Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-04-18
Congressman HobsOn Ia Charles
Town.

Hon Richmond Hobson. Member
of Congress from Alabama, well known
as the Hero of the Merrimac," spoke
in Charles Town on Saturday and Sun
day afternoon. on the important subject
which is now agitating this community,
that of License or No License" When
he spoke on Saturday afternoon the
main auditorium of the courthouse,
where the meeting was held. was liter
ally filed with people, including many
from all parts of the county.
Col John T Colston. Chairman of No
License Committee. called the meeting
to order. and after prayer by Rev J {
Hawk turned 1t over to Rev DR. A {
Hopkins.
DR. Hopkins IN taking charge said that
during a residence of over forty years in
Charles Town there had been from time
to time various spasmadic so-called tenn
perance movements, none OF which he
had ever approved. He could say. how
ever, that he heartily endorsed this
movement as it has been conducted so
far. 1t is being conducted by men of
integrity whom we can trust The ques-
ton is, shall few men be. longer al
lowed to conduct business injurious to
alb" He had DO resentment against the
saloon men. and hoped to see them all
get into some other worthy employment.
He was glad to see county movement,
independent at the start. He favored 1t
on account of the morals of the commun-
ity, and in behalf of mems wives and
children. He believed it should be
without regard 10 revenue-if it is right
as principal. it is right revenus or no
revenue. The social aud moral aspect
of the question is what should be con-
sidered. Jefferson county, with all other
contiguous counties in West Virginia
dry" has become the dumping ground
for all these other counties, and if mo
license" in these counties dosen't hinder
why do they come here for their whis-
kew?
When Congressman Hobson, who
was handsomely introduced by Rev DR.
Hopkins. took the stand. he was greeted
with an ovation. His address was able
from start TO finish, and held his hearers
in rapt attention throughout the nearly
two hours of its delivery. Itwas unique
ID that it differed essentially from ali
lines upon which we have ever heard
the drink eval discussed. Having been
brought up in the rigid school of the
navy. heh had when taking hold of this sub
1ect made thorough study for the pur-
pose of arriving at scientific truth. 1t
had been shown by reliable government
statistics that the soldiers of England
had degenerated as result of alcoholic
poison; likewise of France. and also of
Germany. The nation that cuts it out
will survive and go forward. and others
will go on the downward track. Alcohol,
science has proven. has no food value.
but is a poison. The use of alcohol
contributes largely to fatalities from
consumption and pneumonia. HIS re-
cital of the resistance to disease germs
made by the millions of white blood
corpuscles of the human body. and their
failure when made drunken by alcohol,
was highly interesting. and the appalling
statement was made by HIM, based upon
official figures. that alcohol kills 100, 900
Americ ans in one yeaI-more than all
the men who have been killed in all the
wars in 1900 years-or at the enormous
rate of 1000 per day. The speaker re-
ferred TO Americas unpreparedness for
war. with degeueracy by alcoholism. and
said we were approaching great ques-
ton of sound public policy He dis
cussed economic facts. showing the enor-
nous burden of alcohol, and before
cl osiug adverted TO the menace from the
yellow man who had his eyes upon
America as veritable promised land
who was undegenerated by alcohol
aud could shoot as true as any white
man.
Music was rendered preceding and
after the meeting by the Powhatan
Bend.
On Sunday afternoon there was if