The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-16
ColoradoinLine
For p ohibition
Saloon Forces Making Canvass TO Reach Every Voter
Before November. While Many Denver Citizens Decide
License Does Not Mean Prosperity

no license territory, with the exception
Of one or two small places where the
liquor business has ceneered.
When the Statewide campaign
aeainst the saloon was waged Ia the
summer and fail Of 1912 a difference
OF opinion existed among the tenn
Pernnee and the church forces az TO
the ACCESSIBILITY of such a movement.
and as result there was not the
united action that otherwise might
have been expected The financing of
the campaign WAS considered made
quate and in only a few counties
was any KIND Of organization perfect
ed Yet $4,000 votes We're poiled at
that time for prohibition.
Mich Money Encountered.
On the other hand. the supporters
Of the saloon are said 10 have ex-
pended something like $3o0.o 600 In
that ampaign, and they poled vote
Of 10000, defeating the prohibition
by approximately 40. 900 majority, this
being heralded all over the country
as a great victory for the liquor forces
A careful analysis Of the vote cast
at that election, however, indicates
! that 5000 persons voted for gov
ernor. while they did not express
themselves at ali on the question Of
Statewide prohibition 1t is conceded
that large number, perhaps a ma
jority of these people. now may be
regarded as supporters Of the tenn
perance cause.
la view of these facts. the women
Of the w. C.. r. L. took the Initiative
In March. 1913, through their State
executive committee. after making
poll Of the unions of the State, voted
To go into another campaign IN 1874,
provided the Anti-Saloon league would
unite with them In the fight.
This matter was presented to A. J.
Finch State superintende of the
Colorado AntiSaloon league, and he
in turn presented II 10 the State board
with the recommendation that they
sgree 10 enter upon such contest,
provided the movement should be en-
dorsed by the evangelical church de-
nominations in their State meetings
in the summer and fall of 1913.
The board adopted tine superinten-
dents recommendation unanimously.
and joint letter signed by the super
intendent of the Anti Saloon league
and the State president of the w. 9.
I, L. was sent TO the various state
meetings of the evangelical bodies.
who unanimously and enthusiasts
caliy endorsed the movement and d.
rected that the united temperance
the campaign.
Old Argument Disevreditcd.
For many years the business inter-
ests have been urged TO support the
saloon on the ground that liquor SELL
ing promoted business and was neo-
essary to Keep Denver and Colorado
on the map" In the campaign OF
1919 the saloon interests declared to
the citizens Of Denver and tho State
that II they would only keep the sa-
looms business conditions were bound
TO prosper. But In spite OF abundant
crops, sold at high prices. Denver bus
mess men have fund they HAD din
cult social and economic conditions
IN meet. and many Of them have come
to the conclusion that the $S,o00.000
or SO which Is said 10 go annually
to the saloons. has a strong bearing
on this situation.
The conditions that prevail In tho
sister State OF Kansas. to the south
east, under prohibition. have been OBJ,
served with interest as furnishing q
strong argument for tho ousting OF
the saloon from Colorado. Cioss OBJ
servers OF Developments express the
belief that a prohibition victory in Coll
orado next fall would be quite within
the range Of possibilities