The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-03
.HOBSON SPEAKS
ON PROHIBITION
Alabama Congressman Draws
Lurid Picture of Evil Eff
fects of Alcohol.
EXPECTS NATION TO GO DRY
Predicts Ratification of Plan for
Federal Prohibition by Con-
stitutional Amendment.


would become effective throughout tho
world. Richmond Pearson IIobson.
mcilber OF tho House OF Representa-
tlvea from Alabama and hero of tho
Spanish american War, eaid last night
in an address In the John Marshall
High School auditorium. that he would
rather see the combined armies of the
earth invade the United States, de-
tenseless AS the country Is. than to
see the liquor evil go uncheck ed. More
people. he sad, die and are killed AS
q result OF the liquor traffic than are
wiped out by all tho agencies Of pcati-
lcnce and war, and alcohol Is produc-
tive OF most OF the insanity and I'M
becility which to-day are exhibited In
every country in which liquor is an
article OF traffic. IT was a terrible ar
ragnment which Mr.. Hobson cd
against tho traffic. for OF all the agen-
cies which arc destructive TO humanity
he placed alcohol first and foremost.
He argued from both sides of the uues-
tion-from the viewpoint Of the most
ardent prohibtionist and from the
viewpoint of the liquor interests and
the liquor dealer. and left tho decision
TO tho audience as r. jury which was in
possession OF all the evidence OF de-
tense and prosecution.
APOLOGIES FOR
SMALL ATTENDANCE
Between $50 and 800 people were
present IN tTt AUDITORIUM Oi bnt iiGH
school when Mr.. Hobson appeared on
the platform. After n few preliminary
remarks Rev. Mr. Richardson. or tho
Anti Saloon League. introduced the
speaker of the evening. He said that
lie had no apologies to make for the
slimncss OF The audience as such short
notice had been given Of Mr.. Hobsona
coming, He said that Mr.. Hobson had
been engaged only few days ago TO
speak In the cause OF prohibition In
various parts of Virginia. and that he
had come on very short notice. fester-
day morning Mr. Hobson spoke In
Bowling Green, and in the afternoon
at Ashland, from which place he came
10 Richmond Mr.. Richardson said that
notices had been printed and that ne
placed 1000 Invitations In the mail
Monday night, but supposed they had
been delayed in delivery. And there
is Il wrestling match on Tonight he
said. but that Will he only puff
of wind To the match TO be pulled OFT
on September %, when tho liquor traf-
nc In Virginia Will have its final fail.
| believe we are going 10 win. but If
we are 10 measure up a majority 1t VIII
depend on our activity He then
called on the Rev. George w. kemper.
pastor OF the Hanover Avenue Chris
tian Church. to offer an invocation.
IIOBSON GREETED
WITH LOUD APPLAUSE
famous speaker as he walked forward,
and for a time Mr.. Hobson was un-
able to speak AS the applause died
slowly away he stretched his arms TO-
wards the audience, and the house he
came still. The main body OF his ad-
dress WAS confined to IL discussion OF
the physiological and psychological cf-
fccts OF alcohol on the human body,
showing an intimacy with the sub
jcct that could have come only by deep
IL. tod
1t was every mans own personal fight
as irrespective OF the need OF a pco-
pic or race, asserting that the National
Liquor Association was attempting TO
take the fight into its hands.
Il will discuss the truth about al
cohol." he said, because the whole
question hinges on that and you must
regard yourselves AZ O. jury. Certain
truths have been established, and they
arc no longer open to discussion" He
said that alcohol comes out OF the body
tissue of germ and is It's eXcretion.
and. therefore, poisonous. as all eXcre-
tions are, Il poison to the very life
which produced II. In arguing that 1t
is not OF food value. he said that 100
gallons of beer contain only enough
food to offset one pound OF wheat.
Every germ poison. he said. has its
natural affinity In the human body. and
the affinity OF alcohol is the young,lt
and tenderest tissues, so that IL Is
the great, universal specific for degen-
cracy. The consequence is that 1t cuts
into the span of life. and totals 700.
900 dea this q year. and 20.O00,O00 people
who drink lose each fifteen years from
his life. Figures. he said. show that
liquor kills 1000 people every day.
ALCOHOL a GREATER
MENACE THAN WAR
Continuing, Mr.. llobson said that al
cohol was 4 greater menace than war,
for. though 100000 had been killed and
100000 injured since the Macedonian
wars. more had been killed and injured
by liquor. "And So" he said, 81 would
rather see the United States invaded
by all the combined armies OF the world
, than to have tho deadly liquor traffic
continue"
Mr. Hobson went into an intimate
discussion OF the effect of alcohol on
tho yet unborn, declaring that ono part
OF alcohol to 1000 parts OF water at
lacks the generating organism. while
one part Of alcohol in 200 parts of
| water destroys it. and yet, he said the
people pay the liquor interests $1,000
o00, 900 every year. The liquor interests
absolutely dominate tho liquor press"
he said, land the liquor press Will not
print these facts"
| In regarding the effect Of liquor on
the unborn, Mr.. llobson said that IL
both parents arc alcohoiic--and he was
thankful that ho had never seen an
/ alcoholic mother south OF the Mason
and Dixon line---one out of every three
| children Is an cDileptic. ono out Of
every ave becomes insane. and one out
of every seven is defective. Only one
out of six Will he normal. If both are
lnbstainers, there need be no fear. "If
you start with good stock he said
| you arc bound TO build upwards
Rome. sober, conquered the world
when sho went over to dissipation she
| fell. So, If YOU young men have in
you n spark of nobility you will take
care how you tampor with alcohol, and
how you risk your own flesh and blood
| And to the women ] also say that It
won't do to tamper with alcohol"
| INSANITY CLASSED AS
/ HY-PRODUCT OF ALCOHOL,
| Turning, again, to Statistics Mr..
Hobson showed how many wife mur-
dcrers. slayers of children and de-
scrterS of families are caused by liquor
! He gave figures, hut they were lost by
many on account OF tho noisc OF Il
piano coming In from the street
In short. he said that insanity was 4
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