The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-08
SHALL THE MAJORITY RULE:


The fundamental principle of our government
Is that the majority shall rule Virginia has al
ways been the greatest conservation Of the prin.
cipAs on which this republic was founded, We
do not believe Virginia is prepared 10 depart
from those principles But there is well de,
hned effort beine made IA this State TO accom-
plish such a result
One OF the largest naaJorities in the history Of
Virginia was given last fan for the principle OF
Statewide prohibition Of the traffic in intoxi-
eating liquors. BY that action tie State declared
her intention OF forever outlawing the liquor
Business. But she has done more than de
clare such desire. She has adequate laws
for enforcing that desire. She has no men in
Office especially instructed 10 carry out those
laws In the past men have not besitated 10 re
fuse their support to Temperance measures even
when representing overwhelmingly dry districts
because they have stated that they had not been
specifically instructed the measures before
them Ii was action of this sort tEat defeated for
so many years the desire @: the people to vote
on the prohibition issue
We do not see any reason to believe that the
situation wiH be different II the people of Viz
ginia follow the advice Of friends OF the liquor
Interests and refuse TO elect To office. for the
enactment and enforcement Of prohibition laws
mon who have fought for and followed the course
OF prohibition in this State
Is it not remarkable that any man should
question the right OF the majority TO rule? 1t Is
not remarkable, however, that those papers
which protest against the enforcement Of the
will OF the majority by representatives Of the
majority happen BY SOME curious chance 10 have
belonged to the minority and TO have been
repudlated by the vote of the people Why is it
that all the objections from themo
AT present the ohiector,inchief is the Times
Dispatch. This paper seems TO have a pro
pensity for directing It also seems strangely
able to devise methods and words of denuncia-
ton of the p~ople In whom the majority of the
voters have expressed confidence The Times
Dispatch not long ago surprised the State by the
declaration that Virginia was ruled by "a
"plunderbund. including in that term the
Legislature Of Virginia and the State officers
After a period OF quiesence and a change of
management It came ont on the eve Of a ma
tional election with characte rzation OF the
Democratic majority in the House OF Represen
tatives drunk with power and careless Of
consequence" and for this crime advocated The
relegation from publ office to private life" Of
"individual democrats" whose defeat it would
view with no particular grief"
These among other denunciations not having
been upheld by the people either of Virginia or
OF the nation the T.mcsD spotrh tries again
and this time characterizes the supporters of
1 prohibition as "thickneaded clods'', prohibition
itself which majority Of the State has voted
for. as this quintesscnce Of human wisdom:
holding up those whom the people have defeated
as men Of "conscence, clear vision and judg
ncnt" We do not tail 10 give the Times
Dispafch credit for one virtue II Is consistent
in its contrarness While posing as Virginia
paper 1t characterizes the government Of its
own State as d plunderbund Posing as Demo
cratic ii advocates a reduction Of the Democratic
majority. Finally, having protested desire that
prohibition be given fair trial" it thinks the
prohibition Law a bad law, and the prohibition
4 people "thickhead clods." but the opposition
4 is composed Of men Of Conscience Judgment.
and clear vision"
N newly expressed view has brought repentance
y md a half-hearted apology for an inexcusable
assault the good sense Of the majority OF Viz
h ajnfa voters was given yesterday morning with
N additional insult added to the original injury.
III would be Just a. Objectionable in our
view. 10 prefer "A thick-headed and unpro-
NGFersive local opuonlst to prohibitionist Of
#sconscience, judgment and clear vision as to
1Ss1nake the choice previously condemned"
Why this fear that the people will always re-
turn 'sthick headed cod, whether prohibition.
E1st or anti? Have not the people the right 10
o3ect whom they choose? And when has the
Nfikht of 'condemning' the action Of the people
d shoen bestowed on the Ttmes-DispotcaI
'Our protest is against the effort 10 erect n
Vi Gni~e standard OF fitness and 10 segregate WITT,
6pcntical pariahs thai large body OF Intelligent
4EtttSen ship that stood for local option bt which
NAe accepted In candor and good faith the ad.
N3eee verdict rendered the polls"
SzSsfNA $3.50 ! ea ~ = ~ - i. ST ..
~ segregating With political pariahs" the
om mentioned. would the result be to place