The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-03
Radford and Prohibition.

kaNINTd II
been the map longer and in many ways 1t
has history and experience which Roanoke
we'll might study Radford is an attractive.
prosperous and successful community. Its peo-
pie in the main like the people Of Roanoke,
born in Virginia reared IN Virginia, and living
in Virginia, and naturally its ideas and its hopes
and ambitions are similar to those of its big
nerhbor
Like Roanake, Radford saloon
town. The liquor traffic had firm hold there
as it has here. and ii looked for years If 1t
were there 10 stay. Every effort to dislodge
WAS a failure. But the temperance people
Of Radford Ike those of Roanoke and of other
wet ceuters kept on working, and about eight
years ago they carried the town by SO majority.
\ year or two later the saloons parading prob
ably a local self-government league. called
fer and scared another election. and the result
" the former election was repeated. The sa-
looms whipped to a finish. Two years
more passed away, and egain the saloons
brought their batteries into play nd once more
went down in defeat, and today the liquor issue
IN Radford is buried The town is so safely
and surely In the no-lcense column, that the
'wets' have retired from the field for good and
fer All.
And Radford has prospered nightly. In the
years of its freedom from saloons it's various
departments of activity have forged ahead stead
ly and splendidly until today they are stand
ards for the guidance of others.
Badford had seven saloons, and each Of them,
from all accounts did thriving business After
Ithcy closed their doors and people began saving
and putting there money in banks instead of
INTO the pockets of distiilers and brewers in
Milwaukee. st. Louis, Cincinnati and other al
cohol.c eu9poriums Radford fhegan to move
ahead as it never had moved before,
A street-workinq equipment that lowered
around the zero point speedily took life
and today 1t is np-to-d in every particular,
with steam roller. sprinkler. and rock crusher
and other apparatus Streets have been
cadanlzed, and Sranol!the sidewalks built
During the wet regime the schools were
housed in a trembling frame structure in East
ward and In the courthouse building in West
ward. Today three fine. modern brick struc-
lures that would be n credit TO any city take
Of the educational establishment. The high
school that once occupied rented rooms has It's
home in Of the buildings. Instead OF
three year course, it has four years, and It gives
70 it's pupils a training that compares faForabls
with that ef any similar institution anywhere.
In addition to these schools there is the State
Normal. u splendid institution, receiving students
from large sections Of Virginia, and promising
to be wonderful agency for good throughout
the southwest country.
When the saloons went cat the churches grew
In strength. Three fine church buildings
one Of them now in course of erection, at cost
OF twenty-five thousand dollars. have been reared
upon the ashes of dives and barroolns and with
marvellous eloqueuce and significance are show
ing what temperance laws can accomplish.
Sunday schools have gone forward with anaz-
ing rapidity. The membership has Increased.
and work among them S vigorous and enthusi-
asttc one superintendent, who was opposed to
the temperance cause IN the first campaign is
quoted as saying that results have convinced
him Of his mistake He knows Of children
once unable TO attend Sunday school because Of
The want If clothing and shoes and now happy
and interested members and constant attend
ants.
The one newspaper az wet days has grown
two,
The jail. a most diiapdated structure. has
given WAY 10 a strong and up-to-date building
IN tho OLD DAYS 1t always had occupants Now
a days it often goes for weeks without housing
soul, and even when in use, It's COMPANY is
notably small, seldom exceeding one or two
Dwelling houses have been erected in all parts
OF the tosvn, many Of them of large and hand
some design. Numerous cases are known where
men who once rented houses now owners
Of houses. Working men particularly have made
progress, owning ther houses aud taking much
more active part in their communities affairs.
a resident Of Radford. once saloon propri-
etor and bitter opponent Of the ternpera nee
cause, ia said 70 he convinced that he was wrong
Il Radford should have another temperance cleo
ton his vote will he dry" The amount Of
LIQUOR shipped into the town is smau Whereas
IN old days wagons used TO deliver whskey
and beer 10 saloons, the alcohol that goes there
now finds its way home under the coat or under
some heavy wrapping in the arms of much
embarrassed and often nuch-ashamed citizen
And. finally. sentiment in Radford for State
wide is said to be strong The chief obstacle
to full enforcement of local option is the ac-
tivity Of Roanoke's saloons With Roanoke
added the prohibition column, Radford ex-
comnlete tempegance. Roanoke World News