The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-14
TESTIMONY FROM STANTON.


in response to the required number Of peti- .
tfoners, a local option election has been ordered
held in stanton. Virginia, August list next.
The stanton Leadcr, in editorial expression,
defends the dry regime and utters the belief
that the people of that city viii not accept the
present opportunity of voting back the saloon,
The editor basis his conclusions upon the moral
and commercial benefits that have resulted from
the prohibition Of the traffic there. lie asserts
that, notwithstanding severe reRerses tho city
has had IN no way connected with the sale Of
4477T7r7 t71zrr7tsz-
stable confident and prosperous. Rents have ad-
vaueed especially in the business section; real
estate values have increased, good country
trade has been maintained, money formerly
squandered in saloons and brcthels is APP
pied 10 The purchase OF the necessities and COM
forts of life ana collections have been more
easily made.
IN addition to this. and from our viewpoint
Of greater importance, is the evident improve
mant in the morals Of the community as attested
by the criminal records and such outward signs
as fan in the legitimate field of observation.
During the two years Of saloon exits the city
has been without a chain gang except for
brief period when special ordinance created
chain gang Of hoboes until the word was
mssterionsly passed down the line aud the no
hoes ceased to honor Staunton with their visits.
The sections in which the saloons were once
segregated were then unfit and unsafe for ladies
10 traverse. "Now," says the Leader. "one sec
sion Of Stanton is as orderly and free from
his wife or daughter to go anywhere in the bust
ness section Of stanton unaceompanied"
Ne submit with great qualification this evil
dence from a thoroughly reputable and com
petent source. We do not ask you to accept the
statements Of unknown witnesses concerning
distant localites-men either interested in the
sale OF liquor, as the victims Of ayayice or APP
petite, or the paid hirelings Of the liquor inter-
ests whose service rendered in return for
monetary compensation consists in writing mp
sensational and exaggerated reports of PROM.
hilton failures ard circulating them in such
periodicals as are willing to publish tho unsnp
ported statements Of unknown individuals We
present to readers the testimony OF citizen Of
Stanton, who by virtue of residence and init
mate knowledge Of conditions is qualified to
testify. and whose character gives guarantee Of
truthfulness to his statement With intelligent
men the character OF the witness lends conclu-
siveness TO his words,
terrific struggle for life marks the activities
of the liquor interests. They laying hold Of
every subterfuge and every expedient in the
hope of psrpetuat'ng their own existence The
dissemination of false or exaggerated report OF
the failure of pEohibition measures is one of the
favorite resorts of the tribe. We do not wonder
that they BnUuid thus attempt To- rroloug The
day OF undisturbed opportunity aud continued
gain bat we have been amazed that reputable
rapers are found to lend themselves to the
leheme and that apparently intelligent men win
swallow without investigation the statements
they send forth. fair rule, and the only sure
one for citizens seeking TO form conscientious
and intelligent judgment upon this important
ssvae rs to demand some information concerning
the witness, his character and his connections,
before giving credence TO his evidence. And II
men will take the pains. We have constantly
suggested Of investigating the operation Of pro-
hibltion in places near at hand, aud of accept
ing the testimony Of the business interests and
criminal statistics Of those localities they will
find little difficulty 10 discovering the benefits OF
saloon Punishment But never be eredulous
enough TO make excursion under the personally
conducted leadership of any periodical into
regions remote nor listen to the tale of woe OF
any anonymous or unauthenticated individual,
There's evidence enough at home and there are
witnesses iunumerable at our doors, II only
enre nauers would Let the witness get tuto
court with the evidence