The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-29
NOT LOCAL ISSUE.
SAYS DANIEL
Baptist Minister Delivers Able
Address in Support of State
wide Prohibition.
CITES NORFOLK RACE TRACK
Local Community Not Allowed
to Sanction Gambling When
State Wanted 1t Stopped.

Rev. George ". Mcdaniel. d. D, pas
tor OF the First Baptist Church, de-
livered a powerful sermon last night
on Liquor and Local Self -Government,"
ridiculing the idea that the LIQUOR
dealers are concerned in, or support
ers. Of local sclf-sovernment. Dr. Nc
Daniel said in part:
The liquor interests retreat slowly
and die hard. They contest hotly
stronghold to another they are now
making their last desperate stand. Sur
rounded on all sides b. determined
changed positions so often that
IL has faced in every direction in the
last decade.
'Whiskcy men know their case can
not win upon its merits. Not one of
them is willing to debate tic rea! is
sue. They cndcavor ia give respccta-
bility to IA bad business by enlistinS
reputable and csttmable citizens In its
support They attempt to divert the
peoples minds by the specious plea for
local elf-government Only tile sim
ple-minded Will he deceived
Uniformed people know that the
liquor traffic has been the relentless
opponent OF local self government
For years Congress considered local
sef-government bills controlling inter
state liquor shipments. The traffic
fought every one OF these bills with
might and main and money. The liquor
interests were unwilling TO leave the
question 10 the separate States They
affirmed that the States had no right
To interfere with interstate shipments
For such a crowd to pose now as the
champions OF local self government is
almost blasphemous.
Is NOT NOW UNDER
LOCAL. NNEST
Again, informed people know that
the liquor traffic is not now under
local sclf-Governmeut. No city in this
Commonwealth can give a man the
right to sell liquor without the consent
Of the state; and city and state com
bined cannot confer upon the highest
or humblest citizen the privilege to
sell liquor without tho consent OF the
Federal government.
Again, informed people know that
the liquor traffic Of Richmond is vio-
lat!ng the principles OF local self-gov-
eminent every week in the year and
almost every day In tho week. The
voters of hundreds Of precincts dc
clared their opposition 10 the liquor
business. but in spite OF expressed
desire of the majority. the liquor
houses of Richmond are invading dry
territory OF Virginia with their bane
full business. our sister State OF Norti
Carolina, by a majority OF 10000, aboI-
iahed the saloon from the old North
State. but the liquor houses OF Rich
mond, In disregard OF their boasted
battle cry, ship thousands OF gallons
OF whiskcy into a sovereign state.
The Local Self Government League
was organized to catch fish IF 1t
catches any friends OF temperance
Will q mere surfcrS
"Furthcrmorc, Informed people know
that 20 admit the contention OF the
liquor dealers would ne 10 nullify the
principle underlying important legis-
lation and cause political chaos.
SHOULD ENACT LAWS
FOR STATE AS WHOLE
hitherto. States rights meant the
r!gh. of the majority of the citizens
Of a state To enact such laws az they
deemed pest for the State as a whole.
1t meant that all powers not granted
TO the general government were re.
ser Jed by the States. Now we are
told by these new statesmen that
States rights means 'whiskey rights
that minority OF Whiskey interests
shall be permitted to iiaunt their
odious banners in the face OF the ma
iority OF the people OF the Common
wealth. If John G. Calhoun should
rise from the dead lie would not rec
ogniyc local sclf-govcrnment' as his
child If Daniel Webster could hear
these prcpcstcrous propositions hs
would not pause To rcfute them. Some
advocates OF local self government say
they would favor national prohibition.
and a few. in their enthusiasm for
*obriety. assert that if their vote could
make the world dry, 1t would be dry
What becomes the local sclf-govcrll-
mcnt mans principle wher the favors
nation wide prohibition? Does he not
IA Il |,
for cNpediency? He did not really OPP
pose prohibition because ii was un-
democratic. but because he Thoughts, II
was ine%pcdient. Then local self
government was a missioner.
GAMBLING NOT REGARDED
tS LOCAL. GOVERNMENT ISSUE
All Informed men also know that Il
kindred question of liquor. viz: gam
bling, ~ not settled by local sclf-gov
ernlnent Some men enjoy PLAYING
cards for money. They profess to see
no harm III such a game. Let us sun
pose that Il majority of the citizens OF
Norfolk favored race-track gambling
Could Norfolk. or Norfolk County. pro
coed 20 have bookmaking? Ask Gov
"rnor Stuart. who stretched forth the
strong hand of the State and throttleI
and destroyed the iniQuitous business.
AsE the gamblers who thought to Dlv
their trade behind the subterfuyc of
considered themselves fortunate to cs
cape Imprisonment by confessing that
the were lawbrcakcrs. and by nav
ing fines and leaving the State. Wits
KEY has caused more misery than bet
ting on horse races Why put one un
der the control of the Commonwealth
and the other under the control of the
city? Why make fish OF one and fowl
of the other?
AGain, every Informed person knows
that local government with the NUM-
cipal!;E as the unit is the New Eng
land and not the Southern plan. In
the six New England States the town
ship gathered round the church as the
centre. Tho Local Sclf-Government
i.catne adopts the original New
England idea. except that their nrgu-
ment substitutes the saloon for the
church y larger unit of local govern
mcnt has. from the beginning, pre-
vailed III the Southern States The
highest authority uron the American
commonwealth says: While New