The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-02
DR.. Tito imes-Dispatch
None Hostile or Indifferent.

The Times Dispatch of sunday after express
ing its approval in general way OF the saluta-
ton of tho Anu-Saloon League president, adds
this.
However. some Of the satisfaction which
thoughtful men may feel in reading DR.. Fits
s'atement will be mlugated by the perusal of
later expression in the same article. which
- the following effect:
For the present It seems OF the utmost i'm
portauce that the citizenship Of the State shall
not allow, by any default or neglect Of theirs.
the next Legislature to he composed of men who
are either hostile to this measure or Indifferent
to 1T
IT this means merely what it says it is un-
objectionable, perhaps, because every man IN
Virginia who is at all likely TO offer for pub
lie office has accepted In good faith the verdict
rendered at the polls last September, and is de-
termlned that the popular will shall find ex-
preston In legislation. conceived and enacted
la equal good faith. III there any who take
another view, the Times-Dispatch, for one will
oppose their election heartily as will the most
convinced prohIbiuonst in the whole state
Waving the question why the Times Dispatch
should read one portion Of the article to which
IT refers, but peruse this particular paragraph,
we venture to say to our neighhor that the
author Of the paper no deals with endeavors 70
say what he means and usually means what ne
SAYS. Certainly at the present iuncture In our
temperance affairs, for the friends of Statewide
prohibition to allow the fate OF that great meas
ure Of reform 10 be determined by men who are
out Of sympathy with it and would gladly It
fail would be folly and stupidity If the majority
Of both houses IN the next Legislature should
happen 10 be unfriendy to this measure they
might very easily and seriously embarrass the
whole situation That they would not hesitate
e embarrass 1t and 10 defeat tho purpose OF the
september election. man in his senses can
doubt Nor the friends OF prohibition in
the light of their long, varied and painful ex-
perlence, accept as either actually or probably
true tho opinion of our neighbor that every man
in Virginia who Is at all likely to offer for pub
Tic office has accepted IN good faith tho verdict
rendered at the polls last september and ia de-
tcrmined that the popular will shall find ex-
preston in legislation. conceived and enacted
N equal good faith" That remains TO be seen
and the citizens of the State. who wish earnestly
ito SEQ the will of the people expressed In clear
positive and practical legislation, must. in their
respective communities. look closely into this
business. We do not believe that the Times
Dispatch itself. whose sincerity we do not cues
ion. would expect TO be satisfied with mere
reluctant acquiescence in the result on the part
OF those who offer for the Legislature. All that
the writer OF the article (who took care to make
ljt plain that he expressing only HIS own
views without previous consultation with any
one else) meant he said namely. that the friends
OF prohibition ought not by their default or
neglect, TO let the next Legislature be composed
iof men either hostile or Indifferent TO this
measpre.-'rhe Religious Herald