The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-23

An interesting feature "a VIC 49,
Anti Saloon League Convention,
which closes here tonight. is the re-
view of the work in the State the past
year made in the annual report OF
General Secretary McAlister and Dis
trict Superintendent Il. j. Richardson
and David Hepburn. These were sub
mitted yesterday and briefly reported
In the Virpinian. All three attracted
much attention.
secretary's Report
Secretary McAlister first reviewed
his individual labors, saying he had
travelled 21,635 miles during the year.
addressed SO field day services. IS cam
paign meetings. II conventions. col
lege meetings, etc, 81 conferences and
committee meetings. He said 246,674
pieces of temp erance literature, total
ing 3,4S1.229 pages. had been circu-
lated, and $4,000 pieces of office
stationery dispatched from headquar-
ters.
Mr.. McAlister declared he had ad-
hered to the leagues principle of free
dom from politics, and added: II have
kept myself aud all the affairs of the
league committed to my hands abso-
lutely clear of all political entangIe-
ments."
In discussing the workings Of his
ford, bookkeeper: Miss Burrough.
stenographer. and Miss Bailey. clerk.
saying: They have added much to
the effectiveness of our work, not only
by efficient performance of their du-
ties. but By a genuine heart interest
In the cause. which has begotten an
alertness and diligence that could not
be evoked by a mere desire to please
an employer
Commenting on recent depletion Of
executive ranks. Mr.. McAiister said:
We began this past convention year
with five vigorous. splendid men and
with a seemingly good prospect Of
others. but our ranks have been se-
riously broken. Rev. John A. Taylor
was compelled by private affairs to
resign the superintendency of the
Southwest District; on November Is
last Rev. 4. Z. Stuart, while en- route
to Lynchburg to take control of a
newly arranged district. was suddenly
translated, and now DR.. Cannon feels
called upon to resign the State super
intendency.
"Ali of these have been sore losses
To the field force, and are a great
cause of grieving to those who con.
tinue in the ranks.
while suffering from the loss of
the above mentioned trio. we have
been relieved. In large measure. by
the accession to our ranks OF Rev.
David Hepburn and the voluntary as
sistance Of DIR. W. s. Neighbors. This
noble hearted action on the part Of
Or. Neighoors is largely an index TO
the temper Of the Southwest on the
liquor question.
More Men Needed
We must have men-good men,
efficient and deeply interested in our
work--f Ne are to attain our goal.
The remuneration lie comparatively
so meagre, the duties so complex.
the sacrifices and deprivations so
great. the conflict SO unceasing and
intense that only men Of certain tenn
permanent and talent. coupled with in
tensest antipathy for the liquor curse.
and Christly love for submerged
humanity, will answer the purpose.
A Special Fund Necessary.
1T IL imperative that We make pro-
vision for special fund IL the field
force Is To attain a standard OF effec-
uveness necessary to accomplish our
purpose. According to the present
method, the league Is financed by
the Sunday collections OF the field
workers. Every phase OF our work.
conVeStlon, committee. organization.
campaign. misunderstanding and
soiidtfying must to the largest posi-
Bile extent. be held In obeyance TO
the sunday schedules for field day
work. Any departure therefrom. or
any break in the Sunday work result
Ing from sickness, bad weather, es-
pecial attention to campaigns, or I'M
aYoidabie arrangement Of field day
schedules. must now be met by a
curtalIing of much needed work of
10 tel rh 49,
the war fund, no matter how import
ant the campaign.
Il know OF no other like movement.
nor OF any other State League that
AS utterly depends on the field day
workers 10 finance the work .as do we.
The proper authorities ought TO de-
wise scheme whereby We could raise
a supplementary fund of sfe,ee0.
Need OF An Organ Published at Home.
tny greater in importance than
the special fund suggested above,
anu dependent to a large extent there
upon Tor Its greater effectiveness, la
the establishment at Richmond of a
frst-class league paper.
According to our. present arrange
fnent, the American Issue Virginia
edition, is published BY the national
league authorities at Westerviile. o.
we pay them fixed price for each
copy OF the paper. which price is not
lessened by an increased subscription
list. We have only three pages out
or sixteen which are at our entire
command. and copy must be prepared
ten days before the paper is received
by our subscribers. According to
this arrangement. from a financial
standpoint, 1t is of no interest to us
TO increase the circulation of the pa
per. neither do We raNefya a,x, hn,ae.