Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-10
CANNON MAKES
A STATEMENT
Denies Reports in Circula-
tion as to Purpose of
League
NOT BACKING PETERS
NOT BACKING PETERS
Agreed to Exact Words of Constitu-
ton so There Would be no En-
croachment Upon Stuart.

James Cannon, Jr., superintendent
of the Anti-Saloon League of Viz
ginia, has issued statement in which
he denies certain allegations now be-
ing made concerning the organiza-
tion's purposes in the work of pro-
hibition in Virginia. Among other
things he says:
Numerous incorrect reports have
been circulated in the newspapers and
by individuals concerning the Anti
! Saloon League work and workers
since the meeting of the General As
scmbly. 1t is not possible to attempt
to correct all of these reports, but as
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League of Virginia. ! think it proper
| to make statement concerning
| four of these reports:
1t has been stated that if the Pro-
hibition bill passed by both branches
of the Legislature with the amend
ments proposed, Governor Stuart will
not veto it, according to an agree
ment said to have been reached De-
tween the chief executive and the An
ti-Saloon league leaders"
This statement is Incorrect. As
superintendent of the League. the
undersigned may properly consider
himself to be. one Of the leaders. He
! has never made any agreement wltn
Governor Stuart on this matter.
either in writing or in person. He
stated publicly and positively ut the
hearing before the Committee on We'd
ncsday, February I'd. that there was
no desire or intention on the part OF
the trainers of the Mapp bill to en-
croach upon the prcrOgativcs of the
Governor, and that the trainers OF
the bill did not think that the origi-
nal bill did encroach upon the Gov
! ernor's powers, but that as some per-
sons thought the bill was not suffi-
ciently explicit the trainers Of the bill!
had no objection to writing into it
the exact wording Of the Constitution
so that nobody could possibly object
to the bill on that score. The state
ment that the amendments to the bill
represented change of policy ON
the part of the Anti-Saloon League is
absolutely incorrect, and it was ccr-
tainly not in accordance with any
agreement with Governor Stuart that
if said change should be made, he
would not veto the bill.
It has been stated in the secular
press that the State will be put to
great expense by the establishment
of the office of Commissioner of
Moral Welfare, that there would be
a special deputy for each county, and
that the cost of such Department
would be 100000
These statements are incorrect and
misleading. as could have heen dis
covered by making inquiry. Our neigh
boring State of West Virginia gives
the work of the enforcement of tht
Prohibition laws to a special Com
missioner. This Commissioner writes
under date of February 7th, that he
"employs one chief deputy, four ficlt
deputies part of the time, two or three
secret service men and two attorneys
and that the appropriation by thc
State for the expenses of the depart
ment is $4,000 annually. All the
fines imposed for law violation go in
to the State treasury for educationa
e purposes.
There is no foundation for tn
q statement that there would he spe
q dial deputy or inspector for eacI
!, county. or that the cost of the depart
ment would be; 100000. The fore
: under the direction of the Commits
sioner would not average over doz
n en- men. some of whom would be de
@ tectives and deputies, for only par
n of their time. Moreover, the prov
u sion in the Mapp Prohibition bill cal
o ing for the stamping of affidavits wi
o provide very large. part of the eS
panses of the department, and. tn
fines, collected and turned into tn
: State treasury, will doubtless oTe,
balance the expense Of the department