The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-08-11
WILL TAKE APPEAL
Temperance Advocates Will Carry
Case 10 State Supreme Court.
A LARGE CR0Wb At COURT HOUSE
This Course Decided Upon q, Temperance Rally
Friday Nigh; Address Of Field Secretary Rich
1dSon-E,e Etc.

This Course Decided Upon q, Temperance Rail-,
Friday HRh;-Address Of Field Secretary Rich
Sdson-Ete Etc.
Since the opinion rendered by judge i
! II. Goolrick In the local option contest
l Thurs lay, an air Oi suppressed excite
ihent and ftaiuity pervaded tine
community until the meeting az the
I court-hDuse Friday night. when there
: wa, d general feeling of relief after il be-
catne known what course the members
/ oi the AutiS6loOn League would uursue
and that tie city for the present would
l not Pc thrown into the cxcitemcat az "a
/ local option campaign again. but that
an AppHul viii boz taken 10 the Supreme
court ol Virginia 'or a iiual decis on.
A. an Indication % the intens, interest
manifested TIA Tire question. with the first
| ringing ~ the bell az the court-houae
nday night men and women. hovs and
girls. wendsd their way To the meeting
unti the building WAS flied with an au-
dienSt 81 100 people. There were over
DO children seated who sang prohibition
songs until the meeting was called to
order.
VIII n President " q. Willis and Field
Secretary r.. J. Richardson Of the State
Anti-Saioon League entered they were
greeted with prolonged applause. The
M eUug was called 20 order by President
Willis and Rev. Decatur Edwards ia
V"Atd Divine blessing on the proceed
ilgs.
President Will. sail:
Ladies Gent.emen and Children. A
lew dogs agO We did not eNp.ct thia
change and that this meeting would be
nell' but 30 IL -. For short time our
victory has been turned into defeat
ain proud of You, proud OF conservatism
you have manifested, not only now. but
all through the trying events Of the late
local opuon campaign. This con-erva-
tism has been manifested b. both sides
am proud OF the people OF Fredericks
burg; they are law-Abiding people. Our
delcat ls only temporary. We are in the
MAJ ority. counsel the same QUIET and
determined course. and victory will be-
rs reward. introduce Field Secretary
l.. J. richardson, who VIII address Won =
Nr. Richardson said he desired To *
press his appreciation OF the splendid
showing OF d splendid citizenship Local
option Is not dead Truth crushed to
earth viii rise again. He was not here
To REPRESENT the state or Local Anti-Sa.
loon League in Ills remarks lie was go
INK to speak personally. had no bitter
hess In his heart for any did not in
tend 70 impugn the motives Of anyone.
some OF you are discouraged. some are
mad. some disappointed. I emphasize
that do not intend To impugn the court
or Its motives. | 6m disappointed at
the decision, but not discouraged. The
s3ddest phase Of II all is that the LIQUOR
Traffic wili continue for whila can
luos into homes which Were happv a
week ago. Now there is sadness and a
prospect o'druuken staggering husbands
The time Is at hand when We must act
with judgment, not passion He re-
ierred TO President Wills as the man " no
bed the great fight. which was received
| with great enthusiasm Continuing he
said. The decision ~ the court isn,t de-
cisiNe. Ii s. merely temporary defeat
\ pause IN the progress Of eternal truth.
/ 10 has been demonstrated that a msiori-
/ ~ oil the people In this city do not want
] the saloon. Law IL law. There s. q
/ difference between law and Justice. No
BODY questions the right Of the Judge TO
render his decision a. he believes to be
right. some % you came here expecting
me TO give Judge Goodrich fits. Iamnot
/ going TO say word against him or his
decision. will indulge in no persouali-
/ ties
Now,what is the best course 70 pursue?
L
evening large number OF members az
your local league committee met yvitb
me and We canvassed the whole situa-
ton- IL Is this: Not TO call an election
AZ present, but 10 take the decision L,
the Supreme Court of Virginia. II that
court sustains the decision OF The lower
court We VIII know exactly W here We
stand. He referred To the Democratic
ana Republican parties and declared
himself Democrat. The liquor men are
not specially interested in either party
but VIII do everything TO advance the
interest OF the liquor traffic.
We have had II local option elections
slnce sprihG-won II, lost l. In all OF
These there has been only one contest
fredericksburg. He criticized the law
because il works In the interest Of the
liquor people and also explained the
Ward law, related some incidents con
nected with our recent local option cleo
tlon, told why Is had been postponed
from time to time until Il was Thought
the time had come Tor action, referred TO
the victory achieved, etc. He then said.
We want Il clear cut issue Is there any
sense In our butting our heads against a
stone wal2 Ii we call another election
won't the liquor men have another
chance To make q contest on a techni-
caht1 IN time Fredericksburg, Virginia
and the United States will be dry.
Referred to Speaker Cannon's action ip
changing committee of House who had
prohibition measures in charge, claimed
IL was done in interest of liquor people.
Said the Anti-Saloon League is pledged
TO local option and he wanted to see II
sweep the liquor traffic from the whole
state; gave statistics Of work already
done. Before many years Virginia viii
have State wide prohibition and then we
VIII shake hands scross the border with
The Tar Heel State and say, how do
you do" In order to settle this CUES
ton definitely you are willing TO wait.
The liquor men also want a decision. II
II Ia adverse to Us you can count on n
bigger majority for the Ant. saloon
League at the Dext election.
Rev. Decatur Edwards arose and said:
The executive committee of the Anti
Saloon League are servants OF the League.
they are created by the League. and do |
understand that In its action they
recommend or direct that no election be
held and that an appeal be takeh?"
President Willis replied that it was a
recommendation
Mr. Edwards said, In that case move
that this meeting indorse the action OF
the committee
1t was unanimously adopted and the
meeting adjourned.