The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-22
CAMPAIGN TO PAY DEBT
STILL DUE BY LEAGUE

pie the right to vote upon II, ana IN
sisted as forcibiy as ! could that, in
doing so, they would render an indi-
rect service fgreat value to the Com
monweaIth. For In this way they
would settle the policy of the state on
this matter and set the voters free TO
make their choice of men to repre-
sent them upon the larger ground OF
their fitness IN every respect for the
places to which they aspired.
ITO attempt TO turn this matter
over entirely to the Governor wouio,
of course. mix it with practically ali
of our political life. the men VINO
ask for the suffrages of their fellow
citizens for this high office would be
Judged not so much by standards OF
general ability. unsullied integrity
long and varied experience in puphc
affairs as they would be judged by
their attitude to this special and con"
tinuing issue. The irreconcilable
friends of the liquor traffic would vote
for the weakest among all the candi-
dates II only they thought him luke
warm In this respect. And am rrahH
to say that among the irrecohcliapIe
foes of the traffic there would be thou
sands whose convictions on TINS queS-
ton are so deep and so dominant thar
by the supposed or real attitude Oh
the candidate on this matter.
Il do not think this Is visionary
notion. 1t seems TO me of the hl8n-
est practical Importance.
"The recommendation providing Tor
a special commissioner is in strict con-
sonance with the policy or isolauns
this question. His official duties with
be concerned only with the execution
Of this law, and he can be chosen
solely for this purpose. ii he fails IN
this. he fails in all that he is set to
do, and nobody else is held directly re-
sponsible for his failure. The Gov
ernor of this great State has immense
ana varied responsibilities with rel
erence TO many other public questions.
On all of them except this of this
matter we're put entirely into his
hands) he might be an entirely sat
isfactory and exemplary official. and
vet might awaken discomfort and dis
satisfaction all over the Common
wealth and might find himself great-
r embarrassed and hindered in the
discharge of his other high duties be-
cause of real or alleged indifference
To this.
II am frank to say that this con-
sideration had great weight with me,
and l believe IL ought TO nave WetSn
with all candid students OF the whole
situation.
1T is, of course. absurd to suppose
that this legislative committee had III
mind the personality of the present
Governor or of any possible successor
10 him. Governor Stuart at best could
only have a few brief months in which
to exercise these powers, IL they were
vested in the gubernatorial office. I
speak for myself. and j have no rea-
son to suppose that my own view is
not shared bv the other members OF
the committee when / say that | have
no earthly doubt that our present
strong and excellent Governor would
execute the law without fear or ia
vor. That ought to so without say
ing. He needs no tribute of any kind
from me, but he may rejoice ~
knowing that the people whom he
serves In his high place, without re-
spect of their political alignment or oi
their attitude on this question. are
fully assured OF his courage and con-
scientiousness. None of these ques'
.tions arose in any way. We were eh
gagged in making n policy which II
our Judgment would bring the bes
results in the particular direction II
which we were working and which
would bring least interference will
other departments of our public life.