The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-15
;. There was equally as great sur
Sc. perhaps more. when this stran-

prise, perhaps more, when this stran-
ger launched into a TRADE upon the
Anti-Saloon league. The speaker was
r. Taylor Goodwin, chairman of the
Democratic State committee of Ala
bama, who devoted practically his
entire time to q severe criticism of
the means and methods employed by
the Anti-Saioon league, Mr., Good
win said he had never made pro-
hibition speech In his life. and had
not made any sort of political speech
in ten years. He is a steward in the
Methodist church.
He professed intimate knowledge of
the methods of the Anti-Sa1oon league
in Alabama and denounced its agents
as "destroyers of character. wolves
in Sleeps clothing" etc. No means.
no methods, are too vile, no steps so
infamous that the self-righteous Anti
saloon league has not resorted to
them, and I say to you virginians
that you must go into this fight
buckled and armored. Tear off that
cloak OF religion they seek to con-
ceal themselves In and let the people
or this State see the gaunt specter
of cruel power that Is underneath.
II say to you now they will con-
front you in a solid phalanx and they
viii have two dollars to spend where
you have a dollar; do not fool your
selves about that"
Mr. Goodwin said much more IN his
TRADE against the league, and then
proceeded to tell something about the
baneful effects of prohibition in Ala
hly hE, 4ryt ~, INtS
with 1t. He summarized that the
effect OF prohibition had been to d.
vide churches. schools and conmu-
mites and it had threatened TO tear
asunder the grand old Democratic
party in Alabama. In conclusion he
urged his hearers 70 come out in the
open and fight the Statewide law.
though he warned them that many
of them would receive poisoned ar
rows in the back from the moral
forces" when they do But: Lay
be slipping any away or taking any
chips
The Platform.
Following is the platform adopted
by the mass meeting:
This organization shall he known
as the Virginia Association for Local
Self-Government,
The purpose of this organization Is
to enlist the cooperation Of ell cit
liens of the Commonwealth who are
in favor OF local self-government. to
the end of employing all lawful means
within our power to secure to each
community the right to control it's To-
cal affairs to the full extent euaran-
teed by the organic wtof the state.
The platform of the association is
as follows:
We stand on the funda mental prin-
eiples of local self government, and
we believe that as the State Is the
unit in the federal system. so the
counties and cities should stand In 4
similar relation to the State. Reaf
frming our faith In the Declaration
Of Independence that the just powers
of government are derived from the
consent of the governed, we concede
to every county and every
city in the state the right to regulate
its own internal affairs in the manner
best suited to its needs. being firm
iy convinced that no people will be
happy and prosperous where one sec
ton may force upon another section
laws not supported by the prepon-
derant public opinion of such seq
tions.
Holding the foregoing consfdera-
lions to be OF the frSt importance,
we are logically committed In the
pending election under the enabling
act. to use all lawful means to ensure
the success Of local. option. leaving
each county and city to decide for it
self the purely local question of
whether liquor shall or shall not be
sold within its limits.
President Wilson has said, IT am in
favor of local option; l am a thor
ough believer in local self-govern-
ment and believe that every self
governing committee which consti-
tutes a legal unit should have the
right To control the matter of regu-
lation or Withholding OF licenses"
We believe that Statewide prohi-
bition violates the fundamental prin-
ciple of local self-government. and
has invariably caused social and po-
litical unrest, bitterness and hyrro-
crisy and brought the law itself into
contempt
We believe that the enabling act
was deliberately so framed as 10 cloud
the real issue before the people. which
is not whether we shall go back to the
sale Of liquor throughout the State.
but whether We shall retain local OPP
ton. or enforce prohibition upon the
subdivisions of the State without re-
gard to the views of said Subdivisions
respectively. while experience teaches
that where the majority of citizens In
such subdivisions do not approve of
prohibition the ends of temperance
and morality can best be served by
the lawful sale of liquor therein under
strict regulation.