The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-26


Great Moral Issues Before the Assembly.
Editor virginian:
Sir--The general assembly OF Virginia, after
a protracted and bitter fight in the senate. has
passed one moral measurable enabling act
There are three more measures before the SEN
ate committee on general laws. which make
open issue between money and manhood,
good and bad morals.
One of these bills introduced by Mr.. Stephen
son. of Bath. is known as the anti-gambling
bill
This bill passed by the house of delegates
at the session of 1912, but died in the senate.
The bill prohibits gambling In any amount, either
| in public private. The present law allows
gambling provided the amount lost in any
twenty-four hours does not exceed twenty dol
Ears That is to say. the present law does not
say that all gambling Is wrong and crime
against society, but makes a discrimination De-
tween gambling for large and for small stakes,
as il the only evil is in winning or losing more
than twenty dollars. But II there Is any Just-
fication for a law on the subject, 1t Is based
upon a principle and not upon the accidents
of the game. Either there should be no law
the subject 1t should be a law which VIII
treat all gamblers alike.
Moreover. the present law Is a farce. 1t is
almost impossible to convict anybody of the
violation of the present law. for II brings in the
element of time. Winnings and losses must not
be greater than twenty dollars in twenty-four
/ hours and II persons are caught IN the very act
of gambling. the plea is made that twenty dol
lars has not been won during the twenty-four
hours, and who can. or, rather, who will testify
to the contrary
/ The Stephenson hill sets a standard ms II
gambling 1t declares IL to be wrong In prsnci-
nile regardless Of the amount Of the stakes, and
deserving of punishment. 1t has passed the
house again, tho present session by sweeping
majority of three to and is now before the
senate committee Of general laws. 1t was heard
last 10Th nd fay reDaF.a5. VIII
4 fer the same fate as in 1912?
Anti Shipping Bill
Another bill. which was heard last
evening is the artf-shipping bill. This bill
has been introduced to minimize the evil of the
shipment of nuor into dry territory. 1t is not
prohibition law, and was not Intended or nm
derstood that II would be. 1t is restrictive
and not prohibtive The bin has been crti
cised by The Lynchburg News, because it does
not prohibit all shipments Of liquor from wet
into dry territory and The News expresses
disappointment and great surprise, and saws:
"If this be the purport Of the bill. the question
will at once arise. why not make II lawful for
li0uor to be shipped from wet into dry terri
tory to any person? Why draw distinction
And how can the distinction he justified save
upon the assumption that where the average
man Is concerned traffic in liquor should not
he outlawed." The simple answer to this ques-
tom Of The News is Because such bill cam
not be passed through the present general as
semhly."
+ The editor Of The News came to Richmond
! in 1912. and secured the Introduction of such
bill. and II was supported by the antt-saloon
I league. but ii was impossible to get favorable
action the bill It would be equally impos-
sble at this session to get favorable action on
such bill.
| 1t is not therefore question Of consistency.
but question of practical results, Present
/ 4emperance legislation in Virginia has been OBJ
tanned inch at a time: the anti-saoon league
has never obtained all it wanted. all it asked
for. 1t has obtained all it could get. and tried
for better things next time. Had II refused to
accept anything because it could not get every
thing It would not have secured the enabling
act this year.
The anti-shipplng bill is admittedly restrictive
legislation, and not strictly prohbtive. VIII the
legislation he helpful or hurtful? That is the
only question the league is considering It rea-
Lies that it is not ideal But will it abolish the
deplorable condition. which allow Intoxicating
liquors to be shipped into dry territory to mi
tnors irresponsible and vicious persons and blind
tigers?" If it will do this shall the league en-
deavor to secure the passage of the bill, and bet
ter conditions in dry territory? Or shall II
abandon the bin because "all" shipments
not be prohibitive the league greatly desires?
When faced with such alternatives. the league
is wise to follow the policy which has made its
work different in the past and get If pos
sible, restrictive legislation in the anti-shippns
bill Even this legislation will he strongly
sisted, and the league will rejoice to secure the
passage of the bill.
Surely it will be large gain to require every
/. by cash. or its equivalent, TO forbid common
carriers to transport any liquors upon which all
charges have not been paid. and forbid the de-
livery OF liquors to minors or to any person
except the to whom the liquor is Unsigned
by the shipper, and only to him If he is person.
Rally known to the agent, satisfactorily iden-
titled 1t is not all but II is something
AS a proof of the difficulty of getting such
legislation the senate committee amended the
measure inserted three gallons instead of one
and recommended the law should not take eff
feet till November l. 1915
/ The third measure Is the anti-yice bill which
is now on the calendar of the house, the commit
tee having been discharged by a large ma
jority. The Nirginian has already stated its
position very fully this bill 1t Is Of ire
mendous importance to the purity and sound
ness OF our people and the committee should
not have hesitated to report this bill; at once
and put 1t the calendar A hearing was
given to this bill also Wednesday night and
the committe deferred action 1t until Friday
night.
/ JAMES CANNON, JR