The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-16
GREETINGS 70 THE sNTi-sALooN
LEAGUE.

lJE4N1&It
me II ,, s,oa, in behalf Of t5e state extends
srectines 10 the Autl.salooa League OF virginia.
~hose sessions open in Norfolk tonight. Few
organizations Of men ana women have ever had
-rratcr cause for rejoicing Tor many years for
the freedom Of Virginia froru the curse OF the
itqur tra.fc. Nov standing a; tae opening Of
TIE period In which Virginia Is % make effective
sae laws that have been assured by the work OF
re Arti.salooa Leacae nor than by that Of
any other organization. vac IRE 70 see the frui-
tion in effective measure ~ the principles which
The league has advocated and the people OF Vir-
s.uia have adopted, By an overwhelming ma
sority, for t6e}r own
Within the memory Of almost every citizen
Of Virginia the Anti-Sa]oon League WAS not in
existence tn this state Since 1900 its organlaa-
uou has been formed its principles laid down,
its fight made, and its victory won. Can any
Other organization of Virgnans point 10 a more
successful record or one that has meant more
TOR the welfare. the prosperity. the enduring
happness OF the Stat and the citizens OF the
State We would not for moment minimize
the value Of the temperance work done SO
many years by unorganized individual effort
and through the agencies of women's work
which had operated previous 10 the organization
o. the Anti-Saloon League. 1t would be irnpos-
bthle 10 minimize that work for its memory is
Embedded in the hearts OF all Virginia the
labor that kept alive tie spark Of protest against
the evils OF strong drink until such time the
state rose in its might and drove out the liquor
business But II was the AntiSaloon League,
organized in Richmond soon after the opening
us the twentieth century, that pushed TO rapid
4 specialization the work that had been begun
n was through this agency that the Mann laws
the Byrd laws and the various enabling acts
were presented 20 the Legislature and pushed
to passage. II was this organization that Sc
cured from .he Legislature of Virginia In 1914
the act that made possible statewide prohibi,
lion campaign. and 1t was this organization
which. under brilliant leadership and devoted
following. carried Virginia dry in September
1914 II is this organization 10 which the people
OF Virginia must look 10 make effective their
Eili in laws and law enforcement
II is true that the laws will be passed by the
Legislature OF Virginia; that they will be en-
forced by the officials elected by Virginia, but
the people Of Virginia realize that unless they
themselves. rslying 20 the standard Of the or.
sanization that has led them 10 successful
achievement Ia the past. demand in concrete
form the legislation and the enforcement meas
ures they desire their WILL as expressed last
September will be only negli5ly enforced We
eau on the people Of Virginia who believe in the
enforcement OF the laws OF the State and in the
passage OF effective measures to make known
their desires and their views. and when those
views and desires have been put into the shape
cf prospective bills and laws, that they entrust
% the Antisaloon League the work OF presenting
those bills and support It in its work Then II
the will CT TIE people is defeated the RESPONSE
biiity will rest whore II should rest upon the
representative and the officers who refuse 70
gfre the people what they ASK for through their
accredited agents
To the rnen and women Of the Anti-saloon
League, greeting. may every glance Of good
fortune LOOK in your direction and every fire Of
conseoratlou kindIed In the name OF righteous.
less burn upon your affairs, grateful state
thanks you for YOUR labors in her behalf and
urges that yon press forward TO the enforcement
Of the laws Virginia has determined 10 have.