The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-24
A ntis alo on League
Committee Pleads for
Statewide Vote.
MANY DELEGATES
AT CONVENTION
Legislative Report Laid on Table
tor Consideration To-Day-Evil
OF Drink Ably Presented.
Want Jug Trade to Dry
Territory Broken Up.
Text of Report.

With the opening OF the eleventh
annual convention OF the Antisaloon
League OF Virginia last night in the
Seventh Street Christian Church.
which was filled almost to its capacity
by about 700 earnest delegates seek
Ing the abolition of the saloon, probn-
| bly, the hardest fight for State-wide
prohibition in this Commonwealth was
begun.
In the report Of the Legislative COM
mittee the following resolutions wers
embodied
| Resolved a., That We hereby urge
The General Assembly of Virginia to
passing the following bills:
"ta) a bill to give the people or
Virginia the right to vote on the ques-
ton Of the abolition of the license
system OF what is usually termed
state wide prohibition
| CD The two companion bills TO re-
strict the license givel by the state
TO sell liquor, to gales Within the
bounds of what is known as wet ter
ritory. and to restrict the shipment OF
liquor within the bounds of wet ter
ritory.
| "tc) Bills which will place such re-
stricttons around the registration OF
voters that the padding OF the regis
tratiol lists with illiterate and venal
voters Will be prevented.
| I'D y bill to carry out the recon-
lmendaton of the Governor that ali
saloons be closed from sunset until
sunrise. 80
te) bill to make it the duty ce
lthe Department of Charities and Cor
rections to make careful study Of
lAl the arta
trafc. and to Initiate and to aid in
prosecutions foe violations or the 2,lls&
quor laws :
Resolved (2), That we hereby urss
our senators and Representatives. n,
congress to vote and TO work for the
passage of such Federal legislation al
/ VIII give to the several States entire
control OF the liquor traffic within their
own borders and as will prohibit tho
/ granting of n United States tax ro-
ceiPt 10 any person in dry territory
Il No Action ou Report.
other than rising vote of thanks
py Inc delegates to the convention to
.ne members OF the committee for their
| work, no action was taken on the re-
port OF the COMMITTEES. However. n
| VIII come up for discussion this morn
ms at 10 o'clock. that hour having
ocen set apart in the program for TIL,
purpose. Judging by tic sentiment
displayed, there Is apparently no uuy;-
i ti6H but that tho league will unanI
inously adopt MI of the resolutions
recommended by the committee
! INC attendance at the opening Sea-
4 SION was the largest in the history OF
INC league, delegates being present
from every section OF the State, indi-
catins the deep interest which is feir
IN the action of the present session OF
4 the General Assembly on the various
J measures which have been introduced
dealing with the liquor traffic
| In welcoming tho visitors Governor
Mann expressed his sympathy with
their object. "Nnety-nine per cent
OF the convicts in the penitentiary," he
said ARE serving terms for crimes
which were committed while they were
under the influence OF liquor I have
| also discovered. after muny. investi-
J cations, that the criminal age in Viz
| Einia is from twcntythrec to twenty
I I'VE years. Therefore say that tie
temptation OF whiskey should be re.
! moved from our young men"
! Following the opening OF .he meet
| ing with prayer by Rev. p a. Cave, or
bowling Green, tho Governor spoke
! while tho response was made by Rev.
}. NJ. Grove, u. D., of Pulaski,
Address by President.
H. ;. Barbour. president of the
League was presented by Rev. II. q. G..
|
who presided Mr.. Barbour referred
brief! to the work Of the league dur
/ ing The past year. and among Other
! things emphasized the need OF more
| laymen TO aid in the movement 10 stau,p
| out the barroom.
| we arc lighting terrible foe" he
said, and the battle is q terrific one
| We need more strong men, and our
! need for their influence is imperative.
| We gro now reaching only about one
| half OF the state as II should be
reached
! Further wish also TO emphasize
! the fact that We are not in politics
aud never have been. The league IL
true to its principles in regard 10 non
partisan candiates: we are non partI.
| san.
| Mr.. Barbour asked his audience not
10 heed the rumors and reports which
! from time TO time have gone abroad
! concerning the actions and policies az .
! the league.
! Ina stirring address. Bishop JIG. Kilso
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
/ south, pleaded that Virginia join with Z
/ North Carolina in barring the leYalizeo
! saloon. lie said that advanced moral,
| lily had been shown in tho Old North
State
Should Go Into Politics.
| The speaker was aroused to a littis
/ mtrth over the announcement that tho s,
| Virginia League was not in pDlitics 81
should Ge; in al, OF tha politicians 81
| In the. Soatll" no asserted, have a.
new class OF constituents TO deal with. 4
| and office seekers must now face
| moral public In the South" THERE
| fore he urged those working in bShaIs