Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-19
NO ONE CAN SAY WHAT WILL Be DONE
Only the Convention Has Authority
to Say Whether or Not Time Has
Come to Ask Legislature TO Submit
Statewide Prohibition to Vote of
People.


RICHMOND, VA, Sept. 1S.-Dr.
James Cannon. superintendent of the
Anti saloon League In Virginia. in
statement issued tonight, outlined the
policy of the league on the question
of statewide prohibition, the state
ment having been forced by the de-
claration OF Rev. John A. Taylor. OF
Roanoke. in conversation with c.
Bascomb Slemp. Republican State
chairman. that petitions carrying the
names of voters from every pre-
cinct In the commonwealth would be
submitted to the legislature asking
that the question of statewide prohi-
bition be submitted to the voters OF
the state.
The statement of DIR. Cannon fol-
lows:
THE following statement is made
in response to numerous inquiries "a
TO the accuracy OF the statements
concerning the policy of the Anti
saloon League OF virginia. attributed
In the newspapers TO Rev John A..
Taylor. superintendent of the South
western district of Virginia AS the
statements In question are not sign
,, ed by Mr.. Taylor. but are reported
as Having been made by, him in a
conversation. they may or may not
have been accurately represented in
every detail
Leagues Declaration Stands.
"The declaration of policy adopted
by the Anti-saioon League Conven-
ton last winter stands until the next
convention in January 1910. But that
declaration clearly and unmistaka-
bly, states that the abolition of the
saloon is the ultimate goal of the
| league.
I'm bringing about this result the
policy of local option has been fol-
lowed in the past. but should II be-
come clearly evident that the league
has gone as far as ii can go under
| the local option policy or should it
be evident, that dry" territory can
be protected in no other way, then
! the legislature will be asked to give
the people the right to vote on the
question of statewide prohibition
law
mo person or body OF men. except
the State convention. can decide au-
thoritively when that time shall have
come. A great effort will be made
to gather the exact facts both as to
the conditions existing. and as to the
sentiment of the people and to secure
large and representative conyen-
ton to which these facts viii be
presented.
No One Can Say IN Advance.
''No one can say in advance what
the convention viii do. Should IL de-
clare that the time has come for
the people to vote upon this question
, the legislature viii be asked to give
the people the right to vote upon II.
and Il is TO be presumed that the
people in each city and couaty who
desire this action to be taken wiz
petition their representatives to vote
for bill giving 70 the people this
1 right.
The method 10 be used bv the
league in securing the facts Is mat
ter to be passed upon BY the execu-
! tive committee which viii not meet
until some tine in October. II ap-
pears from the newspaper report
that Mr. Taylor was discussing a
method that might be followed 70 OBJ
tain the sentiment OF the people OF
the state. but whatever method Is f0.-
lowed. IL IL the purpose Of the work
ers Of the league that the convention
shall have the facts before y ana
shall take action VITA full
knowledge Of The situation.
The league Is not aiming AZ mere
temporary effects. but At permanent
results anG the convention win act
only after a thorough and careful
consideration % all The issues in
VOWED