Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-07-31
LOCAL SELF GOVT
SECONDARY MATTER
Correspondents Reply to Circu-
lar of Ben. p. Owen in no In
certain Terms.
Mr.. Ben P. Owen,
Dear sip.

AA'' DSh OWCi,
Dear SIR
l received your letter of the goth
asking me to cooperate with your
organization on "high moral ground
in defense of the great principle of
Local Self Government" and enclos-
ing speech by Mr.. Royal E. Cabell,
in defense of the liquor trade.
1t is evident from Mr.. Cabell's
speech that the defense of the great
principle of local self government" is
wholly secondary, if it has any con-
sideration at all at your hands, it is
to be the perpetuation of saloon exis-
tence in and control of the cities of
the State, and to the continuance of
the privilege they now have of pillag-
ing the dry counties and towns by
sending them distilled damnation and
taking from them their good Ameri-
can dollars.The profits go to the rich
saloon-keeper of the cities, and the
damnation goes into the homes and
souls of the country people.
You are vigorously engaged in the
defense of notorious business whose
stigma is only hell itself. A business
that is too ignoble to stand the test
of an open fight, therefore its CO.
horts must seek to cowardly hide be-
hind nice sounding and catchy phrases
and declarations such as Local Self
Government" etc. have been too
much of a slave to the traffic myseif
and know too much of the secret and
behind-door workings to be drawn in
to the net you have woven to entice
honest and innocent Virginia voters.
You have no thought of Local Self
Government, as a means of Justice
to the people; you have no thought of
any other kind of government than
government that will permit your de-
moralizing agencies to put double
quick speed on your hell-bound vic
tins in order that more enormous
profits may be made for those engag-
ed in the business by making dupes
and paupers of your customers.
Personally, 1 have been a faithful
follower of the saloon, have drunk
deep at the fountain of death. gave
them my money, my time, my man.
hood; the great heart of my mother
was broken and laid as tribute at
the feet of the saloon. l gave them
my health, and what did they give
me? What do they always give to
their most faithful followers, their
most devoted and regular customers?
They sent plaques of snakes, and liz
ards and devils to torment me. They
took away my strength, they des-
troyed my good name, they took my
very soul to the brink of hell and
were about to cast it in when the
hand of the Lord stayed them. Ny
friends sent me to a place where
could take the Kelley cure and am
cured and will remain cured if per-
chance 1 can dodge the open saloon;
the saloons that stretch out their ten
tacles to grab me again the saloons
that you stand for send out their
PoiooHouo DISStJl 10 uraW me III as l
pass by. The saloons that with their
glitter of glass. charm worse than the
rattler and strike with a force ten
times more terrible. Take them awayl
They are hell's recruiting stations.
You ask me to line up with those
devilish agencies against the Christ
ian ministers, the moral agencies, the
good women, the innocent children,
and the happy homes of the State.
l SAY NO. stand for the GOD who
has thus miraculously saved me. 1
stand for the Mother whose heart was
broken. stand for the home that
would have been wrecked. stand for
the church of the living GOD, and my
best efforts in the fucure will be for
these and against the saloons that
would destroy all of them. And you.
will you continue to work for these
things that reward their most faith
full followers with DEATH and DAM
NATION?
w. H. STEELE,
Concord, Va.