The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-24
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE
TEMPERANCE PEOPLE OF VA.

The following statement has been
issued by shs=eseeuaise officers of=tHs~
League of Virginia.
The Richmond Evening Journal of
February Il in its news columns
stated:
There have appeared In several
papers of the State reports, purporung
to have come from some of the MEM
bers OF the General Assembly of Vfr-
ginla, declaring. That they do not
believe that all of the Anu-Saloon
League leaders want TO see the struue-
Myers bill enacted. fer IL Ii ia done
and the campaign shall follow ana
the state go dry. the leaders Viii ana
themselves out of a job for sooe tune,
SO far as Virginia Is concerned
Concerning these statements. the
undersigned. the superintendent. the
general secretary and the district
superintendents of the Anti-Saioon
League have to say
y. knowing all the potential fac
tors of The Anti-Salaan League OF VIZ
xtflfa, we are in a position 20 say that
the State convention. the executive
COMMITTEES, the Legislative committee
and every working official of the
League are heart and soul committed
10 the passage OF the Strobe Myers
enabling act
2. That while not meaning to arro-
gate to ourselves an undue amount OF
power or leadership, yet. inasmueh as
the above statements must have re-
ferred to some of US. we, the state
superintendent, general secretary and
district superintendents, hereby de-
clare with all possible emphasis that
any statement questioning our entire
sincerity OF purpose and enort IN tnis
matter Is absolutely false, and how
ever innocently II may be whispered
about the Capitol. passed by word Of
mouth, proclaimed from the house
| tops or printed In newspapers, any
statement that we. or any one OF rs.
1 individually or collectively, are in
sincere. or are slack in purpose or
/ effort. or do not at heart desire the
/ passage OF the Strode-Myer bill, II
absolutely. absurdiy and wtckedly
false. IL Ia simply an ef4ort on tns
part OF the opponents OF the bill, In.
| Guiding certain politicians who do not
| want the bill to pass, and yet are
afraid OF the censure OF their con-
stituents, to throw the burden Of the
failure OF the bill upon the Officers
of the Anti-Saloon Leagues. We here
and now. In the most public manner
individually and collectively, denounct
these statements an false and coward
lly. and we challenge any man to pre-
sent any semblance OF proof 81 tins
| same.
ton election. on the 1et OF October
1909. which election was the climax
Iof 4 series Of local option elections
In which elections IT was made ahso'
,,,tely plain that the election ma
chinery OF the large cities was undel
the control OF the liquor element and
Democratic registration officials, q
the bidding Of the liquor traffic, wert
| permitting the registration Of sum
eient ignorant and debased negroes q
carry the cities wet" we have de
ciared openly that we personally be
4 Itave that the time had come Tor tn,
people OF the State 70 vote on I
statewide law.
1 the Holston Conference RESOLUTION
l passed October, 1909. calling for
1 Statewide law, was heartily adv0cat
Cd BY the two Methodist ministers .
our number from Southwest VA
i ginia. The resolution passed urlanl
mously by the Virginia Conference
auking that the people q Even tn
right to vote en- this question wa
Il written and advocated by the snpei
a intendent OF the league. The dee
i Iaratton Of the baptist Association
declaring that the time had come
hanish the saloon from the "enttS
state. was supported by the tw
Baptist Ministers OK cur number. III
81 report 81 the Legislative COMMITTEES
the Anti Saloon League cOnventiol
which demanded that the Geners
Assembly pass N act. enabling q
people to call an election 70 vote 9
lthts question, wnH written ~ a
superintendent Of the league, signs
II ~ every one Of M, ana the pasea1
advocated BY III on the hoor OF u
convention. We a. not sign o.
!. endorse. and wa esnphatically resnl
{ this imputatton Of inatncsrtty on q
2 Aud nov. having made Il
I iabove statement We desire to atA
! furthes THAT alter this puhiicAt30
\ any party Or parttes. reporfers 1