The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-27

of wisdom, "a man OF vast skin ana
endless shrewdness. and profound
strategy. Whenever he steps outside
into the open world of politics anu
practical politicians he finds himself
outmatched, vutplayeo, an infant"
MFR. Cannon Not u Politician.
To this DIR. Cannon simply says that
he is not a politician at all, and that
Mr. Cannon's appeal IN the past has
not been to the practical politicians,
who can doubtless outclass him in
practical politics. Mr.. Cannon has
made his appeal 20 the sincere peo-
pie of single purpose and of little
experience in the guile and ways
! the world" of whom the editor of the
Times speaks. Mr. Cannon has left 1t
to these Sincere people to deal with
the practical politicians and what
ever Mr.. Cannon and his associates
| have accomplished has been through
these sincere people" and not
I through the politicians, ard II Is
through these same sincere people.
and not through the politicians. that
Mr.. Cannon expects the final victory
I to be won.
-.- Have Made Trouble.
The editor of the Times winds up
/ his criticisms Of the League with q
sweeping declaration that the League
I leaders have succeeded only in max
+ ing trouple, spending money and ac-
complishing nothing" We plead gull
| ~ to the first two counts OF the In
/ dictment. and not gully rs 10 the
/ third count. We admit that we have
made trouble, We have eHaeapeFe4t
I to be worthy of the description given
of the apostles by the followers OF
I Bacchus and Venus. They that have
! turned the world upside down have
/ come hither also" We have greatly
troubled the dram-seiers and the
dram drinkers. We even plead quiz
/ ty to troubling the editor OF the
Times, for two years ago, when he
I was the editor of the News Leader,
after the General Assembly had pass
ed the Law requiring social clubs TO
/ observe the same regulations as to
the sale of liquor on Sunday that are
/ in force as TO saloons. he rosred and
/! beloved. and Numbered So continu
| ously, and poured out such "a 1ood Of
/ complimentary illusions to the Anti
Saloon League leaders, that he re-
minded one OF a volcano in eruption,
belching forth its smoke aud lava
and stones.
Yes. we have succeeded in making
trouble, and furthermore we have
spent some money, not as much as we
should have been glad 10 have spent.
not anything like as much az the
brewers and distillers and saloon
keepers have spent. But we DO NOT
believe any other benevolent society
has spent money put In its hands by
the Christian churches of Virginia To
greater profit than has the Anti
Saloon League in carrying on its cam
paign of agitation against the saloon,
and believing this to be true. we most
emphaticaily plead mot guilty" to the
third count of the editors indictment.
namely. that the league leaders have
accomplished nothing"
Have Accomplished Something.
Let us sect Inc aim or the league
as set forth In It's official declaration
of principles Is "the abolition of the
aaloon"-that is. OF the beverage
liquor traffic. The success or failure
OF the league leaders then il TO be
measured by the results of their eff
forts 10 accomplish this one purpose
the abolition Of the saloon" and not
by political success. The editor OF the
Times declares they have accom-
piished nothing" but he offers not a
word of proof in support of his state
ment. Moreover we dare assert that
ne cannot find a saioon-keeper or
liquor dealer or dram drinker In the
State who upon reflection VIII agree
with him. Moreover we do not believe
tIldL upQA ISilcCtioAl ib wiz eGANS "AtAs
himself. What are the factrf
The Anti-Saloon League OF Virginia
/ began it's work In Virginia about nine
years ago, At the first meeting. held
| Elor organization. Rev. James Cannon,
, Jr.. whom Editor Williams designates
! In his article as the leader OF the
Anti Saloon League of Virginia" was
present. and from that day TO the
present hour has given whatever OF
time and ability he could spare from
his other duties to the one great work
OF the league--the abolition OF the sa-
|, loon. Fram the beginning he has been
a member OF the executive comm1t-
tee and OF tho headquarters commit
toe. He has been the chairman OF the
Legislative committee ever since II was
constituted, and for the past year he
has been the state superintendent. lie
} has attended every convention, ana
has spoken and voted in faser ut every
declaration of policy that -hAs-h been
adopted by the league from the be-
! ginning. In view of this unbroken re-
lation to the work, he ~ entirely will
| ing to bear any responsibility that
properly falls to him Tor both methods
and results and he also claims in
/ view OF his association with the work
to know something OF what the
!. league has accomplished and how It
! has been done.
Then and Now.
Nine years ago there were about
1000 liquor establishments OF all sorts
In the State; now there are about S6o.
Nine years ago there were nearly 81.
900 saloons; now there are about too.
Then there were about 500 distiiertes;
inow there are about 60, Then the
country crossroads bar-rocm was the
Ineighborhood center for poverty, vice,
and crime; now there Is no crossroads
bar-roeHls Then the PENTHOUSE distii-