The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-24
GOVERNOR MANN TELLS
OF YEARS OF SERVICE
rnor. He then introduced Governor
CONTINUED from First page.)

eIHor, tie tpen introduced Governor
Mann.
Before beginning his set address
Governor Mann said that he had de-
parted from his usual custom and
prepared his speech. and would read
II, because he was afraid to turn
himself aloose." Il haven't any per-
sonal feeling in this matter at all"
continued n speaker. What ] shall
say shall be for the good of the
league" Lat r on in his address, when
he was deprecating the necessity for
bringing personal matters into the
meetings of the league, he declared
that DIR. Atkins had seen fit to repeat
his criticisms before the speakers face
and, therefore. had made it doubly'
necessary that they be answered.
Tis speech, which had been looked
forward to with great interest. did
not disappoint his hearers. Ale said:
1t Is with pleasure that | congratu-
late this splendid audience upon the
progress made In the temperance
| work during the ten years of the
! league, and the opportunities which
present themselves for greater work
and more substantial results In the
| future. If l remember Alright, was
at the first meeting of the league In
the city of Richmond, when the or
ganization was feeling Its way and
doubtful Of its position. 1t was how
ever, satisfied of one thing-''the sa-
loon must 60" and all who favored
driving out and destroying this men
ace to the we'll being and peace of
society and this great enemy of the
home were welcomed into the ranks
of the league,
The question of methods cut but
| little tlgure--sc me were for local OPP
ton. some for moral suasion. q very
few at that time for Statewide pro-
hibition, out all agreed TO use their
efforts to Danish the saloon.
This principle, which has been at
tended with so much success. ii seems
to me. should be adhered to. and all
who believe that the saloon must
GO" without regard TO methods,
should be welcome in the organiza-
ton.
Local option and moral suasion
have both been used, and many VIC
| tories have perched upon the banner
| OF local option-~vtctories in which
moral suasion was entitled to share
because its work preceded and made
local option possible. Moral sUasion
created the sentiment which. when
crystaliized into law, became effective
| for the Punishment OF the saloon. and
now the league seems to be ready to
take forward step and test the SEN
| timent OF the people all over the
State on Statewide prohibition.
All admit the gravity OF such &C
! ton, and thinking men understand
/ that complete organization is needed
| and vigorous work must be done to
secure victory in a contest for the re-
peal of avs which have been upon
the statute books practically since
Virginia was a State.
In all movements for reforms u
standing argument OF it's opponents
/ Is that the people leading and con-
nected with II are not sincere. that
what they are doing in the direction
/ of reform is not for reform, In fact.
| but for soIne other reason which will
| bring personal benefit. and these ar
guments are used for the purpose Of
weakening the influence and DESTROY
ing the effect OF leadership.
Every man at all familiar with or
| CARNATIONS must know that just In
/ proportion to its solidity is it's power
An hundred thousand men. every man
cool. brave and under leaders in whom
! they had confidence would be irwin
chile. and 30 an organization such as
| this, which acts as one man, Ia pow
er which rnust be reckoned with. and
which IL would be hard to defeat II
armies, must have plans upon which
their battles are fought, and these
plans must not be given 20 the enemy.
Indeed, should only be Known TO the
leaders.
/ 1t follows. therefore, that In the
| fight which Is about 10 be made. il
Is of the utmost Importance that GOOD
leaders should be selected in whom
| the league has the most implicit con-
I n a
| rection az to plans and methods shall
be implicitly followed.
| My experience since | have been In
/ office has satisfied me that the liquor
| habit IL the cause Of more crime tina n
all other causes combined, and that
| II IT could be destroyed we would have
very many more happy homes. less
| crime. greater prosperity and a pro
gress which would satisfy the most
/ ardent lover of his State. MY own
| personal views and opinions have been
| before the people for many years as
l have been a fighter for temperance
| Tor the better part, of my tife. and
Whenever the question comes up and
/ la whatever shape / viii always be
| found on the dry side.
The sentiments l have just express
| ed were written before the league met,
| with keen anticipation OF the good to
| follow and with genuine pride in the
achievements which I thought would
| be recounted here. Since that time
have read the references made to me
| by DR. Atkins, which, feel can
not be passed without notice.
regret as much as anyone. can
| the necessity OF bringing personal
matters into the meetings OF the
| league. and depiore with all my heart
the incident which makes II necessary.
| an incident which cannot by any pos
| sfbility advance the interest of the
temperance work In Virginia. but must
| inture and retard that work an 1t
| tends to lessen my influence, which
has always been used for the cult
| walton and advancement of that SEN
| timent which sooner or later will de-
| stroy the liquor tranlo In Virginia, !
am total abstainer, tho use of aloo-
hol Ia absolutely prohibited in the
mansion. whore not drop can be
| found. and in almost every speech /
make about any subject l manage to
make some reference TO temperance
which shows my position on that Quss-
tion and throws whatever weight
may have In favor of II, Surely any
thing tending to lessen that influence
| 10 not In the interest OF temperance.
If the Ant-Saloon League has won
Victories In the past, 1t has been be-
cause earnest, conseernted men joined
together In common cause to fight
common evil. and who, In aocoro
upon the end to DO reached, allowed,
each to the other, that freedom OF
opinion and that Independence of
Viaw az tn m at hOds which fs tn. ntrth