The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-04-30
MASS-MEETlNC
FOR MEN
Or. James Cannon Speaks al The
Courthouse
FOR THE CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE

FOR THE CAUSE Of TEMPERANCE
About Tour hundred men gathered in
the cOurthnu-e Monday niSht. To hear
Dr james cannon. OF Blackstone. speak
In the interest of Temperance Every
seat was taken ani most of the .tanding
! room.
The children. POO strong. marched In
the courthouse bearing banners with
strikirg Inscriptions and singing songs
lhey made great impression ON the
Z m~u-
Mr. J Willard Adams was at his usual
| post ~ the leader of the singing. and
| when the gathering joined In the music
/ II was inspiring 20 hsten 20. Ex-Mayor
NJ. q. Willis presided and called on Rev
! W. l.. Dolly TO offer prayer, after which
Mr.. Lee }. Graves was presented To in
troduce the speaker.
Mr.. Graves in a simple. straight state
ment said that the Baptist lawyer re-
ferred To by Judge Embrey. in bis article
In the newspapers OF the city. "a having
advocated license 10 he granted a man
and was now a prOhibitiOnist, " a. him
sell aud stated IL was true but said Mr.
Graves Judge Embrey was tho counsel
/ opposed 70 me and the Judge made such
an eloquent speech I'm behalf of prohibi.
ton that he, Mr. Graves, was converted.
and he had voluntarily returned the Zee
back to Mr.. Raines, the gentleman for
whom he had asked license. He. him
self, was now dry in sentiment, and
he had nothing but the kindest feel
ings Tor Judge Embrey. whom he re-
garded as friend and made 10 criticism
OF him Tor thinking as he does, but Mr.
| Graves said he had no he-itancy IN stat
Ing bis position aud his conviction. Mr.
Graves then introduced DR.. Cannon.
Dr. Cannon W "a speech OF nearly two
hours discussed nearly every phase OF the
temperance question and held the atteu-
ton OF his audience To the eud. He re-
pudisted the charge that the men who
were advocating the abolition oi the "a.
loon were suckers and gave the names
OF distinguished and leading citizens
of Virginia, who were at the front ia
this movement and Any one who charged
that such men were suckers, to say the
least oi II, only argued bis ignorance OF
the aft airs OF the State.
He said that he was glad to be in
structed by Citizen a. TO what a
preacher ought to- preach. and presumed
that Citizen" must have been well in
structed In theology and pastoral theol.
ogy. The paid attorneys Of the liquor
traffic. he sui ]. u ually advocated the
preachers preaching the pure gospel."
especially IN "a campai n of this charac-
ter and not 10 concern III mssiv,s with
secular matters.
who. said Dr. Ca non. "favors the
granting OF liquor lc.nses?"
Answer:
LIT. The people who favor il for mon
ev, such "a the brewer, the dl-tillrr and
the salOonseeper; and these classes be-
cause more mon. y eau be made ~ the
business on less capital than in any
other.
2nd. Those who make money ont f it
m one way or another; either by the
renting Of property for the business. or
being paid ~ attorneys for them. or for
a lear that trade will suffer by it's abuli-
tior.
He gave a gentle rap at the Richmond
dailies, and classified them as all wet. ~
l follows:
journal. wet
Tlmes-Di-ratch. wettcr.
Ncws-LcAder, weti.st
DIR. Cannon then asked: Why should
g. GU vote against the saluou2'
Because, he aid. II uititted mln for
his labor
2ud. Bec,.u-e its damages business.
and quoted Mr. Mutce. the manager OF
+ ingan & Co, a. saying that among
other reasons, he favored prohibition be-
cause kingan 4 Co. sold more meat In
towns where Local option prevailed"
Ord. Because the saloon increases the
taxes OF your community, and his argu-
ment was that sober men builc houses
and conducted business, " hich became of
taxable value; while incorporate III. n
became tax on the community, Instead
OF help. And finally" he said. the
saloon Is public nuisance" A nuisance
Is something that threatens the happi-
ness, the health aud the life of a com
munity. And this Il what the saloon
does, and oil nuisances the people ought
to abolish.
He said that the saloon people were
right Ia say ing that prohibition don't
prohibit but the officers of the law do
the prohibiting. and IL these officers saw
50, IL VIII be prohibited.
DrCannOn Is a man Of unusual ability
and sented one of the strongest arau-
ments OF the temperance speakers. Heis
not an orator. but "A iorceiul speaker.
Kew. j. W. West was present and an
nounced that Kentucky had agreed for
him 10 stay through the campaign. This
announcement was received with vigor-
Gus applause. he also announced IA
massmeeting for Tuesday night in the
park, to be addressed by Rev. T. NJ.
Hare
Alter singing the hymn. MY Country.
lis OF Thee, the meeting adjourned