The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-31
LET STANTON REMAIN DRY.

LET SHANNON REMAIN DRY
n is of utmost importance that every dry
vote in the city of stanton be polled tomorrow
40 apathy that causes absence from the polls
BAY lose the victory. II has resulted thus III
many an election There is a city In Virginia
ywet tonay because the liquor forces had their
! points While among the friends OF local op.
lion. too many we're Indifferent absentees.
II is always certain that the liquor forces
sill poll their full voting strength. There is
one occasion when their patriotic interest is al
ways manifest. 1t is when the opportunity to
perpetuate the privilege of selling drink is
present. Citizens in stanton tomorrow will
g5abserve a spectacle always evident in elections
which affect the liquor traffic viz: the pres
snce at the polls of workers and voters, who
ARE never conspicuous upon other occasions
abe fear of disturbing their favorite traffic
leads them hither and the patriotic passion to
preserve the barroom inspires their activity
The present campaign has been a quiet one
Nothing eventful has transpired to quicken the
opposition. so as to arouse the fighting spirit
~ is just at this point that apprehend dam
ger. The liquor forces have had 10 public
meetings: they have pursued the policy OF
silence far the platform and the press is
concerned; they have resorted to no public ar
xnment or appeal But one must-net conclude
that they have been inactive and must
that begets indifference, They have been busy
.aHas.H
The SIRE route to success.
II is reasonable to suppose, from universal
vxeprence in such contests. that the saloon
forces thoroughly organized and have been
diligently employed. The brewers, distilers
and wholesalers have undoubtedly supplied the
alnews of war. They evince an eyerready
and liberal disposition to finance such activi
! lies as hold the hope of the extension of the
territory, in which they may market their
products. The funds OF the campaign have
been employed to transform nonqualfed
voters into legal voters and to enhance the
prospects of victory by such mysterious me
thods as is common at those elections. The
s&sary forces Of Staunton met this handicap at
The outset They may be that the men
whose pOIi Tax mas Oeeu paul inr tHtHl anu
whose votes are otherwise purchasabe. win
he solidiy aligned against them-and. with
his venal vote. will be combined the total vote
Of the corrupt and vicious element of the
city, well as the support OF those whose
characters are reputable and whose professed
convictions determine their ballots, An in
telligent summing up of the situation will
tha Df rff v5t
VIM demand the ballet OF every friend of
temperance and righteousness Of law and
order OF the church and the home.
The very necessity. that has forced the
friends OF the saloon TO the policy of silence
in the conduct of their campaign, is one of
the strongest arguments for dry vote. The
laaal option regime in stanton has been so
signal SUCCESS that saloon advocates have
been speeches. in its presence and have not
dared attempt in public speech the reputation
cs the dry argument, based upon the facts of
experience. In direction has the dry re-
CINE called TO make good. The financial
statistics. the criminal records, the business
conditions, the social atmosphere; all offers
eloquent appeal to voters 10 maintain status
which has begotten such favorable results
What argument appeal has been uttered by
the vets in whispered tete'atete cannot
know, but know that public denial or
& the success OF local option has been uttered
and public argument in behalf Of the saloon
advanced. In this fact of inability to deny the
successful operation of local option in stanton
or to demonstrate that the saloons return
would Improve conditions, lies convincing
argument and a persuasive appeal for the
dry ballot.
We urge the voters of Stanton not to per
NIT the return OF such institutions make
Tor disorder restitution and debauchery, but
u cast ballot on tomorrow that will aid in
perpetnating that period of progress and peace
which dry city has inaugurated
And let every friend OF temperance vote
without fail