The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-21

~
dule was the address of Rev. q
Baker, national superintendent OF the
LEAGUE.
superintendent Baker, who enchant-
ed such large crowd last night, was
heard with equal delight by an eauai-
ly large audience tonight. DR.: Eaker
pointed to the ballot box as the oniy
weapon with which to fight the saloon.
When the Anti-Saloon league nrst
came into existence nineteen years
ago 1t found the church In the back
door of the saloon looking out for the
human wrecks tossed out. When we
got the church around to the front
door we found the saloonkeeper, she
brewer. the manufacturer, and the
kind of politician they create. They
told us we had no right there put
that our place was at the back door.
At the Back Door.
We agreed to this then, he contin-
ued, And to this day all of some
and some of all denominations are
devoting themselves to the back
door," DIR. Baker did not mince
words. He reproached the church for
attempting to dodge difficult and dis
agreeable work, declaring that there
is no work the church has been more
prone to dodge than the problem OF
the saloon.
There can be no telling blow made
against the saloon except through the
ballot box and the church must fur
nish the leadership, as the labor orr
ganizations, other bodies of men and
the politicians will not lead. The
churchgoing members of the senate
who voted against the enabling act
were scored by the speaker together
with the churches they attend.
Churches Should Discipline.
Those senators should be disci-
w hfS- s~J.. 4 -. a
to numerous calls of Amen" land
IL were pastor of the church they
attend / would make it so hot for
them that they would leave the
church.,
DR. Baker warmly praised Billy sun
day, erstwhile ball player, turned
evangelist, saying that he has made
seventeen thousand converts, and
giving several Incidents of his work
and career Like Superintendent Hare.
OF West Virginia. he advised that he
be brought to Virginia,
Of nationwide prohibition the
speaker said there was never a bet
ter time than now for working for
It as the income tax viii supply the
loss or revenue sustained by the de-
struction OF the liquor traffic
Essentials of Campaign.
Information, agitation, organlsa-
ton and fight were given by DR.. Baker
as the essentials of a winning cam
patgn for Statewide prohibition.
Make your organization of live men
and work through committees. Take
q lesson from political organization.
This was his advice to the Virginia
league.
Adopt the committee plan. all
committees coming together in a CEN
tral committee" Lack OF orga niyt
tion, uue to too much individuality.
ne gave as the reason of the existence
or the saloon In the South. "If your
organization were commensurate with
the public sentiment there would not
Dixon line
Goes For Mr.. Cabe,l.
Roy IL. Cabeil, commissioner Of In.
.erhal revenue, was execrateef for maxi
ing outrageous Statements concern
ing the consumption OF distilled
liquors In Prohibition States DIR.
faker stated that the revenue figures
sno" tnat only one million more gal
IONS were Withdrawn from bond last
year than previously. but THAT mare.
IMAM this fs stored up In warehouses-
81 mas NOT been consumed, but when
Withdrawn from bond is reported In
revenue reports as consumed.
Dr. Baker held that the commits
sioner, knowing this, was NEVERTHELESS
giving out ''teo much information Ia
Yorable To the saloon" Hal fafd rns
call Cabeirsg name, which VAS .,,ss ~
gested by one OF the delegates, when
me criticism was directed at the d.
partment
Mr.. Byrd's speech.
speaker II. Il. Byrd said, in part.
before discussing any subject il In
Wen to define 1t with exactaess, The
so-caited enabling act IL an Arr "a
hermit the qualified voters of this
state TO express by ballot whether ar
nor 'hey desire that any court In this
state shall Issue license for the sails
OF intoxicating liquors.
A vote for the enabling act 10 49,
q vote for statewide pronlbit,on I.
~ vote to permit the people of tha
state 10 say for themselves whether
Or NOT they want statewide prohibit
uoh. member OF the legislatures
may vote very cnnscientlonsiy for the
enabling act, and should such act he
come law ne might at an election held
under II vote equally as conscientious
~ against statewide prohibition.
fne real question at issue is not
what member OF the legislature IN
disiduaily wants; 1t lis a fundamental
Question as to whether the people
sfsait have a legal method of saying
abling aef is not delegation of the
power Of legislation to the people II
10 delegation TO the people OF the
power to say whether or not a par
ticuiar piece of legislation created hy
the general assembly shall be oper-
ated.
Familiar Principle.
This Is perfectly familiar prin-
ciple or Virginia law, Of ancient rec
ognition and frequent application.
As far back as 1885 our Supreme
court upheld law which authorized
a vote to be taken in Accomac cuun-
" as to whether an act providing for
a free school system should be oper-
ated in that county
Bond subscriptions and the re-
movai of courthouses are familiar H.
Illustrations of the Hame principle.
Many years ago this principle was in
voked to regulate and control the
liquor traffic In 1888 this principle
was challenged in Savages case. al
Va. and the court held that 1t was
in the power OF the legislature to
authorize q popular vote to deter
mine whether or not liquor licenses
should be issued.
ITO make assuranc doubiy sure, the
present Constitution. section 60, pro-
yideS as follows.