Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-20
PlCHED BATTLE WILL
BE OUTCOME TODAY
Or. Cannon Leads the Conservatives
and Senator Thomas Heads the
Radical Eorces-Some Want Com
mittee Report Adopted and Others
say it is Too Mild.

RICHMOND. VA, Jan. 19.-ihe
calm before the storm. This best
characterizes today's session OF the
Virginia Anti saloon League. IL was
not an impressive session and TINS
DESPITE the fact, that many members
of more or less prominence took OPP
portunity to vent their oratorical
prcwess and told in no uncertain Ian
guage what they would be able TO
do in the event that fight was pre-
oipitated II was verify war OF
words. Napoleon. hemmed IN by
hordes of English and German troops,
never manoeuvered more desperate
iy nor to sless effect, than did the
warning clans of the Anti-saloonltes.
and that there are clans is obvious 10
even the casual visitor
The report of the legislative com
mittee of the league which has
thrown local option to the four
corners Of the earth. and now adopts
the policy of Statewide prohibition
or nothing. will be placed before
the convention tomorrow Thursday.
DR. Cannon With Conservatives.
1t would probably be unfair to say
that Rev. James Cannon drafted
I0lS IeDOTt. II ID Jul tS-tfhc 49,
truth to say that Rev DR.. Cannon
would greatly be pIeased If the con-
vention foud the report to its liking
and adopted it. And right here is
funny story When all of this de-
bate was started the argument at
once put Dr. Cannon On the side OF
the conservatives, while State Senator
A. F. Thomas, of Lynchburg, was the
radical leader Senator Thomas wants
a State wide prohibition act passed
by this legislature, while DR.. Cannon
is in favor of the Legislature passing
a bill which will give TO the people
the right TO vote for Statewide when
twenty-five per cent of the electorate
ask fer the privilege.
Here is Senator Thomas resolu-
ton:
Thomas Resolution.
Resolved, that it is the sense OF
this convention, in the event that the
general assembly enacts law submit
ting the liquor question to the voters.
that the Anti-saloon League should
take steps to call such election at
the earliest practicable time during
the present year
All this live long day ii has been
p case of shifting and re-shifting: OF
planning and then planning again; OF
stacking arms and viewing the enc
nv: of counting noses anu figuring
inst how each of the opposing war
riors would measure up at the grand
final. which comes tomorrow when
the report of the legislative commit
tee will be voted upon.
Among the more brave OF the con-
.ention. there are those who are not
afraid to speak right out in meet
ing-the opinion is held that the
league has made a serious mistake
m coming into the political arena as
hrazenly as u did during the recent
campaign for governor
Brings in Judge Manu.
Judge Mann. some the leaders said
today was an officer OF the organiza-
fion and a very prominent officer. by
the way-and IL was not quite polite
for the league to so openly espouse
his cause. Then there are other
reasons. but they have little to do
with todsy's session. though infuenc-
ing the stand taken by some OF the
Members no little. A whole book
might b. written about the Virginia
Anti-salOon Ieague and then the
story would not be told
Switches to Statewide.
G T. Adams. q blackstone. repre-
sontiug Southside Virginia. was the
first speaker Of the afternoon. He an
nounced that he had switched from
local option to Statewide proaibi
tion.
Then Rev. r. r. p. Garrett. from
Tidewater virginia. spoke. He TOO.
favored Statewide measures.
Thomas whitehead. from Piedmont
Virginia. was another State-wider.
G. T. Jordan. from stanton. said
that liquor had dethroned the Anglo
Saxon and placed the nero On the
throne. n was a STATE vide session.
i.sf u wss measuring strength.
Srmc one In the convention whose
name j. Withheld. said that he
Thought pr. Cannon would win his
frht buf that h. regarded every vic.
tory e tho DOCTORS AZ this time ~ a
defeat This enigma he did not ex-
pain. though he hinted Al many
things
AN. in all. tomorrow Il the real