The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-15
Wome---Sswcet Home.

we have a communication from a
stranger writing from Salisbury. n. c.,
! who appears to be nightly perturbed
/ by the Virginia court ruling that q
I hotel or bonding house is public
place within the meaning of the new
! prohibition law The unknown writer
/ proceeds to argue his cause "a If he
/ were addressing the learned Judges
Of the Supreme Court OF Appeals OF
Virginia. our correspondent is really
much concerned lest men who live In
hotels or boarding houses and who at
tempt 10 vote in elections will be-
come liable to arrest for Illegal vot-
ing After having convinced himself
that he had evolved a real discovery,
he writer says with an air Of final
ity:
Now II the authorities continue to
arrest men for taking drink in their
room, or keeping liquor there, wheth-
or II be a hotel or boarding house.
why not prosecute the illegally regis
tered voter? Lack Of knowledge OF
the law does not make any difference
in one charge; why should 1t make IL
difference in the other?"
What n vast deal OF legal talent Is
fN''AiE " vase AIiuS4 anu now many
learned iurSts in embryo have been
spoiled by becoming drunmers,
We assure the anxious correspond
ent that in our humble Judgment the
country Is still safe It is not rushing
headlong to the demnltion bow-wows.
At least, we do not believe il is. Our
fellow citizens did not recognize our
modest abilities sufficiently to make
us either a legislator Of iurist, and
& nj \
ify for the enactment or construction
of this law. We may be pardoned. we
trust for suggesting that the eminent
lawyers who We're consulted during
tho consideration OF the Mapp law
| Knew Just bit about their business,
and that they considered these
weighty, even ponderous arguments by
our correspondent The writer in
North Carolina who is SO much con-
corned about Virginia conditions fn-
ally makes this appeal TO us: Il trust
you will publish this and try to pre-
vent the serious conditions that will
ensue If this ruling stands"
We have great deal OF sorrow and
solcitude for the man whose anxiety
to take a drink exposes him to such
dire and dreadful perls. We might
suggest. 70 him that If he must have
that nip and must keep a limited and
he may escape all these perils by rent
ing a house and living in it, Or per-
haps, II he Is travelling man. he
might write his firm and ask II to
transfer him to some other territory
where he might keep his quart and
take his nip whenever the desire inn
pels him. But possibly the firm does
not know that the salesman finds a
little liquid refre.hment so essential
to efficient and satisfactory work by
the employe. We cannot conceive of
firm being so inconsiderate to a VAL
ued employee as to subject him to a
drought beset with such perils
But, seriously speaking: We would
suggest that our correspondent vex
nor himself with such legal and iudi-
cial questions. His knowledge Of law
will soon be subjected to the test of
court review, and. whatever the deci-
sion, poor mortals must abide by It
until they have opportunity to select
I another Legislature which will be
more humane. IT is a sad state not
TO have a home. especially when one
has so much concern for the rights an
pertaining to a home Ncwspa pers
have not been vested with any author
ity to determine the questions raised.
They can only await until the judicial
oracles have spoken.--Danviu Reg
lister