The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-29
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 20, 1914.
PROHIBITION AND IT'S EFFECT.

gsH The Nev port News Daily Press Is still cues
#x1oning inquirng. seeking for light in regard
&4o Statewide prohibition and its effect on Viz
ENRinia We e.-a1uce this page its latest
Nnearch for ruth. and without perfect as
Nurance tha, @e will he able TO enIghten 1t. but
Vince The inquiry Is directed at The 1fronian
u me task viii I've taken IN hand
The Doiip Press should he aware Of the trend
@pf prob ibitton sentiment In this state II should
Aniso be acquainted with the facts Of temper
Ancn history in Virginia Just at present the
I Aecpie Of Virginia as whole are Interested in
I'M bill known as the Enabling Act. which was
passed by the Legislature Of Virginia giving the
people OF this State opportunity to express
their sentiments on the question of prohibition
b TIE Stale has gone on record as being over
4 Nhelmingly opposed to the liquor traffic. The
Temperance leaders OF the State introduced this
Sbiis into the Legislature of Virginia. That bill
Essras what they wanted in the way Of prohibi
%eion They took no: what they wanten. nut
Mhat they could get As passed the act CON
tained certain amendments. The temperance
4 headers protested against these amendments. but
thsy were adopted over their earnest protest ant'
n with the distinct understanding that they were
not satisfied with the act as passed. but accepted
kAft Ia order TO nave vote on the matter. II was
n hi this light that they went. before the people
FNSxDf the state The voters understood the situa-
n tSon and voted with the knowledge that the
n hfl, was not what they wanted what the tenn
N uerance leaders of the State wanted. The oppo
ments OF prohibition lined themselves up on the
n ground of objections to the bill as drawn. Led
N III certain members Of the vet press they made
hitter attacks on tho Anti-Saoon League sos
I these very defects in the prohibition bill. ape
yes The State voted overwhelmingly against the
isauo- trafac
s sS This stage of the fight having passed. there
III another issue To be tacedthat issue Is thu
making effective of the expressed will OF the PEG
@ Die Of Virginia this question The ffroT"'
~ not aware OF the intentions Of the leaders
NJ II the League other than through its published
MI statements In a recent number of the fr
N s.fnia issue it was stated that the Anti-Saoor
8 League Will ask for the passage Of enforcement
N laws In which the beer and wine exemptions
shsll be stricken out We fully expect that 90
legislature will pass bill with these exemptions
II omitted. And II is net thinkable that the peo
SSsr;a OF The State who voted for Statewide prohi
b bstion will object TO making 1t as effective
$ III Is possible These exemptions prevent 1t iron
h beins as effective as possible, They should
n Therefore. be eliminated
II is hardly in keeping with practice or cheor'
q Is hold that because the people of Virginia vote'
prohibition in a popular election that every
oct relating to the liquor traffic should be sub
h mitted 10 popular vote. With the endorsement
4 that has been given the prohibition Law by III
people Of the State, such action would be a.
III rnnccessgry as il would be Impractical and un
R% desirabie We are surprised that such cues
n Ron should be raised.
n Al TO shipments Of liquor and its purchase
NJ from outside sources we are fully alive to thu
Mutation We see that liquor Will be bought out
III eide OF Virginia. We have never contended tina
kSbrrh would not be the case, II we recall &C
cnrately the position of the Ddilg Press during
the campaign, It opposed the adoption Of State
Nssside prohibition soley OH the ground that II
gsvOuld not decrease tbe amount Of liquor drunk
NJ iii Newport News ami similar localities, Tht
$SeTircinian hopes 10 ass passed prohibiting
4hc manufacture ard shipment Of liqroI
~ 10th FROM within au3 without the State These
IaWs are most certainly calculated TO guaran
ANtes decrease in the amount Of liquor used il
81 I'LL therefore logical 20 presume that the HGilA
SxpYess viii advocate such Laws. 1t states that
Nfft twill not be lukewarm" in its support Of law
$GNnforcement. It IL TO Be expected that it will
$A1herefore support the elimination of the ohiec
4xcnabie amendments and the passage OF tbs
34rictest antishipment laws that be passet
.$Sn accordance With tie Webb Kenyon liquor law
The Virolnidn trusts that its own position is
34eAr to the Daily Press. The FirgiHtaa speaks
kxnly for itself and those who may subscribe tc
rtS beliefs. The Ftrginias advocates every law
~ every movement that looks to the suppress
~. elimination. and absolute destruction OF
sIfqnor traffic.