The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-20
FRIDAY MARCH 20, 1914.
.rrneoSAr 11nrnry ASSOCIATION"


Tn }Feasla has received many Inquiries
ooncesane soma literature which Is being sent
oast from Richmond Ia tho veters Of the State
urgsnr thega TO vote against Statewide prohibi--
s,on 7gt- literature is issued In the form Of
sBuue1p." and it parports 10 give reasons and
70 sts.e. tarfz AGAINST ,hc Wisdom Of adopting
the s.atov8de pai3cy in Virginia.
ration is interesting.
Personal Liberty association Quite patriotic
sound /. has 10 I've suret One thinks instructive
~ of Patrick Henry and Give liberty or
give ue death" surely this association must
have hirh and lofty purpose. and 1t must be
the advocate and defender Of the ensaved and
the Oppressed.
Upon examination. however, Of the history and
of tbs literature Il sends ont. If does not appear
that thls association ia demanding the freedom
OF the waga-aorller from long hours and small
wages il IL rot crying ont against child labor:
1t is not denouneing the income tax in
quisltorai it is not clamoring for the protection
OF those who must walk. against the recklessnees
Of thnse who drive automobiles; 1t is not de
noancing the prohibition OF the sale Of cocaine
or Of opium. Of cigarettes to minors, It is
not protesting against the quarantine laws
which forbid man with smallpox to walk about
tho streets Ii Is not Directing TO the law which
reouires that persons in civilized society shall
wear clothes, and shall not be allowed to spit
on the floor of cars, and shall not be allowed to
use common drinking cup trains. and shall
not BE- allowed to build frame building In the
business section
No this association seems TO consider that the
only personal liberty worthy of Its attention ia
she personal liberty. exactly described by the
laornng Bryan organ. the Tt1aes-Dispnfch, as the
right of every man To drink liquor TO his com
fort This is the idea of personal liberty, which
eeeus to arouse and to excite to action this
personal Liberty association" Some years
ago this association heard that effort might
DC made to cu1ail this precious right--to drink
liquor 70 orr oomfort-and there was great
elanor The inalienabe rights OF freeborn
Richmond citizens were in danger, and the
slogan VAS sounded. Let Richmond alone: let
lis drink liqUor TO our comfort"
Bat tho danger passed by, the Personal Liberty
association became quiescent and amid all the
political and economic changes OF the day.
nothing has been sufficient TO call this liberty
loving association into action,
But She enabling act has been passed and
now all tie voters Of the State will decide
Whether the manufacture for sale and the eale
Of tntoxicants shall be prohibited over the en-
tire State. This has aroused the sleeping giant
and once again he takes the field and begin to
fight for personal liberty" he calls it-really,
the right to continue to drink liquor to his com.
fort.
Personal liberty then has no meaning 70 this
association except as It relates TO Intoxicating
liquor. The members Of the association respond
to no other hattle-ory. But when this issue liz
raised there is indeed great stir, and all the
members fall into line and cry with indignation.
"c1ve us liquor or give death"
The menbers Of the association must see that
1t has the wrong name Why not call 1t THE
Iiauor Lovers association" or. better still THE
Bold Brave Boys Of the Bottle" Then the name
would accord VITA the purpose OF the associa-
tion. which from tbe literature it has sent out,
has only one reason for It's existence; namely to
prevent any curtaimept OF The traffic in in
toxicants. or OF the opportunity OF any one to
purohaae aGd drink the
The Bulletins sent out by this association will
be examined by me gr0iniaa from time to time
On tho front page Of this issue Dr. GLADDEN.
shows q Misrepresentation which, however, he
thinks not surprising. AZ he says liquor pub
ications do not take pains to quote fairly and
\ accurately" This judgment Of one OF the great
moral leaders Of the nation Is just judgment
,vrstr cor m .r.trrx. T1s x-r~r~