The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-24

be applied only to questions that concern pri-
marily the local community and not the general
| or larger community, let IS consider the State
as the supreme government which grants the
local option privilege. The State therefore
can only delegate the privilege to adopt ex-
c!usively local or county law on questions tina,
do not Involve the unified interest of the whole
state. No county has a right to determine
alone what shall or shall not be the law ex-
cept along lines that peculiarly local in their
nature and do not vitalIy concern the people
of the whole State. Questions and laws of COM
mon interest to all the local communities be-
come State questions to be determined by the
state and not by the smaller community. Sucn
laws and questions do not, in their nature b.
long to the local option field.
Where does prohibition belong? Is 1t a
matter of mere local interest a subject OF
deep concern to the State whole? The
prohibition question Is of properly hand
ling or preventing the manufacture and sale
of ntoxcants, especially of intoxicating drinks.
Neither the county the State is particularly
interested in the mere manufacture or sale
of intoxicants But the interest and serious
consequences is in the consumption Of these
drinks II nobody would drink them the whole
question would be dead.
Prohibition. therefore. becomes problem OF
preventing, to the greatest extent possible, tho
drinking of intoxicating drinks. This In turn
fs question of order health and morals.
Neither the local community the State cares
as public order health and morals are not
thereby affected. That these great vital inter-
ests all very seriously affected by the use
of intoxicants Is proved by observation statistics
and science. Furthermore. its Is general II
allowed to be made and sold. II Is not confined
to any community group of communities.
Not only does the of strong drink involve
the health and morals of the State, but the
counties cannot control it. If the problem ex-
isted In manufacture even in the sale, there
would be large possibility for the successful
application Of local option. But the real
problem is In the drinking the county cannot
successfully handle It, Half dozen counties
might pass local option laws, while one in their
midst refuses on account of liquor influence.
That county practically annuls in large
measure. the legislation of the SIX adjoining
counties. When only a few miles travel is
the obstacle and that merely across a county
line the laws necessarily, do not accomplish
the whole purpose intended.
Therefore, g a problem involving public or
der health and morals. to say nothing of the
economic phase, and problem of practical
legislation, the prohibition question becomes
at least a Statewide question and not one to
be handled successfully or rightly ny local or-
ton For the very that il Is State
question it really becomes a nationwide ques-
ton which all the more removes 1t from the
class of questions belonging permanently to To-
cal rule. Local option in prohibition, at best,
is only substitute until something better may
be secured.
Let the real patriots Of Virginia clearly un-
derstand that they have In this campaign and
the approaching election opportunity TO deal
effectively With matter OF serious concern
to the whole State and not merely matter
of local interest as the voice OF the brewers
distiIlers and their allies would make us believe.
ROBy c. DAY.
I,ynchburg, Va, July II, 1914.