Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-14
TEMPERANCE TALK.
VIEWS OF L0CAL-oPTI0NIsTs. TEET0-
TALERs, AND OTHERS.
EFFECT OF PROHIBITION
Interviews With Number Of Well-knOwn
GeBtlmn On The Question Of the
Hour, kc, &c.

Quor traffic IS considered IRON tne
standpoint Of the temperance people.
The effort was made to include IN the
list large number Of the best-known
businessmen Of Richmond, and to give
them ample latitude to say what they
pleased in advocacy Of local option.
But partial success attended these efforts.
Not one IN ten was willing to express
his views for publication. Generally
they had not made up their minds
whether local option was a good thing
or not, and they were afraid to commit
themselves to the support Of the mea.
sure. Many dreaded its effect upon
business. Many others doubted If II
would do any good as reformatory
measure. Others saw in it great dan
ger to the Democratic party. Others
feared that by taking sides on the
question they would be only injuring
themselves and doing no good. Nearly
all Of those approached are leading
Church and temperance-men, and the
best results Of the reportorial investi
cations are given below:
The questions usually propoundet
were:
l. 10 you intend to vote for loca
option: .. Will an election be peti
toned for in Richmond this year
3. 10 you think that the prohibition o
the sale Of intoxicating liquors will b'
efectual? Won't people still be able
to get liquor, and won't drunkenness
and crime prevail as much as before
I. What, in your opinion, will be tht
effect Of local option on the genera
business of Richmond? How will th'
State make up for her revenue lost by
this law 5. What is your informa
ton as to the good accomplished il
other States where the sale Of liquor
has been prohibited in whole or il
/ part:
! WAN1 = TIE ELECTIONS HELD AFTEf
THE MAY TERM or COURT.
Rev. William Z. Wright, pastor o
| tie Laurel-Street Methodist church
and secretary Of the committee Of thir
teen appointed at the recent temperanc
! conference here. to arrange for a Stat
convention ] shall vote for no license
The ticket will be printed throughou
the State " fol" or" against licenses. "
II il comes TO vote | am in favor 0
having an election as soon as possibl
after the May term Of the court whicl
issues licenses. Ny reason for desirin
it then is to give the liquor-sellers a.
opportunity 10 close out their bushes
with as little loss as possible to them
In case the city should go agains
license, they would have nearly yea
to do so.
l believe the prohibition will be a
eiiectual as the law against stealing
gambling. or other vices condemned b.
law. Drunkenness and crime will no
prevail as much as before ; yet it /
probable that the law in some casel
will be eyaded and broken.
think that in case this city shoulC
vote against license there will be {
Slight paralysis Of business, succeeded
by speedy reaction, which will SEM
the business of the city forward to pros
perity beyond anything ever before ex
perienced. agree with most of thos'
opposed to license of liquor traffic il
the view that the falling off in Grim,
will so lessen the expense Of admins
teriDg justice that the loss in reve
hue TO the State will be balanced. /
this wish is not realized, we hold tina
it is wrong to license an evil to raise
revenue. The information that | hay,
is favorable to the beneficial effects o
the prohibition law.
THE EXPERIMENT OF PROHIBITION
HAS THE BEST WISHES OF BISHOP
KEANE.
Right Rev. John j. Keane, Bishop o
the Catholic diocese Of Richmond:
1t is unnecessary for me to say that
AIN heartily in favor Of any just an
prudent measure tending to abate tht
awful evil Of intempersnce. For nearly
twenty years | have been actively en-
gagged in persuading people 10 shur
drunkenness and practice temperance
and as the most efficient means ayaila
bic to me for that purpose | have as
siduously preached total abstinence.
have never taken part in any politi-
cal movement; not that | am opposed
10 proper use Of political power fol
moral ends, but, in the first place. be.
cause as an ecclesiastlc | have made II
a rule to leave worldly business and
worldly means to worldly people, il
order that might the more efhcaciously
use spiritual means for spiritual ends
and secondly. because the difference oi
opinion about the practical results ol
these politicO-moTal movements is Sc
very great among political men them
selves that | could not take part in any
such experiments.
! am decidedly Of the opinion that
while moral suasion is the most im-
portsnt agent in popular reform, it is
alsoye necessary that popular tempta-
tions should be abated as far as posi-
ble. Our moral influences can be but
half eilicaciOus as long as they are
counteTacted by the allurements OF
almost innumerable public drinking
houses. Il is also q terrible misior-
tune that so many people are allured
into the liquor business because Of its
being such an easy way to make living ;
thus the number OF drinking places is
multiplied to the great injury OF the
people at large. and very often to the
moral destruction Of those engaged in
the traffic.
l would rejoice at any legislation that
would drive people out Of the liquor
traffic rather than allure them into it
by making it hard way, rather than an
easy way, to make a living; but
whether the great end Of exterminating
the source of temptation can be real
lied by prohibition or by some other
legislative provision do not feel COM
petent to judge. II the people of the
State wish to make the experiment Of
prohibition, they have certainly my best
wishes for its success.
pFvIFVEc GRFAT (.oOn WITT re