The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-19
ing the old saying OF our fathers. an
union there Is strength
D1siS for 1lcUOrt.

| D1kik Tor Report.
I on the basis Indicated above. your
/ Legislative committee presents it's re-.
port. IT is based on the conviction
that not only tho salvation of tho In
diviuual, but the protection OF society
demands the abolition OF the beverage
/ llluof trahic. and the purpose Of tho
I present TO the convention that method
which IN tile Judgment OF your com.
Ilittee is best calculated to produce
'n's permanent result In the shortest
p ,. iifne. In arriving at It's con-
/ ,,'usionh your committee has relneni.,
4 oered tfat we are not lighting for
! zen, porary, but for permanent. results.
ana mat 1t Is not worth while to take
step to-day which must be retraced
to morrow.
Inasmucl, as the most Important
| question before the convention liz the
action that shall be taken concerning
the passage of the Statewide prohibit.
tory law. your committee presents us
recommendations Oh this subject rs
tho first part OF tho report At tho con-
fentton In Norfolk In 1909 the follow
Il ing declaration OF policy WIS adopted
4 "Resolycd, That we reiterate the dec.
laration or 1908, that under present
conditions we favor local option In car
i rying on our work against the saloon.
4 preferrlng to carry on the work or
education In all the towns and cities
i in the state Which have not voted on
the question OF license. But should
1t became clearly evident that we can.
not obtain such legislation as VIII
!, properly protect 'no-llcensc' territory
against evasion OF the law, and as viii
], place proper restriction upon liquor
traffic in license territory. or that W.
II have gone as far as we can go WITH
prof; to our cause under the local op,
ton policy, we shall be obliged IT,
: change our policy and demand the
right to vote on the question OF
: Statewide prohlbitory law"
{ stated Position Then.
, The language OF this resolution Is
clear and explicit. 1t states the posi-
{ ton held by the league at that time
ANY misunderstanding concerning 1t has
= not arisen from any lack of clearness
/ In the wording OF the resolution. The
. resolution in the most positive Ian.
u ruage declares that local option Is
2 simply n policy with the league, and
is not a principle 1t Is to be followee
so long as It produces satisfactory
8 results, but no longer. The resolution
J states frankly and distinctly thai
whenever it Is evident that we have
. gone as far as we can go with prom
ITO orr cause under the local option
policy. we shall be obliged to change
that policy and ask for the right =
I vote on a Statewide law. Your con-
{ mIttee desires that tho fart shall DC
9 strongly emphasized for hostile ans
9 sensation newspapers. and timid. w WAY,
: ering, half-hearted or hostiie poiit''
clans are doing their best to create
n the impression that the league i
u pledged to make no change IN the poi
! lev for another year.
!. On the contrary. the convention q
!, absolutely free and unhampered by am
:. declaration OF the convention OF lses
o These statements which have pee!
e made that the league had pledged IT
Z self to the local option policy for any
3 longer time than the year Just eoii
r have absolutely no foundation IN lac,
9 and n reading of the declaration ,
o policy shows that on the contrary !
q distinctly asserts the temporary an
eypedential character OF the resolution
: of 1909, and leaves the league free .
addpt the Statewide policy wheneVe
conditions may require that II shoui'
be done. The question FOR us to-da!
lis therefore. not question OF IN
right OF the league to change Its pol
icy. but the q,Astion is has the VI"
arrived for q change o. poiles.
since the last convention a NUMBER
=, ,oca, on,ion elections have beer
! held. The circumstances connects :.
,r,,h thase elections Indicate certain
important facts
4 In nearly all of these election!
tho league workers found themselvei
opposed by the great brewing and dis
y thing Interests Of the nation, WHIT
70 Joined forces with the local interests
and with men and money made siren
|
strategic points in which to sell thel
Il nroducts. wet" forces in every com
1t munity can and usually do obtain as
h sistance from the outside likuor IN
terests. and in local option fights "dry'
forces must reckon not only with th
II local but with the national liquor IN
20 terests.
~ 9. Many of the local option election
- OF last year have been called by IN
. "wets'' with the purpose of wcarini
=, out the dry" forces by continual call
- for time and money from men VIII
>. have no financial interest involved
:. and who are heavily taxed for tn
:. public good Those most active \
y, bringing OIL these elections are me-
o. who nope to obtain license. and WI
:" are doubtless supported IN their ct
T., forts by the brewers ana distiiier'
IN who hope TO furnish them with iiquo
40 Our people have become FESTIVE, an
80 are demanding relief from this con
u tinual strain OF carrying on regtstra
TO ton and election campaigns to flgf
lie the national liquor interests.
o. Question OF Voting.
w 8. The "wet" forces In their effort
III to carry elections in favor Of tn
he saloon are destroying the good g
tn fects of the action OF the Constit,
tional Convention In the matter
~ suffrage qualifications. They are NJ
es willing that the same body OF votel
es which decides all other questions
n Virginia shall decide the question
lte license or no license.
re They have made q determined. al
he Vi Is to be regretted somewhat su
he cessful, effort to place upon the regi
Is tration books tho ignorant and d
.ro based element among the negroes ar
m the continuation of the local optic
lnt policy seems likely TO result In pla'
o. ing the liquor traffic in control
or the towns and cities OF the state J
his the aid Of the negro vote. Tho liqu'
Is traffic has no regard for good govern
rat ment or for manhood and womanhot
in comparison with the opportunity
make money, even IL 1t be made |
of the damnation Of men and women, ii
ho wreck of society or the destruction