The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-28
TaE TtmEs-olsPATcH AND LOCAL OPTION


"Thoee OF us who believe that manners and
MORALS show a general upward trend are en-
courased In that belief by noting the revolution
ary change that has taken place IN co1npar"-
lively short period with respect to the general
use a, alcohol" says the Times Dispatch
Evidently "us" includes the Times Dispatch,
which IN the same issue with this pronounce
rnent. proceeds to diminish the general use OF
alcohol" by q flaming advertisement OF liquor
products. which is evidently It's contribution to
,hss Revolutionary change" The Tmes-pis
match also says this hopeful and wholesome
change has kept pace with the spread OF the
local ontion systern.' The Nirgnian is imper'
,tnent, to enquire Of this supreme oracle what
mart It had In advancing the cause Of the local
ontion system? What local option law has it
not opposed?
The Times-Dispaich discusses also with all
earnestness the spread Of true temperance
with which it has had so much 10 do, and says:
TN all classes Of society man loses caste.
the priceless good opinion OF his fellows, II he
is an habitual or even occasional drnnkard.
In mis- regard there are two questions that
arise First. what is the Times Dispatch's opin-
lon Of the habitual or occasional liquor sales
man. The Times-Dispatch profits by every
glass of liquor and every drunkard whether oc-
cassonai or habitual, in the State Of Virginia,
because il Is the advertising medium OF the
firms that sell liquor their personal agent in dry
TERRITORY where 1t aids in defeating the local
Sc
cerned. The Times Dispatch does not hesitate
itself to engage in a traffic whose result it says
In to make men lose caste, the priceless good
opinion Of bis fellows"
MORAL changes must come from within
Very true moral changes are coming from within
Virginia that will doubtless shock the Times
Dispatch and It's fellow servers of the liquor
traffic into further revolutionary change
when Virginia goes dry-or is the Dis
patch merely laying the way for the qualification
OF the law which il has pledged itself to ait
In enforcing If the voters of the State adopt it
Speaking OF the cause Of temperance, OF which
it is so ardent an advocate. the Times Dispatch
says: 1T has demonstraby not received any
assistance but rather has been retarded by TIL,
prohibitive efforts" The Times-Dis
patch is doubtless in company with the Other
sleepers who took nap for ten years and awokt
to fnd IS per cent Of all Virginia dry by stat
utory prohibltory law
Further the Times. Dispatch is doubtless una
ware OF the fact that within the last few years
within which II says the cause of temperance
has received so revolutionary an advance. tht
leaders of the temperance cause have beer
members Of an organization such as the Anti
Saloon league the " c. T. and other SINH
lar bodies which have as their sole aim the ex
termination of fhe liquor traffic by strict regula
lation and high license where there Is regula
ton BY local option where there is regulation ant
license and by Statewide prohibition where
there is only local option that is nullifed int
nothfngness by the actions OF wet cities. and By
nationw wide prohibition where Statewide prohibi
ton has done all that II can 10 minimize the
iiouor evil II is agencies OF this kind that have
wrought the revolution al which the Times
Dispatch Is SO amazed and of which It is such ar
admirer. and it is agencies like the Times Dis
patch that have given every ounce of energy
and influence and every available inch OF space
10 The retarding OF the cause, of temperance