Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-08

This Action Urged on Congress by
Board Of Directors OF Anti
Salon League.
COMslENDs PRESIDENT wILsON
Resolution Favoring Legislation to
Prevent Use Of Mails for Adyer-
tising Liquors In Dry Territory Is
Passed-Address by f. o, Blue.

ATLANTIC CITY. n. j.. July THE
national board OF directors of the
Anti-Saloon League OF America, at an
executive session to-day, adopted reso-
lutions urging Congress to submit to
the States national prohibition
anne ndment. Another resolution passed
urges legislation that will prevent use
or the mails for advertising intoxicat-
ing liquors in dry territory
The board CONNER tled President Will
son FOR refusing to rcnounce, despite
strong pressure a letter he is said to
have written while Governor Of New
Jersey. to citizen Of Texas declaring
state prohibition Is proper where pub
lie sentiment is ripe for It,
West Virginia has been so success
ful In the enforcement Of it's drastic
prohibitory liquor Law, which went into
effect just year ago that the State
Is permanently committed to its new
policy, and not in the slightest danger
or giving way TO the anti-prohibition
pressure which has been brought to
bear upon II, according to- Fred O..
Blue. the Commissioner OF Prohibl
| ton in West Virginia In an address
| before the convention of the Anti
| Saloon League here to-day Mr.. Blue
said West Virginia had demonstrated
that prohibition will prohibit-that a
prohibition law can be enforced. and
quoted testimony from both the en-
ployers Of labor and the heads of la Dor
unions to the effect that conditions had
been remarkably improved.
He charged that the liquor interests
were spending large sums Of money
to create the impression that West
Virginia was bankrupt because she no
longer collected revenue from the
liquor business.
West Virginia is not now. and has
hon NJ
Blue. The state is in as healthy a
financial condition as any State in
the Union"
Referring TO the recent decision Of
the Supreme Court of the United
states. the effect of which is that West
Virginia shall pay to the bondh olders
OF the State Of Virginia the sum OF
Sl2 900. o0o-which debt has been a mat
ter Of controversy since the separa
ton of West Virginia from Virginia
Mr.. Blue said:
IF we have to pay Virginia's bond
holders this sum OF money. We can do
so-the State of West Virginia has the
resources TO do 1t. and a citizenship
that has met and solved her problems
as they arose-we only have TO pay the
debt once. On the other hand, before
West Virginia became a dry State there
was annually sent out of the State for
intoxicating liquors the sum Of s15.-
o0o. 000-$3. 100000 more. every year
than the amount OF the adjudication in
favor OF Virginia's bondholders. Such
financial drain for intoxicating liquors
upon the people Of the State. went on
for years, and would be going on now
were 1t not for the prohibition amend
ment and laws pursuant thereto.
Already the liquor interests In the
nation are publishing broadcast-na-
tion- wide-that West Virginia will be
sold at the front door OF the nations
capital to pay a decree Of $4,000. O00'
want you to know that the great
liquor interests of the nation are &C
lively trying TO hold out-and wilfully
and falsely hold out-West Virginia to
the world as financially troubled
State-a bankrupt State-a State that
is about TO be sold out The liquor
interests, through their journals and
otherwise, arc mtsusinS West Nirginias
fair name. and misleading the citizens
others. OF trying to lead the States
citizens to believe that they must go
to intoxicating liquors for revenue, and
TO deter other States from becoming
prohibition States.
Men. not money, are the real assets
Of state. The happiness and the gen
cral welfare of its citizens are the
first obligation OF a State. The gen
GRAFTON growing up in West Virginia.
It's future men and women, will grow
into the full stature OF manhood and
womanhood without knowing the open
saloon. having healthy bodies, clear
minds and clean morals, will be worth
more to the State than all the material
wealth. Compare, If you can make
such comparison. the s650,oo0 Of annual
revenue formerly received by the State
from the liquor business with a gener-
alton OF boys and girls. men and women,
that knows not the saloon"