The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-21

the authority Of the Governor to en-
force Statewide prohibitory laws 1t
Will only mean that he has no special
responsibility In regard to such laws.
The league desires the enforcement
OF the prohibition laws to be q matter
entirely apart from the personality of
the Governor. and the legislative Com
mittse has frankly stated that 1t thinks
the Commissioner OF Moral Welfare
should be elected by the General As
sembiy, and not appointed by the Gov
ernor. because the matter Of the en-
iorcement or the prohibition laws
| might become an issue in any guberna-
torial campaign. and could not be con-
! sidersd by itself apart from other is
sues. owing to the personality of the
candidates for Governor and their posi-
lions on other questions. II, however,
the commissioner shall be elected by
the General Assembly. q single issue is
presented to the Assembly will the
| person elected enforce the Statewide
prohibitory lawT And the members
of the General Assembly coming as
they do from every section of the
State will represent by their votes the
sentiment OF the people OF the entire
State on that question.
| mo reflection IL either intended or
| Is made upon the Governor by the posi-
! %
| The only purpose in view 10 to secure
the best possible enforcement OF the
Statewide prohibitory law, and the ex-
perience OF West Virginia demonstrates
| that that can be best done by the ap-
pointment OF a commissioner who shall
be specially charged with the enforce
ment of the law"
Endorsed BY Convention.
At the conclusion of DR.. Canuon's
hs. lie
adopted tho recommendation OF the
Legislative COMMITTEES calling for the
election OF Commissioner of Moral
Welfare by the General Assembly. The
convention was doubtless more strong
ly convinced than ever Of the correct
| ness of the position OF the Legislative
Committee by the paper which had
been read just before the discussion.
written by Commissioner Blue of West
Virginia which paper was entitled,
Necessity for n state Department OF
Prohibition to Secure Statewide En-
forcemsnt" This paper was written
at the request of Or. Cannon and being
addressed to the superintendent IT,
somewhat informal in Its methods OF
statement
Article BY C0nmtssaonsr blue.
January 10, 1915.
''Dr. James Cannon. JF,
tvA Grace 6l, Hlcnmon0s Va
MY Dear DIR. Cannen:
Il have your letter OF the 1ath In
slant, requesting me 70 give you q
word Ola the necessity for o State
department OF prohibition to secure
9tGtewids enforcement"
Replying TO your request ! beg
to state that shall make my state
raent very short ! shall assume that
you and any other person to whom
this letter may come viii aoospt my
statements As to the necessity. with
out requiring me to make an arsu-
ment in support thereof. remember
upon my personal APPEARANCE OF \
little over one year and = half.
Beginning OF Real Fight
II will ask you also TO remainder
and to take into consideration the
fact that y State which has besn wet,
when 1t becomes dry 10 not at the
end Of the night for Statewide PROFIT
bition. but on the contrary the fight
begins when the State becomes dry;
the effect to enforce the law begins.
This should not b discouraging to
you, but upon the other hand this
statement should be encouragtng. A
State that for years, may be genera
tions. has been wet, has been creating
certain factors and certain forces that
do not altogether within themselves
pass away with the passing of the old
conditions and the coming Of the new.
Opposing Forces.
'~Ths saloons in your State will
leave you their products. among these
dipBomaniacs. drunkArds, criminals,
men In official positions whose moral
senses are stunted---and you will have
many local officers, county and NUM-
cipal. whose moral senses are stunt
cd by reason of the saloons that once
existed In your State: again. you have
two extreme classes Of people, one 10
debased and SO abandoned that they
feel that they are beneath the law.
You will ind in your efforts 10 re-
create your State that 1t II NOT 70