The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-15

meeting Mt the OLD Opera House last
night. Judge Samuel &. Williams was
the first speaker and for thirty minutes
entertained the audience with his elo-
qucnce, wit aud humor.
AT the conclusion of his remarks Mr..
X. Randolph Hicks was introduced by
Chairman McFalls. Mr.. Hicks was
greeted with applause and for some time
spoke vigorously in upholding Demo
cratic principles. urging Democrats to
stand by the party, which in ali its glori-
Gus hlstt ry had ever stood for the best
interests of all classes. He arraignetl the
Republican party for being unfathful in
its pledges to the people
In regard TO an open letter which was
addressed to Mr.. Hicks some time ago
by j. NJ. Garibill and others. Mr. Hicks
said in substance:
"When this letter was addressed to me.
regarded it as simply II political matter,
written with view OF defeating my NOM
ination. Since then have been informed
that misconstrued the purposes OF this
letter. l have nothing whatever to CON
ceal and recognize that any considerable
number of the citizens of this district are
entitled to know the views of any caudi-
date who asks their sulfrages on these or
any other matters of public Importance
LAS to the first question asked me,
whether | favored putting social clubs
which dispense liquors on the san foot
ing as barroons i'll regard to license tax.
Our supreme court has decided that our
present law regarding the sale Of intoxi-
cants does not apply to social clubs, in
asmuch rs there is no sale, technically
speaking, and for this reason should
endeavor to apply to them the same law
THAT relates to barrooms it would be in
operative. l will, however, say that rec
ogniZe the evil that is inflicted on the
communities by barrooms maSQuerading
as social clubs and OF the attendant Diet
rimept to the morals of any community,
and see no reason why social clubs in
which liquor is dispensed should not be
taxed as any other business. Such a tax
would necessarily break up the bogus So
cial clubs and would he protection to
the morals of any -munity and there
fore should b.. elected to the Legislature,
. would support IL measure to impose Il
reasonable and adequate specific license
tax on such institutions. Such tnX
would not only have the eject of suppress
ing illegality and bad morals, but it is
due also to those who pay regular Ii
cense for the sale of liquors.
AS to gambling. The whole policy of
the laws of this country are contrary to
gambling. and gambling is one of the
curses of the age. Gambling in stocks,
the gambling in bonds, the gambling in
grain, gambling in all products of human
labor on the markets of the country has
demoralized industry and injured labor,
while the gambling in other ways-suvh
as cards, or lesser forms of gambling =
are calculated to demoralize and corrupt
the morals of the youth of the country
and to Neget habits of idleness and eX-
traVnOnncP ThprpfGpa | ram npcmor
without hesitancy, this question. that I
would he in favor of any law that would
nave for it's object the suppression and
breaking up OF this vice, provided that
the law is not attended with greater
evils ! do not know in this case, more
than in the other, what is proposed ex
actly, further than to do away with the
$50 limit in the gambling acts. | see no
reason, and kr ow OF none, whysth's linn
ltation should not be abrogatcd. Whether
man plays cards for 500 or $40 the
same law Should be applied.
SIN regard 10 prohibition suppose
no one wants laws upon the statute book
that are not effective If the people OF Il
community are in favor of preventing the
licensed sale of liquor, and so declare by
their votes, it is not fair to those who en-
gage in the licensed sale, or to that com
muni'y, that the laws shalt not be effec
tive in preventing it. How the law
should he remedied, how the middle man
should he gotten at, is II detail that have
not worked out, hut some amendment
of the local option law should be adopted
to carry out the wishes of the majority
in those sections of our State where they
have declared for local option.
Il have made this statement Mt the first
opportunity that has been given me since
-.
ocratic party and in position to speak
candidly my viaws about these matters
have done it because, rs L said in the
beginning, the people of tn, district, all
OF whom propose to represent il elected,
have right to know the sentiments and
views of their representative upon any
question of general interest where opn-
ions have been formed"
Mr.. Hicks expressed himself unequiv-
ocally and lodged no Issue, and certainly
gave his hearers an opportunity co know
the sentiments of their candidate His
holiness in fully expressing himself on
these important questions instead of TAX
ing the usual political way of dodging the
issue was loudly aprauded by his au-
dience.
Mr.. John +. Caldwell was then intro
duced and stated that while he had never
attempted to make a political speech and
would not do so at this time, he was fully
in accord with the platform of the party.
| That he had been not speaker hut a
Inl~ -. II.