The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-12

he felt that prohibition Is clearly what
the people want. lie Jibed at those
delegates who had expressed such
tender regard for the states OF New
York and Pennsylvania aud said that
while he never expected an amend
ment adopted by the unanimous con-
sent of all the states no altogether
lacked any feeling Of special considera-
ton for these two states. Besides"
he added. they have never shown any
such regard for the state OF Vir-
ginia." He added:
prohibition IL not dead in Virginia,
it Is just beginning TO live Whiskey
is dead. The people have passed upon
that matter and the real issue involved
In statewide prohibition and national
prohibition are the same. There can
be no advantage to the state in refer
ring II to an election
IL. L.. Gordon speaks,
Delegate r, L. Gordon. Or, OF
Louisa. who had proposed the regolu-
ton to refer the amendment to a pop
ular vote, spoke forty minutes on be-
half Of his own proposition and against
the amendment. He declared that the
difference between state prohibition
and natlopal prohibition IN that the
state policy means we are trying to
be good and the adoption OF the ma
tional policy meanE that we arc try
ing 10 make other states be good like
We are He denied that the people
Of Virginia have expressed themselves
on the national question, In view
Of the trend of the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments he
warned the delegates that the time
may come when a Republican presi-
dent and congress may be elected and
take. away from Virginia some cher
isbed right. He said that the men of
Virginia used to be free, but sneer-
ingly asserted that they seem TO have
lost some Of the love for liberty such
as Patrick Henry had.
AssaiIs Mapp Law.
He then launched into n bitter at
tack upon the Mapp law which he said
was entirely too drastic He tried to
interpret the result Of the Democratic
primary last summer and the general
election In November as indicating
Willingness on the part OF the people
TO abandon the prohibition poiicv. He
said that the proposal in the amend
ment to give the federal government
and the atate governments concurrent
jurisdiction In the enforcement OF the
feueral dry law was misleading be-
caase the federal law would supersede
any and all state laws, He complained
that this would take away the Job
Of the present commissioner of prohi
pltAON az well aH lIlpBse IA
on any person accused of violating the
law inasmuch as the defense would
have 70 he made I'm federal court and
the defendant and his witnesses would
have to travel perhaps thousand
miles to answer any accusation.
And Mt Gordon said that to make
prohibition national would stmoty be
TO put further away from Virginia
tho task of guarding its own borders
~ -fa he - hA1t AaF I'm .sF
Canada and Mexico. the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts and even the Islands of
the sea would have to be patrolleo by
federal agents in order to make the
law effective. lie declared that the
Mapp law Is the most drastic OF it's
kind in any state and asked IL 1t
would not be better not to say to a
people of a distant state we are 60
ing TO say what you shall do and what
you shah not do in regard to your
local laws.
Liberty Advocates branded.
He complained bitterly that any
body who Gays a word for Hborty Is
branded as the representative OF the
dirty liquor interests" He said that
he had voted for statewide prohibition.
but had opposed the Mapp bin because
he thought that cruelty was unneces-
sary. He reiterated the weil-worn ar
guments to the affect that Il WAS diff
acuIt to enforce any law where 1t
Ia unpopular and he drew dark pie
turs of what might happen II an of
fort ware made to enforce national
prohibition In state whore the peo-
uIe were unwilling 10 enforce II, He
said that in Fredericksburg juries have
refused TO convict men accused of vio-
lating tho liquor law because the pen
alties we're too severe. Like some OF
the other speakers he ratified the bones
of the force bill skeleton with great
enthusiasm,
Are Never Satisfied.
CompIainlng further. he declared
tbot the prohihltiontst are never salts
red with what they get, They ala