Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-19
Not Matter of Party Politics.

the liquor traffic.
Not Matter of Party Politics.
This question is not fundamentally
matter of party politics. Ii be-
comes so only wheH a political party
makes it an issue, as a matter OF eX-
pediency. II is primarily a moral is
sue, like the education of the youth,
the care of the helpless and the in
sane and reformation and punishment
of the criminal But like all of these
It is closely related to the economic
welfare of the whole community. be
il town. city. state or nation. A
traffic that involves the expenditure
of nearly $4,000 100000 annually or
over 500 for every man, woman and
child in this great country, Is not only
a moral issue. but an economic issue
of the first important. -
The only question: before us today
Is the question of method. Let us
remember this important fac; in ali
our discussion However. We may
differ in judgment let us not forget
for one moment that We are absolute
IL one in aim. The Anti-Saloon
League is a body OF men and women
joined together under the one motto.
The Saloon, lie. (The Beverage LII
quor Traffic) Must Co Let us pre-
sent our views as strongly as possible
in all candor. giving full credit to
each other fer sincerity of purpose.
and having set forth Our plan for the
consideration of the brethren. let US
abide by the decision of the conven-
ton. Whatever decision is reached
Let us 20 forth remembering the old
saying of our fathers. In Union There
is Strength
Abolition of Traffic Demanded.
ON the basis indicated above your
legislative committee presents its re-
port. Il is based on the convict on
that not only the salvation of the in
dividual. but the protection of society
demands the abolition OF the beverage
liquor traffic. and the purpose of the
recommendations of the report Is 10
present to the convention that method,
which in the Judgment of your COM
mittCe is set calculated to produce
this permanent RESULT in the shortest
possible time. In arriving AT its con-
cjusicus your ccmrlittee has remem-
bered that We are not fighting Tor
temporary. but for permanent re-
suits. and that il is not worth whil'
TO take a step today. which must be
rctraced tomorrow.
- . . The question for US today
is therefore not a question OF the
| right Of the league to change IT'S
policy. but M question is has The
the time arrived for q change OF
policy.
Since the las; convention a nun
Der Of local option elections have
been held. The circumstances con
nccied with these elections Indicate
certain important facts.
\ Backed BY National Interests.
| Il In nearly all cf these elections
the league workers found themselves
orroSed h the great brca~ing and d.
:iilinx interests Of the nation. which
joined forces with the local interests
ard vita men and money made
-strenuous efforts TO hold or 70 secure
stsiegsc points In Shich 10 sell Tier
products Wet foscos in every com
muniiv csn and usually do Obtain as
distance from the outside intc7esis
and IN local option hghts dry forces
mrst recok n not only with tn local
brt with ;hc national liquor interests
- Many % tn local oftio7 cleo
tions Ct last year have been caiic1
3 the vets ~ith 'hc prrposc n
wearing OUT the dry forces BY cor
tinrl calls for time and money ZION
mn Who have no financial inter Fl
i'vciscG snd wbc are heavily taxed
for the public good
-. Tho We forces IN their II