The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-26
A CANDID EXPRESSION OF OPINION
On July a. The Virginia stated:

1 q e
will give advice, those who for it, as to
which candidate should be supportcd.''
We readers candid statement OF the sua
ton based upon the best and most extended reports
that we have been able to obtain
In the face aggressive campaign being waged by Mr.
Wesmoreand Davis the candidate of the wet interests and
himself avowedo of prohibition the election three
years division in the vote between Mr. fIyson and
Mr. Pollard would seriously threaten the of tho dry
of the their elect follow
ing the inauguration ast November of statewide prohibitions
Virginia is a dry The sentiment Of the people has
long been against the liquor business In III W1e alter
years of effort the Anti Saloon League succeeded in securing
for the people the right to vote under the enabling act state
wide prohibition carried by majority of dian 10000
Prohibition has been operation last November and
it working Many who honestly opposed that reform
three years and thought it would have hurt business have
converted this and hearty sup
portars of the aW,
Dry Virginia secured after years of labor and toll and
great sacrifices by those who recognized the saloon OF
socety great which should be eradcated BY earnest
perse> effort the Mapp law welded into of
the efficient prohibition statutes to be found III of
the dry The officers Of the counties and cities aided
by the prohibition commissioner have enforced the statewide
law quite effectively for than many of those who
sympathzcd with the law thought could be done IN the first
year of its operation.
Virginia take back step 1t must look forward
dmove forward. Our prohibition law, while good, must
be perfected and efficient ITS, enforcement
must be made and with little time will be made much
nearly perfect With its two senator's and the great
majority of its representatives in congress fn sympathy
with principle of prohibition, Virginia, dry state, will
have weight and influence in the effort make the nation
dry stem backward nv VIRGINIA would have depressing
effect upon the nation wide campaign Nothing would be
garded decided backward than for this dry
this first election for Governor after becoming dry
to permit the selection of wet for Governor through the
division Of the dry This is just what is threatened in the
primary of Tuesday week unless the normal of the
dry forces Of the state concentrated the dry candidate
whose nomination and election is most certain
The Vrginan places the great principle of prohibition abov"
the personal interest of candidate This paper was
founded pnposey to help dnVe the liquor
traffic of Virginia To what extent it contributed to that
the people of the state in position to nudge The Viz
2nian is deeply Interested in prohibition today as II has
! Will continued or
dry and dry nation The state has been carried dry
hut that it may kept dry the law be made thoroughly
effective necessary be elected to the executive
and administrative offices of the who in full sympathy
With the law Mr. Davis it il we'll known was an avowed op
of prohibition three and he has erssteny
earnestly and stouy refused to commit himself either to
sympahize with the law purpose if elected to give
ahetc cooperation in having the law enforced. His eee
ton would raise hope the breast of the liquor
people that after all Virginia might remain dry state
Mr. Fyson and Mr.. Pollard are both dry" men. Either
would give sympathetic operation in the enforcement OF
the Prohibition Law. The results of careful of the
situation III the state has convinced The Nrglnan that Mt
Eyson may be strong enough to be nominated next tuesday
week though the dry vote is divided between him AMI
Mr. Pollard On the other hand the reports nce
The Virgnian that Mr. Pollard possibly be nominated
\ With M. Ellyson in the field
The information We have received indicates that of the
than favor of Eyson compared with
Pollard and than five to compared with Davis
of the weekly papers which have taken positive position
about of Eyson compared with
Pollard and about ten to compared with Davis From
sections of the reports have that Mr. Pollard
than Mr. Fyon, but when the reports from the
entire state considered appears that Mr.. Eyson is
stronger in sections of the than is Mr. Pollard and
that it would require the change Mr.
Pollard TO Mr. Ell than from Mr. Eyson Mr. Pollard
elect dry candidate in different form
&1ore be added the Pollard
feat of Davis than would have be added the Eyson
! sumn to defeat Davis.
making the above statements The Nirginan considers
Mat is performing service the prohibition
Of The The service is performed because
xe0l for Mr. Evson against Mr. Pollard from
The conviction that it is the duty of this paper state
must be added the Pollard column that
it them that the prohibition may go the
rails knowing tbs condition Of affairs We're tina facts