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

lowing;
Editor Roanoke Times.
sir.--For several weeks past, the
editorial columns OF the Roanoke
Times have discussed at length the
aims. the methods, ana me work OF
the Anu-SaIoon League OF virginia,
The editor has not been content with
general statements, but he has not
ht STATED TO discuss individuals and
their personal conduct. Oh course, IL
Is manifestly Impossible TO take the
space to answer every one OF the
editors statements, but as he calls
upon the league leaders TO Speak
] Out" and state their views, without
preSumins to speak Tor anybody but
myself. ana without binding in any
way the Anti-Saloon League OF Nlr-
ginia to my views, / viii endeavor to
answer some OF the many statements
of the editor of the Times. Mr.. A. b.
Williams, the former editor of the
News Leader OF Richmond.
Political Biundcrs OF League Leaders.
The most personal and dogmatic of
the editorials is probably the one en-
titled "lnnocents Abroad" In which
the editor addresses his readers at
some length upon "the political blum
/ ders of Key. James cannon, Jr., leader
/ OF the Antt-Salo0n League OF Viz
lginia." and his associate leaders"
I AS ! read this review of the mis-
takes of the league leaders, the words
OF the Psalmigt came To mind: Let
the righteous smite me, IL shall be
kindness; and let him reprove me; II
shall be AN excellent oil, which shall
not break my head" A discussion of
ere alma methods and results Of
! Anti Saloon League work. by friends
of the cause, and criticisms by friends
are IT, be received as a sincere effort
urtvTrCg ttTr caYTsa Eut When
hostile Philistine, the champion for
years OF the liquor forces of the State,
takes upon himself t. set in order
before the public the mistakes of the
Anti-Saloon Lcasne leaders, and TO
suggest that they stand aside, we may
Well look this gitt-horse in the mouth,
and question the purpose of his ad-
vice. But taking IL ror granted that
this editor is sincere IN his statements,
we simply file IA reply of Ignorance
Abroad" versus "InnoGents Abroad"
The ignorance of the editor of the
Times Is fundamental His article
proceeds on the false assumption that
the Antl-Saloou League la political
organ ization. lie begins his editorial
with the statement that lit is hard to
imagine that 1t could have been pos
ri BILE for the Rev. James Cannon, Jr,
the leader OF The Anti Saloon League
Of Virginia, to have made more and
worse political plumbers than he has
made" And he closes his editorial
with this statement: AS they are
amateur politicians, we suggest in a
friendly spirit, that they get out oil
the way and-let sanaheay- pelitieate
what kin politicate. So far they seem
To have succeeded only in maktRg
tronble. spending money. and accom-
plishing nothing
The Objective OF the League.
III the object OF the Anti-Saloon
League leaders had been to establish
third political party In Virginia, or
to advance the interest of any special
faction or party, or to elect special in
I diXiduals TO public office. this estimate
of their success might be accepted as
correct. But If the editor OF the
Times Will secure "A copy of the
. pamphlet containing a declaration of
the Aims and Principles" Of the Anti
Saloon League, ne will find at the very
beginning this statement: 1.-The Anti
: Saloon League. Is u union of moral
! forces. II represents an effort on the
part of men and women of all creeds
and OF no creeds OF all political par
: ties. and Of no political parties, 10
accomplish one definite purpose
G the abolition of the saloon"
q League Not u Political Organization
: ON the second page he will find a
l full page discussion under the sub
head-"Not II political party--and this
discussion begins with the Statement,
= THE League is not in any sense q
u political party. This cannot be toe
u frequently or too positively stated. Il
does not concern itself in any way
u with purely party politics. Its grea
q strength lies in that fact. 1t never
Il aims To help the Democratic party. ol
the Republican party. or the Prohibit
= ton party. If by following out it,
I principles the result should be tbs
g election of Democrat and the defea
of a Republican. or vice versa. this re
y suit would not be because of the cat
n didate's politics. but because of hi
IS position on the saloon question"
ON page of this pamphlet he viii
II read that If candidate for publ,
e Office will not agree to support tenn
perance legislation. an effort should
II he made 10 bring about the nomina
II ton of suitable man who will. Bu
7 let II be clearly understood that tn,
League as an organization nominatei
u no candidates. The members of tn,
% League as citizens do this
No Alliance With Political Parties.
II Following up this declaration of tn,
IA principles ol the League. the editor o
E. the Times is respectfully and en-
phatically informed that the Anti-Sa
. loon League has not, through its lead
ers, or in any way, ever made an,
II sort of alliance with the Machine,
~ or with the Anti Machine" Demo
x Gratis. or with the Republicans, ant
that II has no purpose to make sucl
an alliance in the future. All suci
statements are absolutely false, AN
are inspired 10y the friends OF the ea
loon. ana circulated by the wet
newspapers, with the definite. distinc
purpose of making a split in the TEN
Is perance forces, on fractional or politi
cal lines, in order To give the liquo
If traffic II few years longer in Virginia
IL There is not a wet newspaper II
- tha state at Virginia, which believe
that the Anti-Saloon League leader
O have the slightest intention of startin,
& third party In this State. II tn
a editors are TT to hold their positions
70 they are sufticiently well-posted T.
know that the policy OF the Anti-Sa
;. loon league Is nationwide In this re
e sPeet' and that In many sections tn
LEAGUE Is bitterly opposed by the Pro
J. hihitlon party. because 1t will no
IT nominate candidates.
u There is not II wet" newspaper IN
a Virginia which believes that the Anti
+ Saloon League leaders have made an,
: tattack upon the democratic party, a,
7 Il parry, " }49tt+-te r may have been SAT-