The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-28
PEOPLES FORUM
People VIII Resist Protest,

Editor virgnian
Sir,-The liquor advocates have been pub
fishing many letters paid advertisements in
the liquor papers. Among these letters have
appeared the letters and the pictures of Hon,
Harry St. George Tucker and Judge George L.
Christian, If their arguments in favor of local
option are correct, then it should be applied to
voting precincts and to counties and cities. II
one county has no right to vote prohibition
another county. then one precinct has no right
to vote prohibition on another precinct Mr.
Tucker says that the principle Of local option Is
as old AS the Anglo Saxon race. We will not
dispute this, but contend that the principle
Of prohibition worldwide nationwide and State
wide, is just old the principle of local OPP
ton. He says: we have had for years in this
State local option fence laws, local option dog
laws, local option fish laws local option road
laws, local option compulsory education laws
We have also had Statewide laws relating to all
these questions and many others besides We
have always had Statewide laws concerning the
liauor traffic Much of the Valley Is dry
and under a Statewide prohibition law and not
under local option claimed by Mr. Tucker
The liquor men that now SO earnestly con.
tending for local option were a few years ago
against local option. If the liquor folk are
now in favor of local option why Is 1t that they
favor a la. that permits the wet cities to ship
their liquor into dry counties? II local option
is the only right and proper way TO handle the
liquor question, then we should have local op-
ton laws to deal with the criminals made by
the luuor sold under local option. IL the couh
ties have no right to say whether or not hquor
shall be sold in the cities. then they nave no
right to decide what shall be done with the clues
liquor criminals.
Mr. Editor the general assembly OF the ftes
hvtariau Church In 1906 said The Church that
is not at war with the saloon is untrue 10
Christ" And yet Judge Christian contends IN
/ his letter that saloons increase the membership
of the churches. If this Is true, then he ought
to patronize the Richmond saloons and count
ii an honor to be called the ally OF the saloon
men He should also consider 1t his high and
holy privilege to lend his name and influence
| as PRESBYTERIAN elder to the liquor frame tie
ought not TO get mad and say he is siandefed
when the charge is made against MN. rear
someone might be led to think that he does not
believe his own letter,
I A friend handed me letter from the liquor
advocates under the name and style OF the
Virginia Association for Local Self-Govern-
ment" A tract was enclosed, Called Statewide
Prohibition Effect on Taxation The appeal is
TO the voters to vote against prohibition so "a
to get the from the liquor traffic !
knew that their claims were true, for il
costs more to prosecute the liquor criminals than
we get in revenue from the liquor traffic. | also
know, and all men know, that the money TO
pay the liquor license is obtained by robbing
the helpless wives and children Of the liquor
! drinkers. j looked over tne iist or Nce-pTesl
dents OF said liquor association, and | know that
most of them of great wealth. living In
elegant homes and asked myself the question,
Is 1t possible that these men of wealth will
! ing to take the bread from the mouths and
| clothes from the backs OF helpless women and
/ children to get few cents on their taxes /
| hope and believe that the 22d OF September
the good and true men of Virginia Will register
their protest against obtaining money in this
way to help pay their taxes.
4 In little while after reading the said letter
and tract two appeals came to me to help fami-
lies and liquor was the cause Of the trouble.
B. LACY HOGE.
Norfolk, Va, August 81,
/