The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-24
The Growing Issue
Rx & AXOYARD

Washington Jan, 1s.--And have tire nquoI
question with 1t Ia manifest that II has
Fetched its knitting along and intends to stay
most all day" 1t is an issue made by the
liquor folk themselves Had the saloon not
deliberately entered politics the liquor question
would have no greater place in politics than
II has In the politics Of England of Ger
many And then the scurvv politics the liquor
people practced, In cincinnati the saloon was
la Republican; in Louisville 1t Democrat
Right now in Tennessee the blind tiger ID the
most shriekine, the y ~ snarling. the most ram
cat Of Democrat t'inre is
We are admouisfed that the issue ia sure to
play the dickens with the Democratic parry,
and only day so ago ] read in standpat
paper editorial that exulted in the enbar-
rassment that must come to the Democratic
party because Of the obtrusion of this question
into national politics. Time will disclose
THE Party of Grea- Moral rdeas'' has taken
pains 10 promote propaganda TO this effect.
ana perhaps there is slight foundation for It.
That in the northern communities, where lodge
All the VirtHe and dectncy or our country, the
Republican party always has the majority in
the prayer meeting and the Democratic party
at The ringslde OF prize fight Horace Greeley
said that all Democrats not horse thieves.
hat that all horse thieves Democrats. 1t
might be answered that all Republicans are NOT
i'ec1sniffs. bat that all PeCksnitfs are Re-
publcans, and truth IL is that your ruffIan ia
not dangerous to society as yaair pharisee
And 80 the Democratic party has always been
called the party Of The saloon, and the Repubii-
can party he party of the church. OF course,
there a great deal of lying in that assump~
ton. but in u wicked world like this live in
heap OF dirty work must be done and lie
has its political Indeed. in our politics II
is absolutely Indispensable in certain high toned
ana moral Republican circles to promote a ne.
1t is certain that the liquor folk have been
powerful in politics. They have contributed
hugely To campaign funds to debauch the cleo
torate. There is doubt about that The
American people have conscience and a sense
or decency, and they resolved to put a
stop 10 that sort Of thing The saloon went
Into politics, and the time is come when politics
is grimly resolved to put the saloon out OF bust
ness. That Ia all there is to it,
What is the effect of the saloon in our coun-
try? To put want in the household, hunger
in the cupboard, sorrow In the hearts OF wives.
tears in the eyes of children. poverty in the
homes of labor That is what 1t is and as sure
eggs is eggs the American people are re-
solved TO seize the monster with the grip of an
Olympan demigod, smte it, destroy it.
Now I am not prohtbitonist. In Barren
Comfy. Kentucky, would vote dry" In JEFF
ferson County, Kentucky. would vote wet" for
sometimes ! drink and, properly regulated, J.
would tolerate the business in communities
where there IS adequate police protection. Uut
the saloon is fool. 1t has outraged all decency.
Your saloonkeeper is intoierant of opposition to
his calling, lie Will allow you to have cp-
position adverse to him. He has debauched
the ballot box. He has intimidated the voter.
and done it al! in the name of personal lib
erty-' He will insul. you, though You be his
customer il YOU dare to have independent
opinion adverse to his business of purveyfng
wretchedness to the home, that should be con-
tented.
For years believed that prohibition did not
prohibit: but Kansas has shown that prohibi-
lion does prohibit in all communities where the
officers of the law obey their aths and enforce
the laws. Kansas boasts empty jails and ten
ahtlehs ain1shouses: Kansas gives credit to pro-
hihition for that IL Kansas can do that any
and all the States do it.
Politically | am Democrat. and mighty shy
of the Prohibition party. but the saloon has
made that party mighty force in our politics
Millions of eyes. are now turned Russia that
has stopped the manufacture and sale OF ri.
cohol. There prohibition prohibits for it is
government OF force, and not of consent If
prohibition shall prove what is claimed for it
IN Russia. then look cut for mighty. ire
slstible wave in Its behalf to sweep our country
However, IL were in their councils should
advise the drys to tackle the States and abandon
The amendment La the Federal Constitution
Too much States rights involved for that