Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-09

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~ VIII Virginia stand Eirmt
io the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
sir.-While we are engaged upon the
sreatest task that ever Confronted a
nation In tho worlds history. no less
-" Undertaking than tho overthrow
! structed by Germany. would il not
DC weh for those having tho country's
u we,iare at heart to bestow some little
oats upon the repression OF Numbering
activities ut home, and, while we are
,rSinE to put out the light Of the Hun.
tai virgins in Keeping the home fires
burning with their former lustcr?
While the hnsbandman is going through
not possible for his henchmnn whom
lie has left ut home in the Euiso of
protector. TO betray his trust and by
ignorance or wllfulness despoil him OF
all that he regards as sacred?
Within one year more than 1000, 900
men; defenders Of our liberty, will be
on the battle lire In France and Italy
giving their all TO the principles OF
American freedom. and other hundreds
OF thousands VIII be preparing to take
their places or to rc.enfurcc them
The iuicllccts and activities OF all civil
ians who bear the stamp OF patriotism
VIII lie engrossed n war work and re-
mel and small indeed will be the sta
cure 81 that citizen who does not regard
the success Of our soldiers as the main
sish oh!% great dcsidcratum. Yet no
sooner is the preliminary prcparution
well under way than the professional
rcturincrs and their innocent though
aiSGu!hcd tools. thc common scolds, the
in"anl,rS. thc Carrie Nations, the sim
.lc-tt".N minds, and all OF that crowd
wnioh it!tcs a little religion mixed with
-, poi,!es. step out OF the obscurity
where the dominance Of more wholc-
1"n" clements has placed thoin and
seek - take advantage of Il relaxed
E'siihte. 10y forcing our legislators to
..rc"pt th"ir theories. Is il not The part
oi "lsdoEi 10 defer sweeping changes
h"nriE% The label OF reform until the
Tines arc iess troubled and they can
be given calm consideration? This is
no time for distractins agitation over
domestic affairs IL the fundamental
PRINCIPLES 81 our government are to be
chaar"d. our foremost patriots and our
lighters should hay" Il share of il,
Prlncipie Worth Guarding.
! refer !" the PROPOSED constitutional
,ional prohibition and woman suffrage
IN defiance OF tho principle OF states
, niShis. lt ths principle was worth
guarding nov. No true virginiun
would say in 50 many words that Lee
and Jackson led an unworthy as we'll as
forlorn cause, but they fought To pre-
serve "cmbiancc Of sovereignty to the
Individual States. Now. though the evil
or the social glass and the question
whether the fashion in votes shall be
comparable in magnitude 10 the one of
slavery, the descendants OF the men i'm
would rccant tho faith Of their fathers
and surrender the principle Of individ-
tial !'hHriy II in matters Of such mo-
htht Maine can dictate to California
can declare the destruction OF the main
industry OF sister State, the capltoIs
oil cach commonwealth should be given
over TO the agents OF one central an
thority and the delusion OF local gov
ernucnt should bc seen for what !; is
when England vent into the world
war the militant su1ragct'es aheathed
,ncIr haIchcts, yet the pctt!coat picket
crs a. Washington rcdouble their e.
lorts ana are about to convert the
country. not even military necessary
can be Invoked in aid of the suffrage
amendment. II is urged now, because
1t Is hoped that II Viii slip by In the
inclec OF more important aifaiIs
Russia was the first and ONLY nation
10 declare prohibition. Tho rcformcrs
were jut!ant over the example that
would bc set. which has been !, sorrv
one. If the anarchistsNof that country
could make Il sorricr spectacle dead
drunk than they are affording at pres
me strict sohr!cty OF the whole popu-
alton does not appear 10 have ASSERT
.H rs potency TO any. great extent.
france. the most soreeiy, pressed. who
OF light stimuiants. but regards them
az soiacc. England shortened the
has recently authorized very consid-
cradle increase for the purpose OF Sc
curing greater efficiency. which Is Of
ten Dropoytiunate to content Canada
has established prohibition as a milf
tary measure FOR the period OF the war
excepting beverages containing .1-2
per cent alcohol, q fraction OF per
cent less than the percentage fixed by
PRESIDENT wilson FOR the content OF
peer IN wet territory. Even Germany.
however dcspicahie in morals. yet pow
c'iul III arms and economic strength
has seen the unwisdom of closing tho
safety valve TO tense emotions and her
brewing industry, ranking second in
Importance at the outbreak of the war
mas continued its output under no
tered to other manufactures.
Would lie No Profest
III tho President of the United States
or some otRcr responsible authority
III the exercise of honest discretion and
not Welding against It's Judgment to
tectors should order national prohibi-
ton tor the period of the war for the
preservation or natural resources no
voice would be upliftcd in audible pro-
test though ii is seriously to be doubt
ed !! greater food value Is consumed in
the production Of beer and light wines
than IL required for various other
commodities with which the lilv white
clement Is wont To glut itself for cS-
ample. lady fingers. chocolate nut sun
uacs, ana the various saccharine de-
lights which cloy the taste while
neither cheering nor incbriating. More
over. the prohibition amendment would
not be In force until after the war
by peculiar reasoning the nut brown
ale is a drain upon the food supply. but
value surely as will he freely con-
coded By every prohibtionist, let the
stuff he sold "Rlufo" or some other