The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-13
PETERSBURG MINISTERS
URGE. EARNEST PROTEST
Shocking Number of DRINKS and Pub
hc Denency Ia Generally
Outraged.
an EMERGENCY HAS ARISE!
Great Influx OF Foreigners Threatens
to suhme~ge City Is Creating a
Condition Now Become Intolerable.

regular meeting of the Common Coun-
Gil. which, on account OF the death
of the late w. r. Nckenney, was
postponed ON the 4th instant, held last
evening. q communication signed by
all the Protestant ministers of the
city, drawn by them in October and
presented at that time to the clerk of
the Council was laid On the table
Tho communication Is with refer
ence to conditions existing in the city
as seen by the ministers and private
citizens and reads as follows.
Petersburg. Va.
October u. 1915.
To the Honorable Members of the
City Council and Board Of Alder
men:
Dear Ere---In view OF the very man
tfast darnoraliz.ng ndencies through
out cur city, incident to the presence
among us OF an increasing number OF
newcomers, sone OF whom have moral
and religious convictions by no means
up to the standard. indeed, In many
instances, apparently are without any
moral and religious convictions at all
as indicated in the drunken brawls
and rowdyisnn. not TO mention hold
ups and known murders. and particu-
larly in view OF the fact go much OF
this unseemly and sinful conduct
not to use stronger words-is directly
traceable to the use OF liquor, proven
beyond the shadow OF a doubt by the
actual records OF the Police Court
givtns US last month the worst report
OF crime in the history OF the
trates etc.
Petersburg, record our convictions
that in the interest of the fair name
OF the city and the public morals OF
our people, and as manifesto to
all newcomers that high ideals OF
public character and citizenship are
as essential to our good as to theirs:
That the one timely ordinance
needed for this crisis s an ordinance
requiring the saloons Of PETERSBURG
to close at an earlier hour, and pro-
htoittng the sale and dispensing OF
liquor In any place whatsoever after
| said hour OF closing.
This we believe will make !n7pos
stble the now shocking number of
DRINKS on the city streets and IT will
| make IL easier for the restricted mum
ber OF policemen we have to care for
the life and property and general in
.terests OF the citizens. and in some
wise to maintain the respect of the
honored name of Petersburg In the
eyes Of the world
Especially would such a prohibitory
ordnance be in place on Saturday
nights when SO many decent people
are shocked at the unsightiy evidences
OF drink everywhere; and We are very
decided In our opinion that no !nci-
dental temporary benefits to anyone
can compensate for these feaful de-
baucheries
IL Is an emergency that has arisen
with the unlooked-for influx of people
and requires action that no present
ordinance could have forseen in the
interests of the law-abiding and very
needful substantial citizens of Peters
burg.
We believe that the recording of
our duly weighed convictions thus will
be appreciated and responded to by
the honored directors of the affairs
of the city without anything furthers
but II II were necessary we believe
we could bring an array of sentiment
from all over the city OF the very choic-
est character. We respectfully ask
the City Council to consider closing
the saloons at 7 o'clock P. NJ
We further make an appeal for tho
absolute enforcement OF the Virginia
statute, we'll known to you. with ref
erence 10 Sunday closing. We are toe
Aa-A WiLu our S1oDaLn observance, ana
We appeal for an enforcement that will
let down the gaps nowhere, as con-
tenn plated by the latter and spirit of
that State law. Ordinary buying and
selling and unnecessary working on
the Lords Day, whatever the nation
atty or character of the business. is
not conducive to the best interests of
any people. and responsibility rests
upon every citizen TO be public GUS
tod!an OF moral good, and God will
require an answer for this RESPONSE
bility
W eask for nothing drastic, but for
attention 70 what the wisdom and con-
secration OF our fathers put on record
in that Virginia law which so entire
iy accords with out opinion touching
these things.
We are also constrained to call your
attention to what we believe TO be a
very defective principle In dealing with
prisoners upon whose person liquor is
found, namely, giving back to them
after payment Of their hne or release
from prison the very whiskey that
made IL necessary to bring them to the
bar OF justice. It Is our conviction that
it ought to be conhscated and de-
stroye6