The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-17

victory which was the most influential
that has been won In the United States
In recent yearA The testimony OF the
national leaders Ii to the effect that
the Virginia Victory was one OF the
greatest factors In winning the VIC
tories IN Colorado. Washington, Oregon
and Arizona It dismayed the brewers
and distillers. and II strengthened the
prohibition forees 30 that from that
hour the tide swept irresistibIy for
prohibition In those States.
Moreover. the effect upon Congress
was very great. and the majority vote
obtained for the National Prohibition
Constitutional Amendment was made
possible by virginia's vote. There II
not time 10 dwell further in this re-
port upon that great struggle. but tho
inaI destruction of the legaiixed liquor
traffic throughout our country In plain
" indicated by that vote. II II Crafty
Ing to report that the congressman who
represent the various sections OF this
district. Messrs Walter A. Watson. y.
w. Saunders and III. d. Flood. voted
for the amendment. and II IL further
more gratifying to report that Sena-
tors Martin and swanson both sup
ported the effort made by Senator
Sheppard, OF Texas to sprohibit the
tt4GOf tEAtttC III tttE A~t1shs~s - N~N~N.--
biH.
1t is dificuIt to predict with any ac-
curacy when this amendment to the
Constitution viii receive the necessary
vote, The great National Convention
held at Atlantic City last week. the
greatest temperance convention in the
history OF the world. 1t was declared
by some speakers that ave years would
be sufYicient TO secure the two-thirds
vote of Congress and the affirmative
vote of three fourts OF the states. II
wifi probabiy be more nearly ten years.
and yet II sometimes happens that
there is a sudden breaking-down OF
opposing forces and victory IL won at
n much earlier date than could have
been reasonably expected The increase
in the number OF prohibition States
from nine to eighteen within the past
twelve months In q fact of tremendous
Significance. which has brought con-
sternatton to the brewers and dfstiiiers
and hope to the lovers of mankind
Our own State conditions are our
chief concern at this time. and especial
iy the present duty Of the people Of
our own district. 1t IL the desire OF
the prohibition workers OF Virginia to
pass a law at the next General Assem-
bly, which will be as nearly model
law MS can be made for Virginia CEN
dittons. The state Anti-Saioon League
Convention in Norfolk instructed the
executive committee to frame ouch .
law after careful study of the prohi-
bitfon laws of all other States. That
study is being given. and the draft Of
the law will be prepared In co-opera-
tion with our leaders in the General
Assembly.
what kind Of Lawf
us understand the facts as they are.
General Assembly cap be sent to Rich
mond which will defy the will of the
people to the extent OF refusing 10
pass 10 prohibitoFy Jaw. But what
kind OF law will be passed. WIN II
be an effective law Will IL be law
which with meet conditions In Virginia
viii II be free from icophoies. Will
IL prevent near beer saloons and locker
club barroomss Will II contain ade-
auate law enforcement provisions. II
10 vital to the permanent success Of
prohibition that the law shall be ade-
quate and enforceable failure ut
this point win greatly damage our
cause.
Liaaer TraAe working.
The liquor traffac is not dead. II has
not been destroyed. II is alert and
watehfui and active. It's declared pcit-
cy throughout the nation today 10 to
defeat the enforcement Of prohibition
laws. II Ii working In Virginia to ne :
cure the election Of as many of iss
friends as possible to the General As
sembly OF Virginia. II IL concentrat-
Ing its efforts largely on the Senate.
1t hopes to secure the election Of
enough friendly senators to be able 70
prevent the passage OF an effective law.
There will probably be no senator who
will not agree that some law must be
passed. But what shall be that law.
We insist that the law shall be framed
by Its friends and not by Its enemies
And BY friends. we mean those who IA
vored the Enabling Act and voted for
Statewide Prohibition. We do not
mean those who voted against the
Enabling Act and voted against State
wide Prohibition. and who then after
the State had voted "dry.. and dry
men announced their candidacy for the
Senate. declared that IL elected they
would favor the legislation desired
By the dry" leaders OF Virginia
Enemy In Charge.
What would be thought of the COM
mander of the English army. IL. after
he had defeated the enemy In battle,
he should take the officers OF the
army of the enemy and put them In
charge OF his own troops In the next
battle, although ne had men Of his
own thoroughly competent 10 lead his
army to battle Such conduct would
be condemned by friend and foe alike.
and the general would be relieved OF
his command. And yet this is what
10 proposed and insisted upon In our
present Legislatice fight Men who
opposed us and voted against us In
thu Legislature and 1t the polls now
ask rs to accept them a. our standard
bearers In the next Legislature. III
II In not posible to nominate any man
who openly and heartily favored State
wide prohibition before September -,
and II candidate declares that he
viii vote for such laws ~ may be
proposed by the prohibition workers,
we will. of course, be Obliged TO ac-
cept such q candidate ~ the only pos-
sible choice. Hut X Il 10 possible to
nominate and to elect candidates who
did openly advocate Statewide prohi-
bition before the election. We should
prefer such men to those who op-
posed It and who now agree to sup
port prohibitory legislation, not be-
cause they believe In II. or approve
OF t. but only because they nee tho
people favor II. and know they cannot
be elected unless they agree TO sup
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