Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-03-05
REV. DR. CHRISTIAN
MAKES STATEN
Delegate Myers's Charges
Causes Considerable Com
ment in Richmond.
AN OLD-TIMER TALKS.
Terms Present General Assembly a
Preachers Legislature" = Gave
Away Half Million Revenue.
AN OLD-TIMER TALKS.

Richmond, March 5-The heated
statements made on the floor of the
House yesterday afternoon by Dele
gate William NJ. Myers, Of this city,
to the effect that DR.. w. .Asbury
Christian, Of the Union Station
Methodist Church, had tried to
"bribe" him and had threatened him
for his opposition to the so-called
"red light" or anti-vice bill, which
seeks to abolish segregated districts
in Virginia cities are still the sub
jects of conversation at the Capitol
and throughout the city.
DR.. Christian, who was in the
House gallery, attempted to reply
to the speech of the Richmond dele
gate. He was not allowed to speak,
as the rules Of the House prohibit
such proceedings.
A resolution was offered today by
Delegate Willis, of Roanoke, con-
demning lobbying tactics such as
those charged against DR.. Christ
ian.
Tie following statement Of Rev.
DR.. w. Christian, in reply to the
charges made against him on the
floor of the House by Delegate My
ers, of Richmond, was filed by DR..
Christian with Clerk Williams. of
the House of Delegates:
To Hon. House of Delegates:
Gentlcmen-I was very much sur
prised when Mr.. Myers, of Rich
mond, made an unfair and uncalled
for attack upon me on the floor OF
the House of Delegates today when
| could not defend myself or cor
rect his heated and untrue state
ment.
AS party of gentlemen, DR..
Darlington, Rev. John w. Shack
ford, Mr.. Mckee, and myself, were
talking in the lobby of the House
when Mr.. Myers came up, we stop
ped him and asked him to support
the Kenyon anti-vice bill. He talked
continually and in an excited man
ncr, ard said he was in favor of Ii
censing lewd houses and thus giving
them the protection of the law and
of the decent people.
He then made a statement about
ore of the advocates of the bill, re-
flectinc seriously upon his moral
character. | asked him if he could
prove the statement. and he said he !
could not.
then suggested to MIN that if he
could not prove such derogatory
statement he should not make it. |
Mr.. Myers then became very much
excited and dccia, ed he was against
the bill which seeks to Danish the
red light district, again declaring
that he was in favor of licensing
houses of ill.fame. l asked him that
if he were called upon to furnish an
inmate would he still be III favor OF
them He replied mo" | then SAID
that he should protect the poor and
unfortunate VINO do have sorrow be-
cause of them. He continued to
talk violently and to reiterate that
some of the so-called reformers were
rot sincere. ! told him that as ne
seemed to oppose every moral
measure that came up in the House,
standing for the saloons and advoca-
ting the licensing of houses OF pros
titution, that his constituents would
desire him not to represent them
again, and that it would hurt him
also in his business. I had no idea
of changing Mr. Myers by argument
to which he would rot listen, land
| did not for a 'nioinent desire'' to
intimidate him. but to tell him the
simple facts in the case: a." 1'F'E
l only wanted the House rot to
pass judgment upon evidence Of Mr.
Myers heated tirade, without at
least hearing me.
(Signed). rs. .c.
w. AsBURY CHRISTIAN
One member, of the Legislature ma:
heard from home since the enabling
act was passed. The letter is froQ
constituent who has already pas