The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-19

only three weeks after the Norfolk
Convention. II Is evident that the po-
sition taken. by the Convention, and
taken by Mr.. Cannon individually,
were recognized as identical by the
Times Dispatch, and that it demon
strated clearly in It's editorial that
the Anti-Saloon League Convention,
and Mr.. Cannon both advocated Local
Option as temporary policy and
would demand Statewide Prohibition
as soon as conditions seemed to JUS
ltify 1t. If the wet" Times Dispatch
admitted this fact and declared 1t,
how can 1t be said that the purpose
/ of the Convention was to make the
liquor dealers believe that Local OPP
ition was the permanent policy Of the
League in order that the liquor peo-
pie might be persuaded to vote for
Judge Mann?
} The declaration of the Anti-Saloon
League Convention and of Mr.. Can
mon personally that the Local option
policy was temporary and might be
changed to d Statewide policy "at
the next Convention shows that
there was no effort to deceive the IL
quor dealers, and is fact Number
Three.
/ The second fact adduced by the
/ Evening Journal, In support OF its
false and malicious charge. is that
Rev. James Cannon saw and talked
with Senator Martin in Washington
the week before the Anti-Saloon
League Convention met. and the
Journal declared that he discussed
with Senator Martin the Legislative
Committees Report, and changed the
Report of the Legislative Committee
! to conform il 10 the views of Sena-
tor Martin in order to secure the cleo
ton of Judge Mann.
! Concerning this charge, Rev. James
Cannon wrote TO the Evening jour
nal a communication. which was pub
lished on February ~, 1909. and later
on wrote another communication ad-
dressed TO Mr. r. :. Harbour. and
read in the presence of the Execu-
tive Committee of the Anti-Saloon
League Of Virginia. and published in
1.-THE Evening Journal of March IL,
1903. From these two Communica-
tons the following extracts are taken:
I February -, 1909.-~''Any charge
that have allowed my friendship
/ for Judge Mann TO determine my
course a member of the Legis~
lative Committee Of the Anti-Saloon
League of Virginia is absolutely ia ise.
AS a member of that Committee. J..
along with the field workers. nave
made a careful study Of present con-
ditions. and the report made by that
Committee to the Convention efu-
bodies such legislation as We though
was needed and as VIC believed we
could reasonably expect to secure.
The action OF the Committee was en-
( ttreiy Independent of the personal
feelings Of any member of ths Com
mittee towards Judge Mann, and Was
based entirely upon the conscientious,
az.
recommended were the very best that
could be taken for the permanent
good OF the Anti Saloon League work
in Virginia The charge of the jour
nal that tne Committee had any other
purpose III their action than the best
interests of the Anu-Saloon League
work in Virginia is absolutely and
Iunquanfedly false
i have in the past and | expect
in the future. u consult with men
in all ranks and professions and Ger
tainIy with the men who are III off,
!cial life-the governors. senators.
members of Congress. members of
the General Assembly. judges sheriffs.
mayors. coancilmen, constables, and
all other officials great and small. who
can in any way affect the passage OF
city, State or national legislation, or
who are connected with the enforce
rnent of the law. The fact that men
may be called by the journal ma
chine political ms will not prevent me
from consulting with these men. or
from trying 10 obtain their influence
and positive help for the passage of
THE legislation that | believe viii be
profitable for the State of Virginia,
land If / find. as representative of
the League. that il Is impossible To
obtain everything that / desire at the
hands OF the Legislature. | Will take
an | can get at that time. and still
work for the balance later on, ana
! shall not allow myself to be de-
tered from consulting with any man
in public life concerning the affairs
iof the League or from trying 70 Sc
tcure his aid and support because he
may he of the number whom the Eve
ming Journal may denounce in eour-
ageously 80 general terms as ma
chine politicians.
March Is, 1a09.---"But that mys-
FERROUS trip TO Washington on F'ebru-
AIRY >, What right did Dr. Cannon
have TO go to see Senator Martin In
Washington Here, again. DR.. Can
non has nothing to conceal lie would
not hesitate to make a special trip
to Washington to secure the support
of SO influential n citizen as Sena-
tor Martin for legislation he Thought
of Importance TO tho State Of Fir-
GINA. And, while he would not pro-
claim his going from a housetop or
1 ma convention. he would see no
reason for concealment.
AS a matter Of fact, DR.. Cannon
did not make a trip to Washington
for the special purpose OF seeing Sem
ator Martin. DR. Cannon was In
vited, along with other educational
workers of the country. to attend the
inauguration Of DIR. r. A. Noble as
pr esident of the Woman's College ot
Baltimore. which took place on Feb
rtary 2. On his way 10 Baltimore
DR.. Cannon stopped over in Wash
ington and went TO see Senator Mar
tin. but did not find him at his Of
flee, and went to Baltimore without
seeing him. The next day. the 80
Dr. Cannon called up Senator Martin
by phone. and found out where he
would likely be found during the day
Or. Cannon left Baltimore at p. NJ
and arrived in Washington at 3:15
went to the Capitol Building. found
that the Senate was In executive ses-
sion concerning the appointment OF
Il DR.. Crunn. and Ii was some time be-
fore FScould communicate with SEN
ator Martin. My interview with him
was somewhat hurried. as was
obliged TO leave for Richmond at 6
O'Clock. ! discussed with him free
~ and frankly. as | would have done