The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-20
The Plain Truth, OF II


THE electors OF Virginia should vote no OH
l the enabling act. because they
worthy and able to control their local affairs
themselves The communities that desire 10
abolish the licensing system OF dealing with
the liquor problem can realize their desire ,
under the present law. Communities that
desire 10 retain the right to continue the
licensing system would lose il under con-
pulsory Statewide prohibition. 1t is Il radi
cal denial OF the vital principle Of sclf-gov-
crnmeni for any part of The electorate to
compel another part TO adopt a system which
is rcpugnant to that section Embedded in
free Anne, !can institutions is tie sacred priu-
ciple of local self government upon which
rests all free institutions. The voters Of Nir-
sinia cannot give up any part of this precious
heritage without Weakening the safeguards
which protect il from the attacks Of those
who seek to make people moral by the
strong arm Of tho law.
More than score of States have expert
mcntcd with Statewide prohibition Of the sale
of liquor. majority of them have gone
back 10 the licensing system as the better way
of dealing with the traffic In all OF them
it has been found that the consumption OF
liquor does not decrease in any class Of
cicty. but that it does actually increase among
the young and among those who are fas-
cinatcd by the forbidden. Under Statewide
prohibition, poison takes the place of decent
liquor among the poor. The wcll-t0 do can
convert their own homes into barrooms. for
the importation Of spirits is not touched by
Statewide prohibition: on the contrary. il is
Increased among that class which will not
patronizc the boutlcggcrs and blind tigers,
which flourish so nightly in communities
where prohibitory State law is without the
backing Of public opinion-thc only backing
which can make any law effective
If the enabling act is approved by a ma
jority OF the voters of Virginia. the sale OF
liquor will become the exclusive prcrogatvc
of criminals. law-abiding citizens will have
nothing to do with it. Under the licensing
system. reputable saloon keepers are an i'm
portant aid TO the police in uprootng the
disreputabc. Under unwclcomc prohibi-
tory law there can be no reputable saloon
keepers Each hootlcgecr and keeper OF u
blind tiger becomes centre from which is
sues the foul airs OF corruption and demoral
zation. affecting not only those upon whom
they battcn but also those who baten upon
them. Violation of the law breeds disrespcct
for all law. In Virginia. in every other
State, prohibition cannot be enforced ia COM
munitics that have had il imposed upon
them against their will. The violation OF
this law-it is ilagrantly violated in every
Commonwealth which has passed onc-mcans
contempt for all law. the restraints of
which not strong that they can
afford any further weakening.
Among civilized human beings morality is
ii conscious exercise of free will. Force may
make men hypocrites but il cannot make
them moral. In no State which has at
tempted Statewide prohibition has there been
a real decrease in offenses against either the
moral or the statute law. State laws cannot
replace the moral training of home influence
and religious Instructions. State laws
neither remove temptation nor do they give
the moral stamina to withstand temptation.
Virginia receives in direct State taxation
In all. il is estima ed that il derives an income
OF $4,000 from this source. This deficit
VIII have To be made up from increased taxa
ton. tor the people of Virginia are not will
ing TO curtail expenditures on the growing
needs OF a growing Commonwealth This
taxation must fall on the counties as we'll as
on the cities, for in the past the counties
have profted at the expense of the cities by
land valuations based on a much lower pro-
poruonatc scale than in the municipalities.
The taxation in cities is further compiled ted
by the fact that they also will lose revenue
in the face Of the need for more money for
expanding activities and increasing popula-
lions
On the face of il the enabling act is not
honest. 1t prohibits the manufacture of Ger
tam forms Of liquor and permits the manu-
tacture oil others. II makes il criminal to
sell in Virginia what can be legally manu-
featured in Virginia. If il be criminal TO
buy II. Vet the enabling act makes a Grim
mai of the man that sells but leaves tho ac-
compllcc, without whom the crime could moi
he committed. respectable citizen State
wac prohibition can he voted for by Il sot
because he knows that. even if il is enacted
ne VIII nave ample opportunity to satisfy his
appetite
Iherc is no moral social or material adj
vantage 10 be gained by the adoption of
Statewide prohibition II has had de-
paS'nf effect wherever it has been trics Il
mas transformed morality into hypocrisy; if
mas dcbaScd the voters political sense: il has
violated the essential principle of local self
government; it gives the sclf-rightcous an as
cchdahcy which is inimical to the welfare
OF plain men and women
The carly bird gets the worm Hcforo
ANYBODY else could seize on the regular fan
fodder OF the brain tagged Photographer long
comes INC Philadelphia Public Ledger to re-
marx that the fashionable colors for foot
bal! players this year are black and bluc
Tho Buffalo News is mourning because wc
have never had fleet worthy The name. And
yci lis batting average has Ty Cobbs look
ing like Eddie Plank's
II they pnt baseball nc. ndcr censor
snip Europe would have " send representa-
tlVcS TO America to find ont what war rc,i