The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-02
Anti-Saloon League Going to
Roanoke to Demand Dry
Plank in Platform.
REGARDED AS MOVE
TO HELP JUDGE MANN
Resolution Could Have Only
Moral Effect, as Legislature
Alone Can Order State Elcc-
ton Two Years Hence.
Cannon May Lead
Fight.

|
following close upon the anti
liquor fights which have been
II successfully made In Georgia,
Alabama. North Carolina and
other Southern States, it Is
learned here on high authority that an
effort will be made by the Anti Saloon
League to commit the Democratic State
convention on the subject when the
delegates meet at Roanoke on June
11th, ard that committee has al
ready been appointed to appear before
the committee on resolutions and ask
that the convention so on record in
suggestion only leaked out here yes
terday. and many Democratic leaders
who heard OF 1t put 1t down at once
as a shrewd move on the part OF the
| Mann organization. which Is being
looked upon in many quarters as a
strong political machine to capture
votes for the Nottoway candidate for
| Governor.
| It is said that when the convention
meets in Roanoke the anti-saloon COM
mittee will be on hand, and that some
OF its most adroit leaders will be dele
gated to appear and show cause why
they think the people should vote at
an early date on the question OF wip-
ing liquor off the Virginia map.
Just who will head the delegation
| TO walt upon the Democratic clans is
not known, but there is q strong i'm
preston that it will be the Rev. James
| o. IT,. of
antt-salcon forces in the State
/ The convention can do nothing ex-
1 cept to declare one way or another on
1 the proposition. but the purpose OF
the anti-liquor people is thought to be
/ to smoke the party out. SO to speak.
4 and gain some vantage ground for
their candidate for Governor.
Unique. situation.
1 a curious state OF affairs is about
4 to arise In Virginia politics a re-
suit Of the bringing In of the liquor
| question, which. in the view of many
/ of the most conservative men in the
State, is already settled: and yet 1t
will be only what has gone on and is
now going on in other Southern States.
Men VINO have grown gray in the SER
vice of the Democratic party, and
whose moral life has never been
brought into question, express the be-
lief that the liquor issue. already prac-
tically settled in the State. should not
be projected into a campaign between
Democratic candidates for the COVER
norship when it can serve no other
purpose than to furnish hobby for
| office seekers.
| Judge Mann. Mr. Stuart, Mr.. Tucker
and perhaps Mr.. Glass and Judge Duke
will be In the gubernatorial race.
Judge Mann ran three years ago on
the temperance issue. From a moral
standpoint he and his competitors
stand alike in the eyes of the people.
So far as the putting down of the
drink evil is concerned. their views are
not widely at variance. They are
church going and God-fearing men. but
the others are not running on any
tissues that are not embodied In the
general principles of their party.
Candidates for Office have peculiar
methods of conducting their battles in
recent years. and there is strong
suspicion among the rank and file that
issues are now and then employed in
order to reach the goal Of ones am
bition which in ordinary times would
not be mentioned.
Liquor the Issue.
In Tennessee at this time there is
a bitter contest on for the governor
tship. Former Senator Edward w. Car
! mack. man of brilliant parts, Is op-
posing Governor Patterson for re-elec-
Ition. He does not undertake to attack
the Governors administration. which
is conceded to be clean and high: but
no has struck the prohibition question
as his campaign keynote, and is sound
/ ing 1t from Cumberland Gap to the
Mississippi River 1t is very probable
| that ono Is no moro a prohlbitionist t
than the other, but the situation in
Tennessee is not unlike that In Vir-
ginia, Carmack is strong with the
Office holding class. as is Judge Mann,
and they are fighting their battles out
on the temperance issue, which now
seems to have a popular sweep.
| In Tennessee, as In Virginia, the
question is practically settled. Only
the cities of Memphis. Nashville and
|Chattanooga permit the sale Of liquor.
In Virginia the sale of intoxlcants is
practically eliminated. It Is only in
Richmond, Lynchburg, Petersburg, Nor
| folk and few other cities that 1t Is
sold The fight of the anti saloon peo-
pie Is to destroy 1t throughout the
State. and this is likewise the policy
of Judge Mann. as announced in the
Ac6 tllOAC AI1tdu wv years d5O.
Political Move.
! The committee of the Anti-Saloon
League WILL of course, be received and
heard courteously at Roanoke, but no
one seems in a position to say Just
now what will be the result. It is
thought by some that the proposed
.appearance has much political signifi-
eance and that 1t Is a bold effort OF
the anti-saloon people to put those
democrats In the State who favor other
candidates than Judge Mann Sin a
hole" so to speak, In any event. the
suggestion Is a very interesting one.
and results will bo eagerly looked for
by the public men Of the State.
A declaration by tho convention In
flavor Of II submission of the question
to the people could have noSother than
amoral effect for the actual election
would have to be ordered by the Legis-
9lature, which. barring an emergency,
will not meet until q l9lQ.8 ,5