The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-24
NJ NOT tIa1.D.


The rtras#tau has watched with amusement,
not asant1ea WISH contempt THE desperate efforts
Being made by TIRE advocates Of the legal'zed
taaer traffic to trualp mp some substitute issue
ID beoload tae real question that is to be de-
sided at the election in September These efforts
aaye been sometimes open. sometimes concealed
AT all tiges batrayinE i'm Ire end, and bear
ns patent an their face. evidences Of The des-
serate straits 10 which the advocates Of the
.aioaa have finally come. Hut no cloak has
aeau long eaoGsh 30 conceal tine cloyen hoaf and
spised tail no Aaod high enough To cover the
sorneG crown, no uaask thick enough To hide the
srus1 leer IS The demon rum
There is bnt one issue. one question, one
proposition to he settled No amount Of effort,
10 deep Vaccinations and no false assertions
~an alter the fact thar on September y the
ssne will be The SALOON There Is no other
question &, stake, no other business threatened,
.na absolutely 10 theory Of government in
Foyed
Cannot every voter Of tie State of Virginia see
he issue WITH amy BE- deceived 10y the clouds
II dust the fgists and the fogs Of confusion
win which the liquor interests are attempting TO
aide the brutal. cruel hand that directs every
aag6ment q the liquor machine?
TIE SALOON is the issue--writ so large and
AGAR shat all who ran may read Be not de-
.oiyea. tie voters are not Knocked. whatsoever
le iieaor traffic soweta that shall it also reap
ghc aa4pents tran batrays il
Tic cf8fIs u DEg10ud tt1e 1Ts7fr fsase fsat4H
>1a115 de8nca aud may b. readily classified
D the sources from whfch they have emanated.
5aey sre brought forward by different organiza-
,9us. put behind them all aud proftng by all
! 4a same grinding spirit. the same selfish
Ore Tllg SALOON
Iatge Is 40 question of local self-governlnent
nvolsea Tie liquor traffic Is not an instita-
lon taat is governed by any one locality through
II right As a locality, the regulation of the
1qHor tratne is matter that comes under the
police power of the State. and every decision
II the courts that has dealt with the saloon has
Axeasee8 tnat it Is not per Sc legal tnstitu-
ion The very fact that special laws are re-
.ulred to legalze It, special licenses, at I'M
Usually high rates, granted to allow 1t. and
evidences OF the nature of the trade. Further
alore nothing new is contenGplate ed in the way
" Interference with local control. for already
here are prohibitory laws that take away the
,er. rights sought TO be conserved, and no vote
against Statewide prohibition possibly re-
store those rights When the people of the
state acting ia their sovereign capacity. decide
fa-
IL they are concerned In their relation with the
,aioon is the whole State, and that their police
power il to be exercised to eSterninate that
business in that locality. then who ques.
ion the right OF the majority of the citizens Of
he State To make their decisions? Certainly
ac Democrat 10 American
Local option is not the issue. or even re-
notely the part Of an issue. The legislature
scfed with fail knowledge OF what it was doing
shen it passed the nj providing for the calling
y az election. II decided specifically and by
separate vote that It was not calling an cleo
aon In which there would be choice between
ocal option and Statewide prohibition, but
s1ectlon on TIE very existence Of the saloon
anywhere within the State. II specifically pro-
Fsaed for g ballot reading. For Statewide Pro
hhition7 or Against Statewide Prohibition"
and tie very persons and papers that are now
aratiae 50 loudly about local option as an issue
recognize az tAe time tie enabling act
passed that in this matter OF the ballot they had
seen defeated
10 tie saloon advocates, the wet papers the
-oeal Self Government league, the Brewers. Wine