The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-22

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, Feb. a.
The report of the legislative commit
tea long, important and interest
ing paper and the great feature of the
convention---was presented to the
Anti-Saloon League Convention of
Virginia this morning. 1t was pro-
bounced the best report of its kind
ever presented. The report follows:
Report of Legislative Committee.
The men and women composing
this audience have come together
from every section of the Old Do
minfon with one clearly defined pur-
pose. We are not assembled to adj
vance the interests of either the Re-
publican or the Democratic party, nor
OF any faction or wing of any poll
tical party. This convention is COM
posed of both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis, and Of men allied to all the
various factions of the political
parties. 1t is composed of men of
the various religious denominations
in the State. Presbyterians. Baptists,
Methodists, Disciples, Episcopalians,
Lutherans, Church of the Brethren,
United Brethren are all found seated
side by side In this assembiage, bound
together by common purpose. With
out regard TO political party lines, or
differences in church ereeds, with no
partisan or factional political pur-
poses. with no narrow sectarian
ecclesiastical plans. we face the COM
mon enemy of our State, our church
and our homes, with the same motto
on our banners: THE Saloon. That Ia
the Licensed Beverage Liquor Traf-
fic, Must Co."
For ten years the Anti-Saloon
League of Virginia, an omni-partisan.
non-partisan body OF men and wo-
men, has been carrying on this holy
war. Some OF us who are here to-
night were present at the birth Of
the league, and, looking back over
the years since the gathering OF the
comparatively small company in the
basement of the Second Baptist
church In Richmond when the league
was organized, we now, at our tenth
convention. think IT appropriate 10
place on record In our official report
some OF the results which have fol-
lowed the passage OF the legislation
which has been placed upon the
statute books of the State of Virginia
during the first ten years of the exis-
tence of the Virginia State Anti
Saloon League.
Agitation the Foundation Principle.
All that has been accomplished by
the league has been the result of
the faithful following out of the foun-
dation principles of all league work
namely. untring persistent agitation,
Like the apostles of old, We glory in
the fact that @'they which have turn
ed the world upside down have come
miner also BY the continued agi-
tation of the facts concerning the
responsibility of the Christian men
and women of Virginia for the exls-
tence OF the saloon, with all the hor-
rlnie consequences attendant upou
It's presence in any neighborhooo.
the Anti-Saloon League OF Virginia
during the first decaae OF It's exis-
tence. mas developed and crystalItzed
puelic sentiment and that public
sentiment has been crystaliized again
INTO legislation, which legislation has
made its impress upon the economic
social ana moral life OF virginia..
Then and Now.
len years ago there were about
-FOUR thousand liquor establishments
OF all sorts In the State: now there
are about eight hundred and tlftv.
Zen years ago there were about three
thousand saloons: now there are about
seven hundred and fifty; then the
country crossroads barroom was the
neighborhood center of poverty. Nice
ana crime; now the Mann law has
destroyed the crossroads barroorn
then the penthouse dfstilieries were
scattered through the country I'm
many cases worse than saloons. now
the pot-houso distiliery N.s in Unost
casas followed the saloon. them ,he
rake clubs were In existence. and
were rapidly increasing; now there
are no fake clubs: then the regularly
chartered social clubs supplied their
members with intoxicants on Sunday.
now. Notwithstanding protests and
pieadfngs. the privilege to nullify the
sunday Law has been distinctly for
bidden: then there were no restric-
lions on the hours of sale Of louor
now saloons must close from midnixh,
until A. N. all over the State. ana
IN many cities they close at an earlier
hour; then In every city in Virginia
the SALOON had a license 10 rs.,, the
youth or the State; now Lynchburg.
Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Win
chester. Staunton, Clifton Forge. Rad
ford and Suffolk refuse to license
saloons. and In Bristol. Roanoke and
Danviile they exist by "A small pur-
chased majority OF filiterate and yensl
voters. Then majority of the towns
had saloons: now i3s out OF 1s1
p. towns ahase no. sale OF intoxfeant. n,
any form; then there were eomnara.
lively no effective blind tiger laws.
now there Is a strong. well-articuiated
law which is being perfected year
~ SN@As NANh hhbtlS hentlnGNt con-
corning the damning nature Of the
saloon had not developed and crystal
lixed throughout the State; now the
Development or uatside ssa&tsssent ma
reached the stage when the saloon a.
recognized as curse to the indi-
--rtduaI and as menace to society
and SO strong is this sentiment that
the dram-seilers and dram-drinkers
openly admit that they were not Will
ing for the people TO be given an
opportunity to vote on the question
of a Statewide law during the past
year because they feared the Srafe
would 60 dry"
These victories have been won nv
the capitalization OF public sentimen,
into law. and II has been the chief
work Of your legislative committee 10
represent the league In presenting the
petitions OF the temperance people of
the State and urging the passage of
the various laws which have accom-
plfshed these great results Truly.
as we set up our tenth milestone. we
can lift up our voices In THANKSGIVING
to God and joyously sing:
Here I'll raise mine Ebenexer
Hither. by thy help, I'm come:
And hone. by thy good pleasure.
Safely to arrive at home"
Through many dangers. tolls and
snares,
We have ALREADY emma.