The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-25
Anti Saloon Executive Com.
mittee Did Not Discuss Mat
ter in Meeting
DIR. Cannon Gives
Out Statement
No Action Considered to Hold
Elections in Cities at Present
"Wet"-Story Is Made of
Whole Cloth

The report published In the Rich
naana afternoon papers yesterday. and
teiegraphed to all parts OF the State,
that the executive committee of the
Anu-Saioen league at its meeting
here Wednesday evening had decided
to call for local option elections In
Lynchburg, Roanoke. Petersburg and
Newport News Is without Il shadow
Of foundation.
The following Geographic corre-
spondence which took place between
the Lynchburg News and the superin-
tendent of the Ant.-Saloon League of
Virginia il interesting as d.sposing OF
the report. The correspondence fol-
lows:
Lynchhurg. Va, Sept. "a. 1914.
Rev James Cannon,
Richmond. Va.
Reported here that Anti-SaIoon
league will force local option cleo
tions in Lynchhurg and other cities.
report having IL that this plan was
adopted at recent executive commit
tee meeting In Richmond. We have
sufficient authority for denying 1t, but
, wouid like statement direct from
you il agreeable to you.
THE NEWS.
DR.. Cannon's Reply.
! The News,
Lynchburg, Va
Matter of calling local option cleo
lions in cities not mentioned in execu-
tive committee nAeting, and | had
heard nothing of any such proposal
until 1t appeared in the Richmond
afternoon papers. The State league
never determines such questions for
the various localities. but each town
and city determines those questions
for itself. The State league will al
ways advise with local leaders. and
aid in prosecution OF campaign If
election Is called. but it never goes
beyond advice and assistance.
JAMES CANNON. JR.
Those who are acquainted with the
policies of the Anti-SaIoon League of
Virginia know that 1t never dictates to
towns and cities as to what policy
shall be pursued by them concerning
local option elections.
The State league will always advise
with local leaders and will aid in the
prosecution OF fights II elections are
called, but it never goes beyond advice
and assistance
In reply to a question from The
Virginian representative as to whether
1t was likely that elections would be
called by the several cities. DR.
Cannon said that he had no informa-
ton on which to base an opinion: that
the question was one to be determin-
ed absolutely by the local leaders
Lynchburg Hears News
The circulation Of the report as to
lcalling local OPTION elections brought
the following special to The virginian
from Lynchbur:
Lynchburg. Va. Sept. 24.-Ne
credence is placed here in the report
that the State Anti-Saloon league Il
to call local option elections in Lynch
burg and other Virginia cities 1t Ia
apparent here that it would hardly be
possible 20 secure sufiicient names to
a petition to secure an election. and In
case one was called, hundreds who
voted for Statewide prohibition Tues
day would vote against an effort to
take advantage Of the saloonmen. Lo-
cal league leaders deny any knowledge
OF such an effort and several seen
tonight are opposed to an effort to
close the saloons before Statewide pro-
hibition becomes effective under the
enabling act on November l. 1916.