Virginia and Liquor Traffic
By S. B. Horton
The State That Has Made History in Promoting Freedom, Seeks a Still Higher Freedom
THE great state of Virginia, which was once the territory of patriotic activities connected with the founding of this government, is to vote on the question of state-wide prohibition in September of the current year. This has been made possible through the passage by the general assembly recently of an enabling act entitled, "A bill to provide for the calling and holding of an election upon the question of prohibiting the manufacture for sale and the sale of intoxicating liquors, to prescribe the qualifications of said voters in said election, and to declare the effect of the vote of such election." VIRGINIA AND INDEPENDENCE
It was Virginia which laid the foundation for the principles contained in the opening part of the Declaration of Independence. It will be remembered that this great instrument published to the world the fact that "we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." And the principles therein apply with equal emphasis when considering the happiness-destroying liquor traffic. A MENACE TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND HAPPINESS
A consideration of the terrible toll paid by humanity to perpetuate the traffic in alcohol, shows that it constitutes a continuing menace to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Then why not use the lawful means of voting upon the question to destroy the said traffic and thus make for peace and safety, liberty and happiness? The worn-out assertions that "prohibition does not prohibit" and that "human rights are affected" by this character of legislation, will not suffice as an argument against the elimination264of the liquor traffic. The record of those states enjoying the favor of prohibitory laws, the economic figures and facts of which are obtainable upon application, are all-sufficient answers to the quibbling arguments of the rumseller and the drinker. If Virginia shall act favorably upon this enabling act next September, it will have great influence upon deciding the question from the national view-point.