The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-11
Campaign for Statewide Victory
Starts Auspiciously in Peters
burg Where SpeakerAppears
Before Large Audience
Says Virginia Will
Be In Dry Column
Local Speaker Compares Pres
ent Fight With hat Of ST,
Though But a Battle for Mil.
liant Righteousness and Not
One for Soil

Especial TO The Richmond Nirginian }
PETERSBURG, VA. May 10.-The
campaign for Statewide prohibition
was launched In this city this after
noon. when Hon. Robert B. eileen, ex-
governor Of North Carolina, addressed
an audience in the Academy of Music
that taxed the capacity Of the build :
ing and probably numbered more than
fifteen hundred.
Mr.. James Fl. Gray. an ardent sup
porter of the Anti Saloon league, pre-
sided, and introduced Prof. Arthur
Kyle Davis, president Of the Southern
Female college. who. IN a short but
eloquent speech presented the speaker
of the occasion.
AS the speaker and those accompa-
nying him marched upon the stage the
White Ribbon hand rendered There
Is a Fountain" Among those occu-
pying seats on the stage were Rev.
Edward J. Richardson. one Of the as
sistant superintendent Of the Virginia
anti-Saloon league. DR.. J VI. Pitcher.
DR. L. NJ. Roper Rev H Fl Martens
and Rev. Samuel T. senter,
Mr.. Davis, In introducing the speak
er. said in part that he was glad that
he was privileged to be a herald n
one $50 geat In the cause which he
represented and that Petersburg to-
day was IN a battle as IT was from 81
to IS, though not battle for soil.
but hattie OF Ideas and militant
righteousness. He did not claim for
those represented sn the cause mo-
nopoly Of righteousness. but that the
theme was one 1T foremost import
aEce to the people OF the State Of Nir-
ginia al this time. and that the gen
tieman who would speak on the theme
was one worthy Of the theme.
In referring to the liquor traffic.
Prof Davis questioned his hearers as
to the right OF II. the need of 1t. and
the pity Of IT. and then closed with
the Introduction of Mr., Glenn.
For an hour and three-quarters the
speaker held the attention Of the tire
mendous audience in one Of the most
eloquent speeches ever listend TO in
This city. The ex-governor treated his
subject In a manner in which no Of
Tense could be given any one. There
were several present interested in the
liquor traffic In this city. but the
speaker had nothing but pity for his
hearers who were engaged in the traf-
hc and a strong convincing argument
to prove that the gain OF money was
the one thing that kept SO many good
citizens of the State engaged In the
traffic.
The speaker produced -tatistics
from various States that have passed
prohibitary laws. showing what great
benefit had resulted from same wher-
ever 1t had been tried. In a most pa
thetic manner he recited the battle
waged to abolish the licensed saloon
in North Carolina. and the great re-
suits achieved during the period which
the State has heen dry.
A communication was read from
Governor Craig and other State off,
Gals. showing the wonderful progress
the State has made during the past
six years without the saloon and Its
present excellent financial and edu-
cational condition.
The ex-governor. in referring to the
argument OF the liquor people that
taxes would be increased because of
abolishing the saloon in Virginia. adj
mitted that even II such should be
true the voters Of the State could bet
ter afford temporarily to pay a paltrv
increase in taxation than to see so
many lives in degradation because of
the abominable traffic.
Statistics were produced showing
that every State in the Union that
had abolished the licensed saloon
were making more rapid strides than
ever peloiS, anu tiial tHO revenue Ac-
rived from the traffic by those which
had not abolished the saloon was not
in a single case sufficient to offset
the tremendous expense heaped upon
them through the criminal producing
liquor traffic.
The speaker recited numerous cases
In his own State of crime and degra-
dalton that could be traced directly
to the use of alcoholic beverages and
In reference to his interest In aboI-
ishing the saloons in Virginia. stated
CONTINUED on Third PArex