option in the question Of murder should be
adopted7 Virginia has Statewide health laws
I cddoy advocate the repeal of these laws and
THE adoption of local option health laws? Does
he Getes Ledder consider the proper education
sor the cause of temperance to be the displaying
Of liquor sdvertising7 The Statewide prohibition
law will ne ratified next month 'by the great
body Of people," who will give their assent" to
he enactment OF the Law they have long been
desiring Evidently the Netcs Leaders plank
number will he best fulfilled by the ratifca-
ton Of the enabling act. and so the Netos Lender
can best secure the adoption of this plank by
supporting the enabling act But no one will
a&pect such course to be adopted by its manage
meat
Second, Any other temperance legislation
than that which the good sense of the people
viii enforce is doomed to failure. even as 1t
has been doomed in Georgia and repudiated in
Alabama and Texas" The Ftrotnian does not
aud other prohibition States as they are mat
6ers that are unessential In the present instance
and have been fully discussed by The Vtrq4niaa
al previous times, Is there anything else In the
Statewide prohibition law than that which the
good seuse" Of the people will enforce? The
Noes Leader has previously insulted the nteli-
gence and integrity of the citizenship of Rich
mond by its assertion that the character Of Rich
mond citizenship is so low that convictions can
lot be secured in cases where the Law and the
facts plainly point TO the guilt OF the prisoner
Evidently this plank number two is re-echo
Of this insult and, such, deserves no further
consideration. The people of Virginia in their
good sense" have decided that the saloon must
20, and depend upon it. they will see that this
viii Of theirs is enforced The Ne,cs Leader
evidently does not take into consideration the
fact that the good people of Virginia may have
good sense" enough to adopt Statewide pro.
hibition
Third Temperance legislation must be the
direct expression of the will of those who are
to be affected by it, and should, In consequence
government" In regard to this plank this much
must he said; The enabling act provides for
the expression of the will OF the people of Vir
einia in the most direct way possible The
temperance leaders Of the State distinctly and
persistently fought fer a measure that would
allow the expression of the people OF the whole
state on the matter. The Netcs Leader opposed
this procedure, for II knew then, as it knows
now, that when the voters of Virginia get
chance at the liquor traffic they will make away
with 1t in short order The State is the proper
unit for the enactment of laws dealing with
Statewide eyils. because the State is the unit
that egalizes the liquor traffic There Is not
authority In the local units OF government t,
grant liquor licenses because 1t is a Statewide
law that allows the saloon To do business In Vir
ginia. and there must be Statewide law te
prohibit it AS President Wilson very forcibls
said, the question Of the unit to be taken in the
liquor question depends on the degree of ad
yancement of the State and its local conditions
Virginia has now reached point where she is
ready for Statewide prohibition, and will have
II This matter is taken up very fully elsewhere
on this page.
Fourth, When such temperance legislation
has been adopted by the unit which can mos,
easily enforce It, then the principles of self
government demand that the will Of that com
munity be respected by more general laws which
viii prohibit the shipment into that community
os intoxicating liquors Of all sorts from all
sources" Very good but what Of the fact that
the local option principle is not able to accom-
pish any such result? What OF the fact that
so long as newspapers like the Netcs Leader send
their advertisements OF beer wine and whiskey
into communities where there have been express
sions Of local sentiment against such stuff a mar
Net for intemperance will be made? The Neics
Loader contends that prohibition does not pro
hibt, and yet ii advocates law that will
prohibit the shipment into that community OF
liquors of all sorts from all sources"
How is that for u prohibitory law? Does the
.Nctcs LeaIcr respect the will OF those Virginia
communities that have voted by local option for
the abolition Of the liquor traffic when 1t goes
inc those localities as the paid agent and travel.
ing salesman OF every saloonkeeper In Rich