The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-22
Anti-Saloon League Conven-
ton Opens and Hears State
Scored for Nuisance at
. Tennessee Border.
Senator Webb Declares Saloon
Interests Lawless. Describes
Forty Years, Fight in Tennes-
see. President Hlough Makes
Strong Points in Address.

0AASAtSs 4 III (AddlCSSs
The opening session of the thir-
teenth annual convention OF the Anti-
Saloon League of Virginia In the Sew
enth-Street Christian church last
night was marked by the address Of
Ex-senator w. r. Webb. of Tonnes
see who told of the forty years.
struggle IN that State against the
saloon; who denc unced .'bung-hole"
Democracy. and who declared Viz
gina is doing the State of Tennessee
"a great injustice by lining the border
between Virginia and Tennessee with
saloons.
Senator Webb made many strong.
almost sensational, statements dur
ing the Course of his address and
concluded by paying tribute to the
womanhood Of the State as 1t relates
to the movement against the liquor
traffic. declaring the whit ribbon
Of the w c. T. L. is more becoming
to Virginia than is the white apron
Of the bartender
Among others who took part in
the opening session were President
]. w. Hough, of Norfolk: Rev. James
Cannon d. D.. SUPERINTENDENT of the
league. Rev. Ed. j, Richardson. Sec
Rotary of publication and Governor
Mann, "a vice president Of the league.
who presided at the opening session.
Congregation Large.
There were present in the congre-
cation that filled the auditorium and
the galleries OF the Seventh Street
church nearly eight hundred persons.
Many of them were women, among
them the visitors and delegates who
have been attending the annual cor-
ference of the Women's Temperance
League of America in Virginia. which
Ia H. -
ternoon to unite with the Anti Sa-
loon league In It's convention Many
m embers of the Women's Christian
Temperance union, an organization
that has been for years doing effec-
tive work for the temperance cause.
were also present.
Though the opening of the nrNt
session was scheduled for 7:45 O'Clock.
the devotional exercises conducted by
Rev. Ed. J. Richardson, beginning the
convention. were not started until 4
o'clock Mr.. Richardson following a
fifteen minute service made the an
frouncement that owing TO the fact
that the program was late IN getting
from the printers. Rev. Fl. p. c. Mac
lachian, pastor Of the church in which
the meeting is being held. did not
know shat he was placed on the pro-
gram, and that that minister had made
other engagements. which he found
impossible TO break. Mr., Richardson
then. In behalf of the absent pastor,
welcomed the league to the church.
Mann Opposes Traffic.
Governor Mann taking the chair, IN
his introductory remarks. declared
that It is now time to arrive at a de-
csion 10 whether the sale of ardent
shirts shall continue In Virginia. He
also declared against the shipment OF
liuuor from wet into dry territory
4. T.
him 10 the conclusion that the saloons
are recruited from the Young men.
He asio declared that there should
be taken by the legislature some step
to prevent the sale of lIquor at thAs
State fair grounds
Seventy five per cent OF the crime
committed IN the Gem monweaith."
the governor also stated lis due to
the traffic in ardent spirits
Rev James Cannon, during the
evening expressed his qualification and
that OF other executive officers OF the
league. at the splendid gathering that
already has assembled for the thir-
teenth convention I'VE already have
n great gathering: Representative
gathering" he said; IL see here del
egates from all parts of the State.
many of whom have attended other
conventions of the league
Meeting Important.
DR.. Cannon told the gathering that
the work of this meeting would be Of
greater Importance and bring larger
results, than any that have been pre-
because Of the array of speakers to-
be presented in this program, all OF
whom are men who have had large cx-
perience in the work the league n
now doing in Virginia
He announced there had been made
to f.t,