The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-30
1DoUBLE GAME OF POLITICS ADROITLY PLAYED
BY NEWS LEADE

mi Truly 8 clever double gam of politics is hat being played by tn News
61eAde. In ne column the versatile editor o that paper. who fought
3<ehis1aon with uch plausible n sknful utterances In 1914. undertakes
ste show that Mr. Wesmore'and Davis III wet candidate Tor governor
49, said all that he could be expected to say in support of prohibition and
sn the next IT makes most ingenious argument to hold the Pollard fol-
ato~es in line and create seo.iment against Mir ElNson. Even. if the News
sx1ader were we-and it asserts that it ia % in sympathy with prohibition
NNheh II tough three years ogo-t could hardly work owt a brighter and
mere catchy campaign in nehat of tn wet candidate
But III News Leader undertakes to show that prohibition is not low an
sassue and that Mr Davis whose cause it champions, at least 80 far as to
51efend his position o u prohibition. has committed himself to the proper
~. Davis TO substantate it's position. ct us see h Headquarters com
smntee of h Anu-saloon League of virginia sent o each 81 the candidates
~ the primary a series Of questions as to their position OF prohibition Mr.
8neyIa avoided answering these directly by quoting a letter he had written
W. the subject
The first question or request as Tor a statement giving thu candidates
record o n the prohibition question. Mr. Davtsr replied that he had voted for
saccal option and had written a letter to Judge George Christian setting
ssotA his views This letter ws j" opposition TO prohibition How did Mr.
laws answer he second question: DO you favor TIL main provisions of
a. Mapp law" He did not answer 1t Mt ALL And Mr.. Davis hs never 10
tnha day satedh hat h farors 'he m"in provisions OF thu M"p hw' M news
Header ncw IT, In "wct' people know ii. nd The virGinian is determined
.bc do a II it a I'd zee that h prohibition voter Of Virginia know IT.
Nj. Davis had been so opposed t. prohibition that pror to thu election
liz surrendered he office of president Of the Farmers institute in order
shat he might feel free to write to the Local self-Gosernment league throw
Ing his influence against prohibition
Mr.. Davis vas neither direct o explicit in answering the third Wes-
ton which vas as to whether. if elected. he would support tn n"re'men
Of Tn Mapp lay and cooperate with the prohibition majority to strengthen
would b his desire if elected to give effect to eas'nao 'eF'S"uon
. srh mieht he passed to render effective the prohibition law Il shall
t...ays he guided in my action" he wrote, "by the dictates Of my con-
science and m desire to serve the state in a spirit of good citizenship" We
assume that Mir Davis conscience was his guide In 1914 He voted against
prohibition The last question was as to the proposed prohibition consti-
suf,na1 amendment for Virginia and on this Mr. Davis refused to commit
himself
Mr.. Davis has studiouly and seadfasuy avoided committing himself
on this animportant question He has had numerous opportunities but has
OF accepted n of them. When be and Mr.. Pollard metz recently in debate
Id was quoted as saying that he would endorse the constitutional amendment
n n,,sed by h eenoraT assembly hut he made haste to send out a corr
rechon declaring that there had been NJ change in his position. The only
porpaon he hs announced OF this subject vas that " opposition TO pro
htbnicn.
The New Leader says:
THE News Leader opposed prohibition in lsis because
eauSe W. know II lis enforceable We refused TO ne shaken
Nc did not believe it VA entneahie We prov it nov be-.
and organs and we refuse now TO he denied a part IN me non
in tn past, We shall HI undtsturbed for tn future"
ASs Our neirhbor is a year off in his dates but thu subject being discussed
may not.be ne with which he has heen closely aeuuainteh Nobody would
@deuy the News Leader any honor It deserves Tor n upho1dfng of the law
axm4 has 1t 10 anything more tm bow in submission to a Lax which
NNns forced upon II greatly against its wishes and oeri its earnes protest?
Those who fought prohibition three years ago are now decatming that
a1Aa4 subjects no longer a issue nut h. friends Of prohibition, those who
s3pught tn battle that drove he saloon ot realize that it is Of the utmost
iii and hearty sympathy with the law ard who win cooperate in getting
9Shs la mad even better than IT is nw We print on thispa s this morn
S1w ! very timely article by Rev DR. George w. Mcdaniel o thisc city. Or
31kEpanhi is a true friend of prohibition ants to see h Law en-
&<Hced. He very wisely says;
How it nay be asked, can prohibition be impaired by elect
liquor people will feel tina they save achieved a triumph and
vioianrs OF he prohibnion laws viii be emboldened by tn
hop, that in som "a they the. will Will esca Pp punishment SHIN The hau0s
viii hazon it forth that Virginia has elected a INT i-prohibi-
luxurious in Virginia an In the nation. n amrms the an
a aee ,b pa0n aws. &c ce shaGrfs h ne ape sAi fmr he @@s as no ws tak as ha
oath of ONCE without making that promise. ut w know that
sn nat s 4 man ma wh9 opposes III d pineIs's "a m nf mrth0d Of Pr9ht,
a. n who favor hg"