The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-29

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

IL better OF BY far from a moral stand
ntint for 1avttig voted out tho saloons:
No one Will dare gay that as many
drunken men and negro vonen can 10
found In our city, day and night. now
as there were whom the saloons were
here II more liquor Is drank, IT certainly
has not he same visible effect upon those
Who drinJs: when tile saloon was in full
blust here 1t was no unusual thing to
have to move farmers out OF the way
O., tobacco buyers so that they could oct
Ia tho sale, | have not seen single
drunken man on the sales since local
option whs voted mn sure that your
readers wilt agree with me. certainly. to
the extent that when drunkenness 10
decreased the moral morn !, tone Tor, OF elty nus
not been hurt, TO say the least Of II. H
AZ drink leads to worse things, let us
take 81 peep at tho lover life of our city.
/ was told to-day BY our chief OF police
that there were not so many houses OF
III fame here now BY quito a number. as
there we're before the saloons were voted
out. That he Informed Rev. Mr.. Ha!l
tefore tho sermon, under discussion. waa
delivered, that four Of tho most notorious
fousea ~ AZ camo in Dnnvi,le, had closed
on account OF tho present condition Of
things In our city; certainly tho closing
Of these places cannot be rightfully
considered n moral calamity to the young
men Of our beautiful city.
some weeks ngo, when asked his opinion
Of the workings of local option, one OF
our policemen said:
ut looks like we have peen Voteu OUT
OF business IN our line.'
This cannot be construed into any
moral loss TO the community.
am In q position to know that not
near so much poverty exists In Dan
vile among the working class OF people
ns existed when the saloons were IN our
midst, and in many GASES can give
the names OF families who are oeing
supported by the wages that were 1or-
rnoral calamity certainly to these families
know of one pastor In this city VINO
had taken up collections during the past
Six months for the poor on communion
occasions. AZ the end Of the conference
year he handed over to the Officers OF tho
church nice amount, saying:
II have found no needy ones that re-
oulred the amount OF money to rcneVe
them that you have placed IN my hands"
n this very church, when tho saloons
were here It required frequent collections
~ meet the demands made on the pastor
for assistance by families, where moro
wns spent for whiskey than bread; now
this cannot be accounted q moral DO
generacy. -.
| Again. venture toSsay tna1 rev a. :
Hall and the other pastors OF our city
are preaching to larger CONGREGATIONS
now than any OF them did before ire
town was voted dry. I am IN a position
e., know this to be the case In several
| az our churches, and believe 1t to be
true Of others, II not ALL, The Sabbath
schools arc more largely attended thnn
ever known In the history Of the city
Judging others by the ore am super
| intendent Of, and the children are better
I cressed;5 now, this does not LOOK as
| though the moral tone q our city was vas
| damaged by local option.
AS has been shown, am not alone N
nv views on this subject. Every whlt:e
minister in Danville has expressed over
his own sigma ture his: dissent TO the
views expressed BY ReVs Mr.. Hall IN the
| sermon YOU have reviewed. n could mul-
tiply Instances OF growth In grace IN
our city by reason Of banishing the So
| loom, but not one. where there you'd %
4 Growth by tho return Of them. l1believe
they are gone to- stay My reason TO-
/ saying this is FOUNDED upon the fact tha'
I I do no. Know a single ono who was
| originally In favor and voted TOT 1oca
| option 81 that has expressed hllns 'e
nY dissatisfied with lts working to-: the
extent that he will vote for the N =;
OF the; saloon. One, Of Rev, Mr.. Hall
| members, p young lawyer told me lew
] days ago that he voted against local OPP
| zion but that he was satisfied that, It
vas for the best interesttof the city that
| local foption should continue, ana y he
| would 80 vote next time
| Yours for sobriety and good morals.
IN 81, ':zgs-l. T.. G. sMOSELEY. +
! Denville; VA. Now q, 198.. +. &.