The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-30
FIGHT FOR FEDERAL
PROHIBITION To Be
STARTED BY LEAGUE
National Convention to Be Held
in Columbus, Ohio, to
Open Campaign
-------------
TIME Is NOW RIPE
FOR LAUNCHING 1T
National President Baker Says
1t Must Not Be Done By
Amy Party But By
All the People

PHILADELPHIA. June 2s.--Pre-
iiminary to q general call for the most
comprehensive temperance convention
ever held in the worlds history the
AntiSaloon League of America has
Issued new declaration of policy.
The proposed great convention will
be held at Columbus, O.. November
1oth-l3th, and will include representa-
tives OF every organization in the
world now interested in any phase
of the temperance cause--social and
moral leaders and educators inciud-
ing of course the clergy.
Back of this colossal convention Is
plan to submit to the people OF the
United States another amendment to
the federal constitution prohibiting
the manufacture and sale of liquor In
any form anywhere in America.
The New Policy.
The new policy Is summarized in the
following statement. issued by Purley
A, Baker. general superintendent Of
the Anti-Saloon league, who will di-
rectly organize the Columbus conven-
ton from his headquarters in Wester-
Vile. o.
Mr.. Baker said: The policy of the
AntiSaloon league ever since it's in
ception has been to go just as fast and
just as far as public sentiment would
Justify. !; confines it's efforts to law
enforcement and sentiment building
where that is the only policy public
sentiment will sustain. IL Is for local
prohibition where that policy meets
the requirements Of the most ad-
vanced public demand. II always has
favored the adoption of State and ma
tsonal prohibition Just as quickly as an
enlightened public conscience warrants
We believe the time is fully ripe for
the launching of the campaign for
national prohibition-not by any
party. or parties but by the people.
This does not mean that we are to re-
AK our efforts one iota for law en-
; Grcemens, local prohibition and pro-
hy States. bat II fs E recogni-e
rty6n Of the fact. that the task begun
more than hundred years ago should
speedily be completed.
The Character of the Traffic.
Every defense the liquor traffic has
erected has been battered down ex-
cept the 6efenseIess appeal 10 greed
and appetite. II no longer has ad-
vocates: I; must depend for its exist
ence upon partisans 1t IS united with
the white slave traffic The offspring
OF this unholy union are robbery,
bribery. cruelty, debaucherv and muir
der The martyred Senator Carmack
but uttered an accepted truth when
he said 1.-THE liquor traffic would
rather die than obey law" II is an
enemy To everything that is good in
private or public life. II II the friend
OF everything that Is bad In the
name OF decent civil government and
for the sake OF huma nkind the man
ufacture and sale OF this despoler
Of the t,ace should he abolished.
The vices of the cities have been
the undolng OF past empires and civ
slizations. II has been al the point
where the urban population outnum-
bers the rural people that wrecked
republics have gone down. There
the vices have centered and eaten
out the heart of the patriotism of the
people, making them the easy victims
Of every enemy. The peril Of this re-
public likewise is now clearly seen
to be in her cities. There is no
greater menace To Democratic insti-
tutions than the great segregation OF
an element, which gathers its ideas
OF patriotism and citizenship from
the low grog shop and which has
proved its enmity TO organize civil
government. Already some OF our
cities are well-nigh submerged with
this anpatriotic element, which Is
manipulated by the still baser ele-
ment engaged In the un-American
drink traffic and by the kind OF po-
fitician the saloon creates. The sa-
loon SIafluS IoT the WpISl III pOlltiCdi
life All who stand for the best must
he aggressively against 1t. If our re-
public is TO be saved the liquor traf-
fc must be destroyed.
What Has Been Accomplished.
More than half the counties in the
republic, multitudes OF Incorporated
villages and cities and nine entire
States containing upwards OF forty
six millions Of people--ffty per cent
ks<tx ". AS.ax H~ts
two-thirds OF the entire territorial
area OF the country have outlawed
the saloon, The traffic has been driv-
en-. from the army and navy. from i'm
migrant stations and from the Ma
tional Capitol; but the greatest tri-
umph OF the temperance forces Of
the nation was the passage OF the
Webb Kenyon bill over President
Taft's veto, not only for the service
X will render the cause OF law en-
forcement but. for the demonstrated
fact congress responsive to
the organized expressed will OF the
people on this as on other important
moral issues.
National prohibition can be secured
through the adoption OF constitu-
ticnals amendment by congress and
ratification of the same by the neces-
sary three fourths--thirty-s ix--States-
Al State once having ratified the
amendment cannot rescind its action,
hut a State failing in its effort to
ratify may do so at any future time.
The Opportune Time.
The time for nationwide move
ment ito outlaw the drink traffic Is
auspicious. Organization is now
established and in operation In all
parts Of the country. The forces that
definitely oppose the traffic are In
accord as at no time in the past The
moral, scientific and commercial as
poets OF the problem are being more
intelligently put before the public
(Continued on Sixth PagA)