The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-05

The And-prohibition League.

There is a rather general belief in Virginia
that the liquor interests and their friends do
not propose To bow gracefully to the verdict OF
the people as rendered in the election of last
September
The fact that Authorization League has
been organized at Richmond within six months
after Statewide prohibition carried by a large
majority in popular election, has a sinister
significance. We have means of knowing the
strength Of the organization, nor how formida-
hle II may become. but it can have other
purpose than to resist effective prohibition leg
islation and foster discomfort with and en-
courage disrespect for the law. That has been
the attitude of the extreme liquor element IN
every prohibition state and the activities of that
element have been directed toward that end.
1t is the opinion of those who studying
the situation and watching developments that the
plan of the liquor forces is TO make fight next
tail for the election OF State Senate that will
not be in sympathy with prohibition, with
the idea that prohibition should prohibit. While
such n Senate probably would not oppose the
enactment of prohibition law. the liquor forces
might safely depend upon it to block all legis-
llation designed to make Virginia a genuine pro-
hbition state The result would be unsatis-
factory situation. and in the face of such situ-
alton the liquor forces would keep up an anti
prohibition agitation with the hope of convinc-
ing the majority of the people that prohibition
| Is impracticable and that a return to former
conditions would be preferable Always and
everywhere the tactics Of the liquor interests
are the
4 the Antt-Prohlbttion League of Virginia has
been organized for q purpose which 1t will
prosecute without reference to whether prohi-
/ btion is good thing or bad thing. The fact
is that those who affiliated with the organi-
cation are opposed TO prohibition being given
fair test, because they opposed to pro-
hibition first and last regardless of what its
effect might be. That is not the proper attitude
for patriotic citizens to assume, IL it prob
able that tho majority Of those who voted against
Statewide prohibition are In sympathy with the
IreaCtionary movement
/ IF there is to be a Tevulsion of public sentf-
ment in Virginia the surest way bring Il
about IS TO demonstrate that prohibition Is the
vicious principle its opponents contend 1t is.
/ That this only be done by the enactment
and strict enforcement or honest law is a
point upon which all sincere prohibtionists and
anti prohibitionists should be agreed. If such
law should prove good thing II would be re-
tanned, but II it should prove bad thing 1t
soon would be done away with.
! If the gentlemen composing the Anti Prohibi-
ton League were more concerned for the best
interests OF the people of Virginia a whole
than for the welfare of the liquor interests, they
would advocate the enactment and strict en-
foTcement of g real prohibition law. There
would have been plenty OF time for them 10
launch their back It the saloon movement after
prohibition had been weighed in the balances
land found v.;,pting.--6rstol Herald Courier.