The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-16
Hon. Lewis M. Coleman, Of
Tennessee. Unequivocal In
His Declaration Az To Good
Effects of Law
I ellis of Conditions
In His State
Once Opposed to Statewide He
Now Freely Admits Its Ben
efits. Declaring Prohibition
Does Prohibit-Former Viz
gilman Honored by Preaident

The following correspondence adds
to lhs overwhelming evidence that
prohibition prohibits, = tact wnicn
alone explains the coakly efforts being
made by the organized interests to de-
feat prohibition In this State. MIR.
Coleman. whose letter describes con-
ditions in Tennessee, u q Virginian,
and lawyer in his adopted State,
where he now Ellis the office Of United
States district attorney. by President
Wilson's appointment He Ia q de-
scendant OF Chief Justice Marshall.
and bears the full name OF his father,
who was professor OF Latin at the
University Of Virginia prior to the
civil war. and was killed At the battle
OF Fredericksburg. Year before last
MIR. Coleman was called back to the
university to deliver the annual alumni
address.
Letter OF Hon. II. W, Moore.
Washington, D. c.,
September 2, 1914.
Hon. Lewis NJ. Coleman,
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Dear Mr.. Coleman.--As you perhaps
know. Statewide prohibition IL to be
voted on In Virginia. September -.
The reasons urged against its adoption
are OF more than nfty-seven varieties,
involving the most extraordinary In
constituencies and contra dictions. The
reason most steadily urged In that
prohibition not only fails to prohibit,
Out produces evils in many direc-
tons In q recent address. Major
Anderson. OF Lexington. said:
That II has been utterly Intellectual
and injurious in its operations in large
portions OF the States which are still
holding on to It. particularly In the
States which embrace such cities as
Memphis and Nashville. in Tennessee:
Savannah and Atlanta, in Georgia:
Portland and Lewiston. In Maine. u an
esta bltshed fact Of contemporary his
tory"
As you have Z thorough knowaedxs
of conditions In Tennessee, am
writing to ask whether this criticism
ls Justified. and what are the condi-
lions In Tennessee ~ created or AZ
fected by prohibition. hope you can
Ind time within the next few dayn to
comply with my request. ana that you
VIII allow me the privilege Of publish
Ing your letter, should wish to do 10.
With kind regards. am.
Yours very truly,
r. WALTON MOORE.
Mr.. Coleman's Reply.
Chattanooga, Tepn.,
September IL, 1914.
Hon. r. Walton Moore.
Fairfax Courthouse, Va.
Dear Sir7-=f have yours of re-
cent date inquiring. Does prohibition
prohibit in Tennessee? %
/ voted to put prohibition in our
constitution in 18SS--this was the only
time ever had a chance to vote d.
rectly on the question. However, my
personal inclination was for q long
time against Statewide prohibition. I,
with many others. seemed to think
that local option was more consistent
with our principles Of local self-gov-
eminent and personal liberty. These
ideas OF mine were conceived abstract
ly and not the result OF experience.
was raised near Markham, In Fauquier
county, virginia--a section where
gentlemen thought they had = right
to drink and as boy saw them
drink. shudder to recall the sorrows
and tragedies that resulted to that
dear little neighborhood from the ex-
ercise Of personal liberty In the use Of
Intoxicating liquors-en6ugh sorrow
to damn liquor forever. At the Uni
versity of Virginia drank my little I
belonged to the Ell Bananas social
organization that believed In true
broad minded men and In its exer-
else ct liberty had nm undeserved
reputation for dissipation. Ny early
social life was In Charleston, 8. c..
Where / saw wines and liquors freely
sArved on social occaaions and
where gentlemen drank freely. some