The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-22
kxpmArT.s AND PLATFORMS;

81 I4erc seems 20 be some difference of opinion
ketMeen our local afternoon contemporaries
13ne complains that candidates for the General
|nneembly stand for nothing, the other that they
Sfand for too much prohibition. We need not
xte that IL is the Epening journal which holds
- latter view, although, perhaps the other
cunts prohibition less than nothing
The Nctcs Leader says
eve have observed with regret that very
# to- az those who are announcing them
sN>lYes as candidates for the General As
p Eernbiy have made any statement Of the
Il measured they propose to advocate and
ms platforms on which they stand"
The Erening Journals plant is:
Zone enthusiastic Anti-Saloon League
u candidate Tor the House Of Delegates in
a Tadewater county Of Virginia is reported
~ snformirg his Intelligent constituents
thai no who not an original pre-
M hibitlonist have influence in our next
f7eneral Assembly.
s.why?"
Vow as the Journal itself says 1t does not
En0w the mare of the candidate its quotes. nor
<dx habitat ncr anything about him. may
pardoned for believing that the whole tale
y ia Offspring OF that prolific journal magma
ion with which We are all more or less ia
lniliar.
4 But the Joarnal wants further TO know:
..Are we 10 understand that more than
IN bne-third of the free white men OF this
state are to be under ban, accursed, ex-
u 1yeiied an@tnema. the rest OF their lfVes?
srd concludes that regardless of the future oil
Temperance legislation In Virginia the people
stould proceed TO send to the General Assembly
nsun OF "bra5ns, equipment, character. standing
md general fitness"
aw We submit the following query: Is it more
to the people to assume that
4Mo-thirds OF them can find In their midst men
~ shrains. equipment character, standing and
general fsness" who can properly represent
Them or that one-third possesses a monopoly of
Iii such virtues? In ether words. when 10000
Virginia voters express their belief in and de
ssire for statewi de prohibition shall they be al
Iowed 10 send men TO the General Assembly
*ho are not only able but ready willing and
anxious TO pess laws desired by the people to
put their viii into effect?
As matter of fact. and logic what is the
s3HSS1taD{E IUItluSi9H VI tbf kAopVSai put ava
ward by the Journal, the Netcs Leader, the
Ti,Hes Dispdtch the wet candidates, and, we
sregret TO record, by a small numter of the dry
II II is reprehensible to make the
Temperance record of prospective candidates for
|nomlnstion and election the standard of Judg.
Aoid nfdce iE the next General Assembly, II
III temperance people are to be condemned for
Seeking to elect men to enforce prohibition who
h4lteve in prohibition should :tnole member
n me General Assembly Who voted for the en-.
1b51nc act be re-eIectedf
# 10 one has no right 10 oppose men who voted
zSeasnst the enabling act why has one a right
M vote for any one who voted for the enabling
The proposition put forward by the wet in
ESxests to save their friends in the Genera!
1nomhsy who voted against the enabling act
<6Sacslly not only the saving OF those candi.
6Sles, but the defeat OF ali those voted for that
~ VIII the people OF the State, when they
oaize what this scheme OF wet logic really
ms, subscribe 10 ii or be deceived by it? We
711sye mot
8Ee have another proposition TO present
l6teh Is that the vote On the enabling act was
- vote on prohibition but vote on the
u of the people 10 rule themselves The
0Sxates and senators in the Assembly OF 1914
4lkit is trne. base their action on their de-
1 Tor or against prohibition, but the legal
rpsition iayolyed presented only one issue.
NJ issue was whether the people have the
IN 10 rule ourselves. Whethet rhey have a
- to deciGe what laws they viii have and
y laws theY will NOT have. Is any man toho
"a by biF recorded pote that the pe0ple
rsse s&Srsse6ees O. ~ representative Of
Deopief Let every candidate for Office who
against the enabling act go before the
- on the platform ON which he stood when
x1Abling act was up-the platform that the
y cnnnof aad shall not rpls themselves
lM take his stand on the hustings a. he
Al NE Legislature. lea hir tell his peo
lily 70 their faces, al he said Of them
shlie. thas thsy ~ - ii 70 decide