Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-20
Erecting Il New DcsputiSnu


! 90 far is now recalled, the General As
! ~ scmbly of Virginia offers the first instance
of elected aud supposedly responsible repre-
sentatiNcs of the people gloryng in their dom
nation by and ST. bS"rvcncy to an outside
political organization. Members of the
steering committee OF the Senate do not take
the trouble to deny that they named at least
one other committee in accordance with the
wishes and virtually at the dictatiou of the
Ant-SalOon League.
This is something unusual. not only in Nir
gina hut IN amy part of this country Such
domination and SubScrviCnCy are not rare. UNI
happily but those who yielded heretofore
have had tho grace TO be ashamed Of their
yielding They have thought it no occasion
Of just pride that they surrendered their in
dependence Of Judgment and integrity of
viction To any outside influence whatever
Senator Mapp proclaims from his place i'll
the Senate that the Aut-SaloOn League was
clearly within its rights in making reasonable
demands upon the caucus chairman" What
demands MIR. Mapp considers reasonable he
did not make exactly clear but the action of
the steering committee has supplied the
necessary explanations The Committees ON
Moral Welfare were chosen by the Anti
Saloon League leaders.
This is perversion OF sound government,
whether practiccd by moralsts or immoral
lists Ii the Anti-Saloon League was CLEARLY
OF Il particular committee from a list of
favorite SONS. the railroads. or the bankers
or the manufacturers. the merchants or
the school-teachers of the State must enjoy
similar privilege as TO other committees.
Senators and Delegates have been supposed 10
go to the General Assembly unfettcred by any
allegiance save that they owe to principle.
but under the new ruling they will kneel or
stand erect. when they threatened, as
vision or political power of those who WELD
the lash
Virginia is erecting a new political des-
potism. II is an ecclesiastical despotism-
the variety most repugnant to American con-
ccpts OF freedom. There can he little further
doubt that the General Assembly will nut
through the exact brand OF prohibition legis-
lation that the Anti-Saloon League desires
and that the league will select the prohibition
commissioner and all his satellites and re-
tainerS. That official within his sphere. will
exercise more power than the Governor OF
Virginia. His responsibility TO the Governor
vii! be only III name. The commissioner and
his appointees. backed by the branches of the
league III every section Of the State, will form
the nucleus Of powerful political machine.
Already the leaders OF the league extend
their activities. Tie bill for the establish
ment OF coordinate college for women a,
The University OF Virginia draws their opposi-
tion. The fact is that the broad and liberal
education the university offers is not in har-
monY with their theories of government or
their political aims and ambitions. There
fore. they fight every extension of the univer.
si,ys influence.
Talk about these men taking prohibition
out OF politics? The bare suggestion is so
absurd as to make cynics laugh and angels
weep.