The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-07
Superintendent F. A. Baker of
National Anti-Saloon League.
Submits Report
THRILLING STORY OF
TEMPERANCE PRO RESS
He Tells Again Story 81
Notable Showing Mady By
Prohibition Amendment Ia
Congress

i tj
Atlantic City. N. j., July s.--Supers
intendent r. A. Baker. of the ANTI
Saloon League of America, today SUBJ
mitted his annual report TO the six-
teenth annual convention. which cons
vened at the Million Dollar Pier hers
today. 1t. is as follows:
III Text OF Report.
We are fighting the Germans, the
Austrians and drink; and the deadliest
of these Is drink" This statement by
Lloyd George matches the statement
rayages of drink that Ii was worse
than war pestilence and famine
combined" 1t is monstrous mildew
upon civilization, and the marvel OK
the century is that civilization has 30
long tolerated it. At last an awaken-
ed church, which Is always followed
by an aroused public conscience, II
driving it from the association 7f
everything that Is decent and moral.
for the continuation Of Its vicious life
has been answered a thousand times
by the crimes ii has committed. An
institution that Ia so vile and hurtfni
that war itself becomes its relentless
foe. deserves no consideration at the
hands of a civilized people. IL Russia
can abolish ave hundred million doI-
while engaged in the most expensive
war In history and yet declare the
surprising prosperity OF her people.
lii would seem that the United States,
which claims to be civilized and
Christian. can safely abolish less than
half that amount in time Of peace.
The past eighteen months has
broken the record for prohibition
progress. not only in the United
States. but Throughout the world. In
this country hundreds of towns, towns
ships and counties have abolished the
saloon. and nine entire States have
joined an equal number in the past
ten months in the march toward q
saioonless nation. Two more. South
their leashes with hope and goodly
prospect of reaching the new emanci-
patton before the snow flies.
Or all the great nations struggling
to free themselves from the srip OF
this traffic, England is the most hope-
ltss. The few advocates of temper
ance reform are. in England. without
science of English womanhood. 4
license in that country possesses =
property right and cannot be aholish-
ed, but must be purchased. In this
country we have had the backing Of
the church and the conscience OF our
womanhood, and the question has not
fallen to the low level of simply be-
ing considered from a commercial
standpoint. With us fundamentally Il
is q moral issue, other aspects ara in-
cidental. and this is the secret Of orr
successful warfare. We must keep e
SO until the war Is over.
| Question Of National Import
Not few of our political friends
who are seeking Offices or desire e
retain those they already have. with
much anxiety tell us that this quene
ton must not become ef1tanEIed ~
the next presidential campaign. Their
treason Is that IL this question once
gets into the campaign It will absorb
everything and nothing else Will re-
ceive consideration. This is but coAe
Tossing that this issue IL paramouMk
In the thought OF the people. Thsns
why not first things frst7 Why not
one has been waiting good while for
La clear field. and the fieid does not
clear. as no one ever expected Il
would. 1t Is the business Of = cor
tain class to keep II from clearing
The prohibition question 10 one thai
cannot longer be kept on the wattn9
list. II II must. enter the political
mansion house unbidden. 1t cannot b
held responsible for upsetting kh~
fnrniture and disarranging the Pc
litical bric-a-brac. The way, how
ever. to keep this question from be-
ing an issue, and the all-ahs0rbinK i1Sss
sue In the next congressional cANte
paign II for the political leaders "a
all parties to get busy and - ~ te
the next Congress before the potfttcnH
conventions are called This n ~
easy, practical method ~ keepinG Il
out OF party conventions and ~