The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-11
PEOPLES FORUM
Thick -Hca ded Ciods."

Editor virginiau.
Sri see that our dear old friend the Times
Dispatch. Of Richmond, has added te her many
other accomplishments a cnoicc vocabulary Of
Geprectatory eNpetves supposed 20 be descrp-
tive OF those unfortunatcs who differ from her
cn the subject Of prohibition.
The dear old thing seems TO have fallen INTO
quite temper the perfectly obvious pro-
J 'siiiou thnt the friends of a great Statewide
t0, cement having brought the measure so far
"A the road. shah CUrtirue 10 gel behind it and
ash Il 20 completion. The temperance peo-
pie OF the STATE would deserve. and then some.
such tender cnde0rments chick headed
eiodS II they we're 20 do SILLY thing TO
vote by great majority for prohibition. and
then !eave to- such avowed and inveterate anti
IroAibitionists as tho Tmes-Dspatch the task
of putting their viii into effect
The temperance leaders and people of Nir.
g'Ea may be "A 2oodIr company % thick head
ed ciods, bJt they not quite 50 stupid as
that. Anybody OF the most elementary in
teiueencc, even tho Times Dispatch. ought to be
able 20 SEE and appreciate 50 plain point
The easy presumption IS hat the mon OF con
science, judgment and clear vision who fought
aad voted against prohibition last September
HJJ stultfy their conscience. and work. and vote
FIR prohibition next January should they be
elected TO Tho Legislature.
is anybody N.rgira. with Sufficient in
scIHgencc to east a ballot silly enough TO be
Love tfat propositions
DO the Republicans in the senate and HOUSE
Of the national Congress stand behind the Demo-
cratic trFsldent ana hack ms poHt3es because
30 was elected president by majority of the
electors? Is Il arulo anyW here. that the mi
nurit}, defeated AIT the polls Immediately fan
into line to promote the policies Of tho majority ,
quite the CONTRARY The minority continue TO
fight the majority. TO defeat their measures and
elnbarrass their administration
viii the art-prohi bitiousts who lost last
September, come up smiling January and
5olu hands with the prohbtionstS, in enactinE
and enforcing Suitabl. laws to make prohibition
realty affective in orr state? Who Is childish
enough to believe IT,
An anti prohlbitionist last September, will be
an ami prohhtionist peNt January. He may
make an outward SHOW Of conformity to the
s,iI Of the people. But he will interpret the
Twin OF the people according 10 his own pre-
conceptions and always IN favor OF the sa-oon.
The friends of the saloon. having fought and
lost may shipper and whine Ia the Times-Dis-
patch, over their hard fate. Bot the plain ana
simple fact is that man who is not at heart
N favor Of prohibition. and will not stand for a
wise and sane administration Of the principle Of
prohibition. has any business either IN the Gov
olnor's mansion. In the Legislature or any other
administrative Offices anywhere in the state
And any sudden and violent conversion since
Last September must be viewed with suspicion
ana subjected 10 careful scrutiny. The people
Of this state are in no temper to he cheated out
of the fair and honest results Of their labors
and sacrifices. ny trusting the enaetment ana
enforcement of proper laws 10 the aVo"ed
friends of the saloon.
/ Moreover ana in conclusion: Every once in
7 the state, from Governor down, can he filed
with a clear-cut. conscientious prohihitionist-
"A man Of conscience judgment and clear Wis
I ion'.-who can understand and handle every
other question that may come up, without re-
sorting to the necessity. in single instance, OF
eiecting a "thicS-headed cIod' to any office
The prohibtionsts OF Virginia confronted
b. no such dilemma our people will properly
resent the implication.
! n. LIGHT,