The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-16
CURRENTCOMMENT
Saloon SuTporters.

Observant people will agree that into the
various conflicts that being waged
against the liquor traffic there practically
the same forces When connfet arises which
imperils the existence OF the legalized saloon
there are at once arrayed on the one side all
the power the liquor interest command. and
on the other the combined strength OF those
people who opposed to the domination of
public affairs by the liquor interest.
An analysis OF the in each State where
the fight Is made to drive out the saloons. or
where there Is a purpose to ultimately drive
1t out will show that on the sio. of the liquor
interest will be found al the distillers brewers.
wholesale and retail liquor dealers and their
sympathzers such retained attorneys hired
agents and lobbyists, and with these it will
be aligned the gamblers, the election
booders, ballot box suffers, pardoned convicts
and the various elements of orfminality, and
invariably with this congomer<tion a large
majority of the negroes will be found.
The elements indicated can be relied to
work and vote to save the saloon from destruc-
This is the plan, unvarnished truth. which
cannot be controverted. There are many good
people, in addition, on that side. some of whom
complain that 1t is abuse to recte the facts OF
analysis of the vote of which they form a
part. but we have yet to see denial that this
charge is true.
1t is to be expected that those engaged in
the liquor traffic and the various criminal ele-
ments Will continue TO stand with a poorer and
corrupt interest but 1t Is sad commentary on
the stability and strength of the negro race
to say that large majority Of negroes align
themselves with whatever party or faction
espouses the Of the liquor people.
This is what happened in Tennessee. and
ii happened In Texas. 1t happens in every
State where prohibitory liquor measures are
made an Issue. While It Is not creditable to the
negro race, 1t is stern and lamentable fact
Nashville TennesSean.
The Presidential Temperance Declaration
In the issue of the Western Of August IA.
1861 Dust fifty years ago. we have discovered
a remarkable temperance document 1t ap
pears that the Hon. Edward c. Deavan. of
South Balstown. n. Y, and at one time secre-
tary Of state for New York, had taken 1t upon
himself to secure the signatures of the different
Presidents of the United States. that had served
during his lifetime. to the following document
Being satisfied from observation and expe-
rience as well as from medical testimony that
ardent spirits, as a drink, is not only needless,
but hurtful; and that the entire disuse of it
would tend to promote the health. the virtue
and happiness OF the community we hereby
express our conviction that should the citizens
OF the United States and especially all young
men discontinue entirely the use OF it, they
would not only promote their own personal
benefit but the good of the country and the
world.
James Madison, John Quincy Adams Andrew
.@, jackson Martin Van Buren. John Tyler.
James X Polk. Zachary Taylor Willard
Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchan-
an Abraham Lincoln.
II ~ a matter Of great regret that Mr.. Della
van had no successor to secure the signatures
Of our later Presidents. and thus have an I'M
broken chain of evidence against the arch foe
NJ the human race--Western Christian Advo-