Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-21

Christian Scriptures. In the sncrednesS
OK pledges. even when made by clerical
politicians. and in the indencndcncc of
inc medical profession from all at
tempts on the part of the Legislature to
control II in the matter of pr.scrip-
tionS deemed necessary or even help
ful In treating disease. | fear that grave
results VIII speedily result should the
Legislature enact Il law so ranaticaI
hypocritical. narrow and spitcful The
devil VIII be glad. | am sure to see
precious lives jcopardiZcd TO Offset the
benehts that may accrue from the di :
minishcd volume of the lcgalized liquor
traffic. and he will bc ,,c,,uhted to
witness the establishment of Il norma
nent inquisition in the SKATE. under tho
auspices OF the Anti-Saloon League
an inquisition whos- CHER inuuisitor
would exercise prcrvrativcs equal TO
those OF the Governor himself. calling.
no man master but DrS. Cannon. Pitt,
Wexford, ct id genus omnc
Any man can see that this hin is
intended to nullify the exceptions made
in the enabling act in favor of pcr.
hitting the manufacture" and sal.
within the State OF liquors for medi-
cinal, and of wine for communion rur-
poses II crinccs sinister and ma
iicfous purpose TO defeat all EFFORTS 10
procure liquors either from within or
from without the Sta-e, for any pir-
pose whatever. The pretcnSc that the
Anti-Saloon League ia not bound to
abide by the terms of the enabling act
is an inSolent ftlSehood ACCORDING, 70
DIR. Cannon. they "practiCally dic,atod'
the enabling act. II they accepted cor
tain amendments to gain votes. and
now propose to evadc their implied
pledge to enact those amendments into
law. they are exhibiting trcachcrv that
would disgrace any political party
But fanaticiSm never hcsitatcs to yin-
late pledges when it sees ii prospect
OF attaining it's end by duplicity. The
people of Virginia will one dav have
Z reckoning with these clerical poli-
ticianS. and will repudiatc their pro-
gram of fanaticisn and unrcaSon. No
matter how the tickets were made TO
read in the "State-wide" election. they
were Intentionally so wGrdcd. II The
dictation OF the Anti-Sa loon League.
rs to confuse the issue. b.cauS" the
clerical politicians who wcr. under
taking to dominate the politics Of our
state in the interest Of Temperance"
thought 1t good politics and sound piety
to wage a campaign OF ostracism to-
ward all who did not approve their
policy. Those who voted for State
wide prohibition voted. thousands of
them. with the distinct understanding
that the proposed law would not inter
fere with reputable physicians in their
treatment of the sick. and that II
would not interfere with churches that
use wine for sacramento purposes
But for that distinct understanding. no
Episcopal minister could or would have
voted for statewide prohibition. The
plans now on foot are such that, II car
ried out. may yet compel every Epis-
copal minister to choose between
obedience to tyrannical and unrea-
sonable law of the State and dis
obedience TO a scripturai rule OF his
church. I sincerely hope to see that
feature of the law declared unconsti-
tutional by the courts
i note also the animus against the
use of beer, even for medicinal pur-
poses. Physicians are not permitted by
the terms Of the law to prescribe 1t,
and those who order II from outside
OF the State are prevented from obtain
Ing quantity sufficient for an invalid,
and must receive it in n package which
makes 1T certain that it will spoil
within few hours after the CON
tainer" is preached. Still further, the
people of Virginia. who are not to be
trusted with self -Eovernment, are to
be kindly prevented by paternal adj
ministration from finding out where
liquors OF any sort are to be obtained
| submit. that as a matter Of com
mon honesty. the title OF the bill should
be changed. SO as to indicate it's actual
purpose. The following would be ac-
curate: An act to prevent the manu-
facture, sale. transportation or use OF
alcoholic liquors within the State of
Virginia, for any purpose whatever:
TO establish permanent inquisltion in
Virginia with r view to the enforce
ment by the State, at the inStigation