Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-02-28
ANTI.sALOON LEAGUE.


Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Richmond, Va Feb. 2S.-The Acad-
amy OF Music in this city was filled to Its
doors aud almost thousand men refused
admission, on account OF its seating
capacity, ye.t,rdaY AFTERNOON, the main
attraction, out,ide OF The iasue Involved
being Oongrsssm Richmond Pearson
Hobson. of Alabama, aud "Merrimae'
fame. who addressed the magnificent
audience on ta!s nu,k-sliVe su3lsct OF
atate prohibition. 1t ia estimated
that at least 5000 men sought admission
{, the hall and those who were or;unate
to obtain seats spplandsd the speaker to
the echo.
Whea Governor Mann arrived on the
stage, on which was seated almost 2oO
prominent ci.izans, the audience paid
him an ovation. He raped for order
and said th. as he had besn mlsundei-
stood 10 relation to the sand ne TOOK IN
regard to temperance legislation, ne
would take opportunity tlis, the hrst
time be had had opportunity, 10 reiteIa'e
his views on this s!l-;mp ortsn! question.
ae was In favor of every movement To-
ward the elimination OF the liq1cr trafnc
aud was not partitu ar abr u: the mttaods
to be used 10 abolshiug t Ii the pres
emit leglsla ure passed slate vide prohi-
bitlon measure he, believing that the
people should rule, he would ulhesttl.-
ingiy sign it. he wanted he said. bile Pc
sition on this QUESTION clearly understood.
The governor then introduced Rev.
James Cannon, the leading light In the
Anti.Galoon L.ague, who devoted most
of his time to an sttlck on the Richmond
Times. Dispatch, which paper, he ea'd,
was unfriendly to the leaEu', and never
lost an opportunity to oppose its every
act. Mr.. Cannon said year ago the
people said In Richmond that they we're
satisfied w.t1 the saloon and the slogan
was "Let Richmond alone" Now the
| lsagas's slogan waa Richmond, let the
other sections of the stats alone" Hs
said that on every election which went
"wet" 10 the state the rsglstrs ton books
had been padded VIII ignorant and
vicious negroes = except Petersi utg,
which he said was an exception ID every
thing. He said the league had played
fair With the democratic party snd would
hold that PATTI responsible II the people
we're not given q chance to vote on this
most important measure. lis said that
Governor Kitcher, Of North Carolina,
vas authority for the tt.temert tat
prohib ton worked Admiralty In that
81 lie, and wtu d be bttt II they could
stop the shipping OF Virginia whisky
within its orders.
Gov. Mann then, amidst laundering
applause, introt led Mr. Hobaon and
his speech was one of the best ever heard
on this an. sct, pronounced 30 by men
who held views Numerically opposed 10
bis. He captlvated his audience from
the start, and ii The su Hence had not
been OF the masculine gender there migt
have been another page added to bis
"kissing" book. A pleasing incident
In the introduction OF Mr.. H1bson was
when Governor Mann was speaking oil
the part North Carolina took in the
civil war, and referring to the fact that
the people Of Virginis felt easy when the
troops from that It t, were near. He
I said It gave him great p!easurs to intro.
duce son of North Carolina to the
audience. Eus when reminded that Mr..
Fl bison WAS from Alabama, he smiled
and said he wss near ii anyhow, hut the
sentiment was r:gbt II the stale he mer-
toned was wrong. Mr.. Hobson entered
extensively into the scienti6c research
and practice In regard. to the effects OF
alcohol on the system of man and beast
and dealt the fluid awful tlowa. He
said that Is per cent. OF the American
people we're regular drinkers OF intox!-
I canis; and B per cent. dlunkards. Hs
said that $50, 900 lives were sacrificed
eyery year on account of the traffic, He
looted tho idea thst tie liquor lnIeresls
furnished revenue, sitting thai 1t dam
| aged five times as UGH So 1t benefits.
Mr.. Eobsou then referred 10 few ex-
pariences he had when ON the Merrimac.
rs said thu on the morning Of the sink-
ing Of the shh!.p at Santiago the chancea
we're l Ia 10 of his ever seeing bis SHIP
! or home sgai1. he said he wanted to
follow his idess with as much courage hs
he tried to serve his country. But he
iusisted that the work OF the reformation
xu'd nj be accomplished in day. 1t
would take time and would have to com
| meucs at the home. He made q favor
able impression In Richmond.
judging from indications 1t Is certain
that the ADti.Ssloon Lssgue has not
| finished with the present legislature and
there Is no telling what may follow this
| monster mass meeting. This was Anti
Saloon Lssgue day here yesterday and
the Methods. cl urchss OF the city we're
crowded. II.