The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-09
Atlanta Constitution VS.. Times-Dispatch

Editor virgfnian:
Slr,--I am enclosing In this an edi
torial from the Atlanta Constitution
An reply to the editorial of the New
York World, attacking the Southern
Democrats In congress for their vote
on the constitutional amendment.
i%e Atlanta Constitution very prop
eriy states that the vote on the con-
st!tutional amendment was not In any
sense a sectional one. AS matter
Of fact the Southern Democrats vot-
ing for the resolution comprised a
very few more than one-half of the
total Democratic vote cast for that
measure.
The editorial of the World is en-
couraging In that II shows the des-
peration of the liquor crowd. They
viii stop at nothing to defeat the rati-
hcation of the amendment. They
would not hesitate to disrupt either
he Democratic or the Republican
party to accomplish their purpose; in
deed. the liquor advocates never have
any regard for a party platform, or
for the constitution Itself when the
existence OF the saloon Is the issue at
stake.
The Ttmes-Dispatch makes itself
ridiculous by its attack upon the call
OF the Anti-Saloon league to the peo-
pie OF Virginia to ask the legislature
to ratify the amendment. Unless the
people want the amendment rxtified.
the general assembly is not likely to
! take favorable action But II the peo-
pie do want the amendment ratified,
II is their right to state their wishes
10 their representatives, and to state
those wishes so clearly and positive
~ that there can be 40 mistake as -
the sentiment of the people
II is hardly likely that the editorial
OF the Times Dispatch on the LIQUOR
question will have any considera BILE
weight In the general assembly Every
prohibition law that has been placed
on the statute books of Virginia up
TO the present time has been placed
there over the violent protest Of the
Times Dispatch. II is almost comlcal
for that wet newspaper to endeavor
TO influence the general assembly on
the liquor question. but this outhurst
on the part of the Times Dispatch is
simply another case OF reversion to
type. Whenever the general assem- :
bly, meets. ana prohibition legislation
is brought forw I'D. 1t Ia tmpossib for
he Times Dispatch TO do anything but
oppose 1t, II is the nature Of the
animal
Notwithstanding the denunciation
OF the Times Dispatch, the writer calls
once more upon the prohibition peo-
pie OF the state to ask the general
assembly OF Virginia to be the first
state In the Union to ratify the pro-
hibition constitutional amendment
JAMES CANNON. JR.
The editorial from the Atlanta Con-
stitution follows:
The New York World devotes a
I nA Ea1 - "a a t.
cuss.on OF the subject: demo cracy
Betrayed by the South.''
1t reiterates the charge that the
negroes of the South are forbidden
the enjoyment of their constitution
ri riRht Of suffrage. and II threatens
punitive consequences, whatever
, these may be-" II the national PROFIT.
oitton amendment is ratified with the
concurrence OF southern legislatures
For forty years. says the World
the right or negro citizens to vote
in the South has been persistent
\ ly denied and the penalties pro-
vided by the constitution have
G never been enforced. No South
@ ern state has ever suffered a re-
| duction In its representation
u through its refusal to permit
negroes to vote, although the
provision Of the constitution IS
mandatory upon congress.
This over representation which
r. the South has held for more han
f. generation II owes to the North
ern Democrats, who have pro-
n tected the Southern states from
~ punishment which Democrats in
- general have deemed a gross ia
fringement upon the sovereign
Aght of every state TO regulate
it's own life and its own affairs,
a But the Southern states are now
r preparing to acquiesce in such in
q frinreroent and TO uullifv the
J principle OF local self government
" to which the Democratic party
l. has teraciousiy adhered since the
y time OF Jefferson, Their senators
!" and representatives in congress
II have already voted for such null
a lihCation in the resolution sub
hitting to the legislatures OF the
)" several states the prohibition
h amendment to the constitution
d Of the United States, and practi-
y cally all OF the Southern leg.sia-
10 lures are expected to ratifv IL
re -. Men like Claude Kitchin
l. have been treating the rest OF
- the country like a conquered
se province, imposing outrageous
le burdens of taxation and giving
u as little as possible in return.
ls The price of wheat for the North
n g. Fn~--~~ Is hxed by due pro-
cess OF law, but the Southern
farmer Is allowed to charge for
----------~-------------~-