The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-24
Of prohibition TO 80 into politics with
3 clean, moral citizenship.

II p clean. moral citizenship.
1T was the assertion OF local self
government that did away with tho
liquor traffic In North Carolina" Bish-
ourselves. and we did 1t. l am here
TO enter protest against the ship
ments OF liquor into our State BY Vir-
sinia and other commemorative"
He concluded his address by urging
the members or the league to continue
their fight as brave mon, assuring
them that they were bound to win out.
In presenting the report of the legis-
latve committee, Rev. James Cannon,
d. D., chairman. declared that II the
enabling act Is defeated at this session
OF the Legislature. the fight was
by no means ended.
Committec'x Report.
The report OF the committee follows:
Report of the Legislative Committee
of the Antisaloon League of virginia..
The work of the legislative commit
tee OF the Antisaloon League OF viz
Einia involves the study OF existing
conditions. Including present legisla-
ton. the defects of the same. and rec
concentrations for the future legisla-
sion.
Strength of Liquor Traffic.
The strength of the liquor traffic to-
day lies In the fact that it is pro-
tected by the law OF the land The
sale or gif, of intoxicating liquors by
one individual TO another TO be used
for beverage purposes Is in itself an
eva. 1t is a distinct and continuous
menace TO the public welfare, and is.
therefore. per Sc. public nuisance,
and, as q public nuisance, II would by
the common law of the land be abated.
as is any other nuisance. The soap
Factory. which polluteS the atmosphere
and ofends the senses: the tannery.
. Nor,
mill, with its constant possibilities of
explosions: these and many othsr in
Gustrics which are useful to mankind
yet all containing in themselves such
elements OF possible evil to the gen
eFal public. that their places and mode
OF existence are determined by special
statutes, could all be abatcd bv the
common law as a menace TO the pleas
ure' health and safety of the conlmun-
Ky, anu therefore TO that extent could
be classed under the general head of
O public nuisance Bit no one or all
Of these combined arc such constant
ana terrio!a menace To the public vel
tare as Is the traffic in Intoxicating
liquors TO the political. cconon,lc 81.
c!al, domestic and religious life Of tho
people OF our State 1t cannot Gin nm
tor Itself any clement OF good n
brings no blessing TO any community
IN which II is located 1t DESTROYS tha
father OF the family and leaves tho
mother and the children 10 weep In
peNeI'y ana despair. 1t takes the sons
VINO nave been the pride ami the homo
OF the household and DESTROYS thnr,
eoth for this world and ths world TO
come ~
It's daily, open, over.present nro-
ducts are drivel,ng idiots, ravinr
hlahlacs, besctted brutes, blood, mur
oereFs II Is an unmitigated. a covet-
GUS death dealing nuisance, when
ever and wherever ii is found, wheth-
er in the club houses on tho avenue
or III the vile Joints OF the back alley,
us quality is always the same. for
the brand which infallibIy marks It's
presence Is "intoxicntion." whirh
means the unsettlinS of the mental
and moral equilibrium of human he
hgs.
A Public Nuisance.
The Suprmc Court of the United
States has stated tho principle OF the
common law which can never be dis
proven; namely. that 1t is not the in
hcrent right Of any man to sell in
toNicatins liquors to be used for bev-
eraSe purposes, To borrow some yerv
comprehensive expressions from the
Mann liquor law, the sale Of intoxi-
eating liquors lis contrary to a SOME
public policy and is Injurious to the
moral and material interests II any
community" 1t exactly complies with
Ri the requirements of the definition
OF a public nuisance. and as such II
could be enjoined by the common law
OF the land, were Il NOT that II is
protected by the statute license law
OF the State.
Frnhlc Protected Uy Inv.
Ana so It cannot be too strongly
stressed that the strength OF the
liquor franc to-day is In the law of
the land. 1t IS protected by State
ana also by National Legislation How
absurd II is TO hear the advocates Of
the saloon declare in tho columns of
the wet" newspapers. that they are
opposed to all sumptuary legislation
and TO all efforts to make mcr good
by law! Why do they not then come
out frankly and declare that they are
III favor OF laws To maintain public
nuisance III heart of the community,
why not.lfcens.2 the soap factories, the
tanneriess" the powder mills. the
gambling bells, and the red light
houses 10 carry on their operations In
the heart OF the community? Why not
locate the pest houses ar smallpox and
CHOLERA or the public suuares7 Not