The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-21
Asks Senate Leader If Liquor
Traffic Owns Him Since He
Serves It So Faithfully.
Calls Him the States Acting
Senate.
SUPERINTENDENT PUTS
BLAME ON BROWN
Declares He's smothering OPP
tional Prohibition Referen-
dunn Bill In Committee Be-
cause He's Afraid To Fight
It Out In the Open.

New York, April 20.--William II.
Anderson has sent an open letter 10
FHon r. Brown, whom he addresses
as the acting Senate OF the state OF
New York" Among other things Mr..
Anderson, who is superintendent or
the Anti-Saloon League Of New York
asks Mr.. Brown II the liquor traffic
owns him. The letter follows:
"You said in discussing the pro-
posed change in the rules wnicn
would prevent your strangling bills In
committee, that there Is no bill that
you are afraid to face in the open,
Was that the truth? II so, why are
you smothering the optional prohi-
pition referendum bill in committee
you said last year in letter. when
you evidently thought you would
thereby sidetrack this Issue, that you
believed the Legislature would not
refuse request to vote on the liquor
question II 1t came from the various
local boards. You are de facto the
upper house of the Legislature. The
optional prohibition referendum bill.
which you have publicly attacked, Is
now pending in a form where X Will
apply only TO Binghamton, whose
common council has endorsed II. and
to such other cities and counties as
may take action through their re-
spective boards. Was your statement
last year honest and in good faith
If SO, why do you not make good
on tit
Asks AS TO Ownership.
Does the liquor trafic own you.
that you serve 1t as faithfully as any
hired attorney could do? II so. how
did It acquire title and on what basis?
II It does not own you, are you acting
this way Just because you prefer the
liquor traffc and it's associates to the
moral citizenship of the State?
"It has been reported that the new
superintendent bill for which you are
absolutely responsible, viii be so
framed as TO retire Senator Jones. the
introducer OF the optional prohibi-
ton referendum BILL or in any event.
get rid OF one favorable senator by
throwing him into district with .
larger county whose present senator
stand right Does the arrangement
to kill seh-government legislation on
the liquor question while holding the
liquor traffic up for 25 per cent in
crease in the tax. require you TO make
this attempt 60 exterminate Senator
Jones or are you doing 1t Just for pure
cussedness, because you hate to have
around you in the Senate a man who
fears God, loves his fellows and re-
spects his obligation to his constitu-
ents enough to defy your
Seeks liquor Reward?
''wf1at connection 10 there between
your valuable services TO the liquor
traffic and your boom Tor governor
(until your patron, Mr.. Barnes. got
bumped again the other day) and
your aspiration to the United States
Henate? Are you expecting the liquor
traffic TO do something for you poll
hcallyf
Just what 10 the hold of the liquor
traffic on you anyhow. Lhat you face
your Maker with full responsibility
for that proportion whioh might have
been prevented II the people were able
to vote, OF the following awful items2
The ten New York boys under
twenty-one sent to jail or prison every
day through drink?
The four New York girls re-
cruited every day to life OF shame
because of drink?
THE more than 500 New York
boys who learn TO drink every day
Tho form of this letter is in COM
p1iance with your request that COM
municate with you only in a public
way"