The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-04-29
The Anti-Llcenso state Convention.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND HARMONIOUS sEs
SION.

The Anti Incense State Convention.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND HARMONIOUS sl1s.
The friends of tee Temperance cause
held their State Convention IN LYhchbnrg,
on Wednesday and Thursday Of last week,
q large majority of'the counties of the
/ Commonwealth being represented. 40
delegates were present, representing 70
counties and 20 cities.
Professor W. w. Smith, of Ashland,
chairman of the State Committee. called
the Convention to order. The Convention
rose and sung with will, ''All Hail the
Power of Jesus Name, " and Dir. J. VIM
Jones led in prayer. After ringing ad-
dress Prof Smith nominated Ex-Governor
William Smith, OF Fauquier, which nomi-
nation was ratified by acclamation amid
great enthusiasm.
In like manner Hon. Thomas White
head, Of Lynchburg, was elected tempo
rary chairman, and George Is. Hawk
hurst, of Richmond. secretary
Augusta and Staunton sent a full dele
CATION, Il list of which was published last
week. The representatives from this
county on committees were as follows ::
Permanent organiZation-W. w. Gibbs.
j. A. Carter: Literature, e. M. Heal /:
| State organization, T. T. Ware ; Resolu-
| tions, r. o. Haines.
| While waiting for the committees TO
/ report there were a number of short
| speeches from delegates who were called
out Prof. l.. n. Vasser, Of the Rich
mond Institute, made perhaps the speech
! OF the occasion, which ELECTED enthusi-
| astic applause. Among the reports from
| counties, when Augusta was called. Mr..
40
where they have tried local option. and it
| has proved a splendid success. He gave
the facts and figures TO show that local
option has been SO satisfactory that they
| have no idea OF giving it up. The editor
Of the Stanton Free Press said that hav-
| ing published the statement from citizens
of Waynesboro' and the contradiction of
Commercial Traveller in the Dispatch,
! he had gone to WaynesbGro to nvesiigate
| the matter for himself, and he had become
fully satisfied that mo license" has worked
| admirably there, and that the people had
| no idea of giving it up.
| The committee ON permanent organiZa
| tion recommended Hon. James n. Stubs.
of Glocester, for president, and George W.
! HaWXhurst, of Richmond. secretary. They
were elected by reclamation.
A large number of Vice Presidents were
elected, among them Lit. Governor Massie,
Bishop Whittle, B. G. Moomaw of Rock
bridge Prof. j l.. Preston, of Lexington
Rev. r. II. Porter. of Staunton Rev.
, Christian Beard, of Augusta +; Rev. Jno. S.
Martin, Winchester.
PLATFORM.
Professor w. w. Smith. from the Com
mittee ON State Organization. presented
>the report. The platform laid down
consists OF two splanks, y as follows
l. We hold that the sale of intoxicating iio-
uors as BEVERAGES an injury to any commu-
nifty.
tect itself from tina injury by voting against
licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors under
. the local-Option law
| The report gives detailed constitution
and bylaws and plan of organization,
embracing the idea OF an executive COM
mittee, central committees, &c. The re-
port closed with the following resolutions
Resolred That the Virginia Anti. Liouor-Ij
cense Alliance has been formed for the one sole
+ purpose of suppressing the sale of intoxicants
! as a beverage by means of the present local
lieve that that law will be practically sufficient
for our purposes, and that we Therefore repu-
date all purpose to form political party, to
. ally ourselves with any such party i'll Virginia
or elsewhere.
advocates of local option secretly charged |
by canvassers of our opponents with o purpose |
of Whiskey therefore
Resotued, That we emphatically repudiate
this assertion as utterly without foundation
and as an attempt of the-1 Iquordea their |
adherents to place the sale of article which |
is the cause of crime and the source of wide |
spread public ruin, and which is in itself so |
disreputable that it has to be conducted behind |
screens, on the same platfarm with reputable |
and respectable traffic which produces no such |
injury and seeks no ouch concealment. Our |
object is simply and solely to close the |
Saloons
The report was read by sections and |
elected many speeches, and some differ
ences of opinion as to the phraseology, |
though great enthusiasm and unanimity
iZation. Only a few verbal amendments |
were passed. and then tie report as whole |
was adopted with great nnanimity and |
enthusiasm
OFFICERS ELECTED. t
The following officers for the ensuing
year were elected by acclamation Presi-
dent, W. w. Smith, Of Ashland; Secre-
tary, George w. HawXhurst Treasurer,
Mrs w. H. Peasants. Three members
of the Executive Committee were elected
from each Congressional district, the rep
resentatives from this. the Tenth being
Hon. Pembroke PeJit, of Fluvanna j. w.
Newton, Of Staunton j. j. Hobbs, Of
Covington.
uO OUuIlHlttce iSlaGlOu IppOIbGu
that the present local option law has to do
with the sale and not with the manufac-
ture Of liquors.
The Committee on Resolutions reported
a series of resolutions, the most material
of which reiterated the action of the plat
form to the effect that the friends of local
option are seeking neither to organize a
a new party, Or to affiliate with existing
parties, but only to carry into effect the
local-option law and Danish the saloon from
the Commonwealth.
The report also presented resolution
calling upon the churches to make special
prayer on the Sunday preceding each cleo
ton that God might guide and bless and
give success to the effort to Danish the
great destroyer of the homes, health, and
souls of men.
These resolutions called forth rousing
speeches, and were adopted with hearty
enthusiasm. The sessions throughout