The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-26
MAKING NO FIGHT
ON P0U AND SMALL
Superintendent II. L. Davis. of Anti
Saloon League. Explains
Position

To the Editor: In your Mondays
issue you carried news item from
Greenville. which states that the
Anti-Saloon League, in its campaign
for national prohibition in the First
and Fourth Districts, is ma King an
attack on the congressman of those
districts. The article says: The at.
tack on Small and Pou by the Anti
Saloon Leasue has grown out of the
fact that these two congressman fail
ed to vote for a Constitutional amend
meut which would mean national pro-
hihi,ion at the last session of Con-
gress"
! want tn state. most positively hat
the Anti-Saloou League has never
Small, or any other con gresham
from this State. What the Anti
Saloon League is doing in its educa-
tional campaign in these districts is to
give the people the facts touching ma
tiensl prohibition. the vote of their
congressman last time. and thci.
promise to vote for submitting ma
tionsl prohibition this time II ma
jority of their constituency so desires
Instead Of this being an attack On
these men, Il IL in perfect keeping
with their statement sent from Wash
IRgton by your correspondent. Mr..
W u. Yelverton. and published in the
News and Observer OF December "a,
1914.
Mr.. Pou s sta temenf was as follows:
! think my position on the national
prohibition amendment is absolutely
correct If am wrong. then the car
dinsl principle of the Democratic
party is wrong
However this may be. ! want TO
represent the people of the district
faithfully | have pledged myself TO
no one. i will be a member OF the
sixty fourth Congress and If the peo
nc OF the Fourth District wish to hold
u referendum on this subject by means
Of party primary. or by means OF any
other primary aiNy conducted. | stand
ready 70 carry into effect the wishes
Of the ma ority.
Mr. Pou's statement was read %
representative Small. who said he
coucurred in that statement OF the
case ard would be willing to abide by
such a vote in his district II further
explanation OF his position. Mr. Small
said
Nothing IN the National Demo.
cratic platform declares for nation
wide prohibition, nor hes any con-
vention In the First Congressional Dis
trict ever declared tor national pro-
hibition The people Of my distric,
have rever had en- opportunity to ex-
press themselves on t. An amendment,
TO the Federal Constitution is a very
serious proposition and a member ot
the House must upon his own re-
49, a. =
visa bttty Of such an amendment"
The Anti-saleon League representa-
tives have spoken in high terms Of the
work of Mr. Small and Mr. Pou for
temperance reform, especially the
active services OF Mr. pou on the
Rules Committee in getting through
that committee a rule which provided
fer the discussion and vote >r tbs
Webb Kenyon law We have AWAY,
considered them the friends of pro.
hlhitions and our every attitude Il
them has been with this in mind
But knowing that they realize theil
duties As representatives and believ-
ing that they will be true 10 their
statements 10 support a resolution
submitting national prohibition TO the
states X a majority o. their consti-
tucncy so desires the Anti Saloon
League has been ~ work 20 get their
constituency 70 let them know. by let
Ter and resolution that they dc desire
t.
The Hobson resolution has ius,
been introduced in the House by our
North Carolina congressman, Mr.. f.
Y Webb. and vote OF the same will
No doubt he forthcoming at an early
date, The Anti Saloon League wants
70 sec every other North Carolina
congressman voting with Mr. Webb on
this resolution It believes that pro.
hibition North Carolina /. entitled to
a solid vote on this resolution and
therefore. is trying TO influence Mr..
Fou and Mr.. Small 10 vote for sub
mission next time. We contend that
the right OF the States TO vote to
mend the Federal Constitution is one
secured 10 them by the Constitution
itself and feel that the congressman.
as representatives ought to vote to
submit it. and then allow the States
10 decide whether they want 10
amend the Constitution or not Voting
for submission, is not voting for ma
tonsi prohibition and any congress
man who feels that national prohibl-
ton would be an infringement on the
doctrine of States Rights can use his
influence as a citizen OF his State 10
keep his state from ratifying the
amendments. our We ut HhN fEifk fnat.
as representative, he ought to So
vote as TO forbid the States their right
in this matter
| want 20 state, IN conclusion. that
know some anti prohibitionists are
trying to make the impression that the
Anti Saloon League is fighting these
two congressman and are trying to
make this impression for the purpose
OF hurting the Anti-Saloon League.
and therefore. take this opportunity
10 set the people OF North Carolina
straight as to what the Anti a DOR
League IS doing IN regard to this mat
ter
r. l.. DAVIS
Superintendent y, {. Anti Saloon
League.
December 20. 1918.