The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-22
TINE NOT RIPE FOR
LOCAL OPTION FIGHT
CONTINUED from Eirst fage. }


vigorously In favor of getting down to
work at once.
Richmond has the manhood and
power to enforce her laws" he assert
ed with much feryor and vehemence.
Rev. Mr.. Christian went on to say
that Maine enfprces prohibition better
than her other laws, and coed reports
also come from other prohibitioo
States.
Commenting upon the elevation OF
the saloon to the point OF decency, in
answer to the argument OF Rev. MIR.
Grace. the presiding elder said.
The more decent YOU make the sa-
loon the more dangerous 1t becomes.
To compromise an evil lis 10 perpetuate
it,"
Il am not afraid of defeat" he went
on. Twice we were downcd in Lynch
burg, but the third time Lynchburg
MenI- drI--II4.S is e.-ste+-tted
for Richmond and this is the day tor
salvation. Begin the fight now and
don't leave stone unturued"
Mr. Christian. referring TO defeat in
Petersburg last year, said that the
forces OF Prohibition ought 10 have
been better prepared. and would be
better prepared next time.
Must BE Equipped.
Rev. Mr.. Hatcher teifeved defeat
If the temperance people were not
prepared. When he went into tina
tight he wanted 10 go in equipped for
victory.
Rev Or. Pitcher, of Petersburg.
leading Baptist divine and fighter Tor
tenn perance, spoke briefly. lie eFss-
dictcd that nothing would be accorn-
plished without preparation. Or.
Pitcher closed by urging promoters Of
the movement to examine the rcgistra-
ton books and see exactly what
could be expected at the polls.
Rev. j. j. ScheIer, a Presbyterian
divine, urged elevation OF the moral
tone of the community before begin
ming the fight He doubted whether
prohibition was the chief evil to ba
combatted by the ministers of the
gospel,
Rev. Or. Cannon believed in prep
aration before the fight, however
eager he was to gain the desired cnf.
He urged registration campaign. i
want nly powder dry before going into
battle he said.
Saloons Driven Out.
pr Cannon was followed by Rev.
NJ S. Eagle the new <eetor of Christ
Episcopal church. who said he had
been in the Held against liquor for
twenty years. lie believed local optioa
could be made success in Richmond
just as II had been made in other
places, 70 his own personal knowt-
edge.
Rev. MIR Eagle recited that scy.n-
teen saloons driven From Aseee--
burg in f4oudoun county while he WAS
a worker there and he knew waat
good had resulted in that Town of
] ,0e4 inhabitants.
There Is no time like the present"
declared the Episcopal divine.
Rev. j, ID. MeAlistor. secretary Of
thu Virginia A frtt-f-4tirroTr fsczru-,
spoke briefly, declaring among ether
things that the thrashing In Peters
burg would eventually result In vic
tory Tor the cause,
Rev. Tilden Scherer said; Get
ready and then make the fight"
Rev. J. j. Fix. Presbyterian min
lister Of Manchester said. Wait a
while until the two cities became one,
granting that consolidation viii be ar
fected. / don't think II would be ad-
visahie To enter upon the hight at this
time
Rev. b. r. Lipscomb. pastor Of
Park Place Methodist church. said:
Il believe that to have an election
now would tend to strengthen the
liquor forces. and ! therefore oppose
/ an election at the present time"
/ Rev. W. l., Bali, pastor of Baptist
Tabernacle: II believe 1t would be
4 fatal TO negative the movement by
| postponing action"
| Wanted Prompt Action.
1 Rev. w. w. Hamilton. Baptist min
1 lister of Lynchburg, now conducting
! revival services in Richmond. saia
/ that he was ready for fight at once.
I There Is no time like the pres
snt, he declared. and I want to
say that prohibition does prohibit in
| Lynchburg, despite any reports to the
/ contrary. And I might ayso that
most Of the whiskey We get in Lynch
burg is shipped from Roanoke and
Richmond"
| Rev. MIR. Hamilton recited further
that there had been 1903 fewer arrests
| In Lynchburg during 1909 than in the
preceding year when the saloons were
| running.
| Mr.. J. Fl. Goddin. who conducts mis-
| sion services at putnam's theater. dis
| claimed any pretensions to being a
minister. but ventured the opinion that
he had seen more cases of drunkenness
than any other man IN Richmond.
Go ahead with your fight" he urg-
cd. land let's drive liquor from Rich
mond forever"
| Rev. George w. Mcdaniel, pastor OF
the First Baptist church. wanted to
first create temperance sentiment be-
fore plunging into the fight
! Rev, j. Sidney Peters said that he
was from Petersburg and did not feel
| that he should discuss the Richmond
| situation. In answer to a question,
however, he predicted that Petersburg
4 would likely go prohibition next time.
! although many eminentIy respectable
citizens still held views opposed to pro-
| hibition.
Rev. II. p. Atkins. pastor OF Allen
Avenue Christian church, said that
well informed politicians had assur-
ed him that local option, II put to a
vote at the present time, would be
| lost by at least zoo votes. Mr.. Atkins
! estimated that 80 per cent. of the
i liquor vote was already registered.
! and he understood that the whiskey
I element was making concerted eff
fort to get as many Of their adherents
as possible into the next Council.
DIR. knights Resolutions.
Immediately prior to the adoption
OF the motion to have the presiding
/ officer name a specia COMMITTEES OF
five to report ON the question, the
/ assembled minister's referred the fol-
lowing resolutions introduced by Rev.
Ryland Knight:
"ReJolyed. That 1t Is the sense OF
this body that 1t Is desirable that the
ministers Of Richmond should hold In
their respective churches an educa-
tive temperance campaign.
THAT the elimination OF the sa-
loon from the city OF Richmond II