The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-28
H0BSON SPEAKS
AGAINST SAL DON
Alabama Congressman Describes
Great Battle OH Liquor at
Academy Mass-Meeting.
TRAFFIC WORLDWIDE EVIL
Tells How Scientific Research
Has Revealed True Nature
OF Home-Destroyer.

Congressman Richmond Pearson Hob
BON. of Alabama. at mass meeting
held under the auspices of the Anti
Saloon League of Virginia, in tn,
Academy of Music yesterday afternoon
dealt with the scientific researches
which have been made to stamp thu
liquor traffic as a worldwide evil. will
the best methods to be pursued in for
warding the cause of temperance as
political issue, and in a citation of TIN
numerous branches of society tina
must be appealed to in order that
majority of the individuals may rul
In subduing the destroyer"
Governor Mann. who presided. tool
occasion 10 reiterate for the first time
public since his inauguration hi.
position with regard TO any Legislation
that may be brought to him FOR oficia
action, which is, in brief, thai, he is ar
advocate of local option. ready, IT the
signature to bill passed by the Legis-
ture submitting the question of state
wide prohibition to the voters of the
state. Rev. James Cannon. superin
tendent of the Anti-Saloon League, also
smoke, outlining clearly the attitude
of the Anti-Saloon Leagues policy.
South's Part In Battle.
Mr.. Hobson's address, which lasted
nearly two hours, was a carefully pre-
pared DISCOURSE in which he gave sta
will result from the abolition of whis-
key and the part the South Is destined
10 play in its leadership against the
great interests which are a constant
people in any locality the right to as
sert themselves at the polls.
When Governor Mann introduced the
speaker as from North Carolina. the
slip created a general laugh, and Mr.
Hobson was the first to correct him
adding that he claimed kinship with
Nirginia's sister State.
THE subject for our meeting is not
simply local. began Mr.. Hobson. -
recognize that you have your loca
problem here, but this question en-
tends beyond Virginia. 1t extends be-
yond Alabama. 1t extends all over the
world 1t is fundamental issue witt
the whole of mankind. We should bea,
this great fact in mind. and we should
carry with us, no matter what the fight
may be- the spear of tolerance.
we should think that so per cent
of all the people in this country in
lie that the way to win a true man is
not TO drive him, but to show him the
truth. Let us go into this battle with
the determination that we VIII be
truthful. When ! began Investigating
this question | did SO determined to be
loyal to the truth. no matter where 1t
led me. II ! found that the traffic in
alcoholic beverages proved beneficial
determined TO take my stand accord
insly. Facts led me to the one con.
clusiop. and that Is. The human race
must destroy the destroyer that hai
set it hack for SCI thousand years
There have been Investigations in tn
past ten or fifteen yeas. sad scienc
has proclaimed the true Mature of al
cohcl.
Uprising IN Amcricn.
81 believe to-day we see in the genera
uprising in America and the world tn
rpSuifS science. which
ate beginning to sound the death kne
of alcohol. Science has proclaime
once ana for all that you cannot regar
it as food or remedy. From the stand
the deepest and most organic evil
known TO the State. 1t strikes bos
at the standard of good citizenship
Next to making good citizen a crimi
an imbecile, and next is turning hin
into pauper. These things alcoho
does
The great question of elf,preserva-
ton is at stake. 1t is conquer liquor
or perish. We are now in position
TO frame our fight We can get true
measure of our enemy. He has fought
and won a thousand battles. BE care
full here III Virginia and do not un-
iderestimate your enemy as we did in
Alabama
America a! 1.-The last stand for the
final clash wi th,"the question as a
world wide issue. Westward the star
OF empire takes its flight" he said,
but there is no more land to the
west: there is no moro ground on
which 10 pant tho foundation for a
great nation. We must check the de-
stroyer, and step by step drive alcohol
e& the face of the earth.
How II Can he Won.
Ny advice TO YOU in Virginia is,
don't let the State invade the domain
OF the individual. We are going to
win through the individual, and not
the state Realize your fight is to
be won in getting down TO the ma
Jority OF the individuals. There are
many ways to do this. The most
promising of all is through the public
schools. The pulpit has benefits which
have not been brought out. The press
is widely disseminated, and can be
of great good, but the enemy has
beaten us to it. AS the last analysis.
the place where we are going to win
is in the home.
When the traffic is involved you
are in full domain of the State, and the
mothers and fathers have a right to
demand that their children shall not
be brought up in the face OF this
Destroyer
In closing his address, Mr.. Hobson
presented n word picture of the day
In which the whole world shall have
been Won over for temperance. and a
monument crested Somewhere in the
South by ali mankind 10 those who
started the war against the liquor
evil.
In practically all of the Methodist
churches yesterday ministers discuss
ed the saloon evil, it being field day
service under the auspices of the Viz
ginia Anti-Saloon League.