The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-19

prohibition forces. 1t would be calling
! to the people and misunderstanding TO
him 10 find that the victory won after
such hard and long night had been
turned TO ashes. He expressed the
earnest hope that when the roll was
called on the passage of the bill the
friends of prohibition would be found
standing together.
! DIR. pitts Words OF Warning.
Senator Mapp closed his very earn
est and exceptionally strong speech
by reading an extract from an edito-
rial by DIR. Pitt in this weeks issue
of the Religious Herald. In this edi-
torial DR.. Pitt sounds an earnest word
OF warming He writes
LET the friends of prohibition take
this warning. The liquor interests are
not dead. nor are they asleep. They
have one hope in the present stu
alton. If they can work any sort OF
confusion among the temperance peo-
Pile; IL they can SOW suspicion of the
leaders and create dissatisfaction with
/ details of legislation, and if in this
process they can render the law un-
satisfactory and ineffective. they will
move heaven and earth to do SO. An
occasional temperance advocate. with
more zeal than discretion, will play
into their hands. A few are giving
them aid and comfort now. But the
great mass of our people know that
the men on whom they have put the
responsib ility of influencing as far as
is righteous and proper this legisla-
ton are earnestly seeking to get the
most effective and practicable law
possible. SO far as this writer knows
and he has peculiar opportunities
for knowing-every suggestion of per-
sonal political ambition and every in
tlmation OF Interior political motives
lis not only utterly without founda-
/ ton but Is cruelty unjust to men who
have borne unmurmuringly the bur
den and heat of this conflict. who have
given their time. their money. their
labor, and some Of whom have pledged
their private credit almost to the limit
/ in the interest of this great conten-
ton. This Is a critical time in the
history of our long suffering and now
partially triumphant cause. United
we stand, and we are simply blind and
foolish to yield in any way to The at
tempts of our enemies to divide u.s..
/ Supported BY Saunders.
! Somewhat more brief. but equally
as earnest. even as Senator Mapp had
been. Senator Saunders. of Middlesex
spoke in closing the argument for the
, committee recommendation. ne
frankly stated that in the beginning
! he was not especially imhued with the
idea of a commissioner but had be-
come fully satisfied that such an Of
( fiCer was necessary to the enforce
ment of the law and that this officer
ought to be elected by the General
1 Assembly. The plain question was
whether we are to enforce the prohi-
bition laws or to bring them 70 wreck
HJgN-
earnest in his words of commentator
+ of the Anti-Saloon League and of its
/ leaders who. through years of sacri-
/ fee and toll and earnest labor, had
/ led the temperance forces to a final
/ and sweeping victory. He did not en-
! JOY the distinction of being a member
of the Anti Saloon League. but eN-
pressed the greatest admiration Tor
the work of that splendid organiZa-
ton He had been left free by his
people, but he was in thorough ac-
cord with the league. Who had won
the victory? who had planned the
campa gn? Who had prepared the en-
abliug act2 Who had shaped all by
the legislation by which, step by step,
the saloon was being displaced in Vir-
ginia He replied The Anti-Saloon
League and added that he had. found
great pleasure in contributing reGu-
larly SO Ear as he felt able to the work
Of this organization
What was there SO mysterious
Senator Saunders asked about the
appointment TO the Senate Commit
tees" Senator'S had spoken as though
there was some great octopus or some
such political machine as the world
had never seen. If the Legislature
! did not elect a commissioner. the Gov
: ernor would have To appoint somebody
TO see that the prohibition law was
, enforced What was the difference
in the mere matter of what this Of
ffcer or agent Of enforcement was
called? He thought the Legislature
ought to elect. Mr. Saunders discussed
the powers of the various other COM
-+ssieHers-iH- charge Of departments in
the State and asked what about their
machine He lived far back in the
country. whore there are no rail-
roads and people do not think SO much
about machines,
Knew Nothing of Interference.
Coming back to the question or
committees MIR. Saunders declared
that he knew nothing about any in
reference of DR.. Cannon with the
makeup of the Senate committees.
The Steering Committee was composed
/ Of five men of high character. lie
had a higher regard for these men
than to think they could be used. He
likewise had a higher regard for DR..
Cannon than to think that he would
seek to exert any improper influence,
even If he had il. in the selection OF
committees. IL Or. Cannon, as the head
OF the Anti-Saloon League organiza-
ton of the state, insisted on the Com
mittee on Moral Welfare being con-
trolled by dry men he had a right
to do So This was both natural and
proper. Mr.. Saunders spoke earnest
~ and strongly of his Acquaintance
with and his regard for the superir-
tendent of the Anti saloon League.
Il have seen him. he declared.
under different circumstances
and l assure you that he is abundantly
able to take care of himself where
he has a fair opportunity to be heard"
Caucus Confirmed Action.
Senator Rison Interrupted Mr..
Saunders to inquire If the Steering
Committee did not report to the eau
Gus and have its nominations con-
firmed Mr.. Saunders replied that
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