The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-20

common. for them to open the exer-
cises by broaching a keg OF beer
which had been provided, Of course.
by some luckless aspirant for ONCE.
Steady Growth of Sentiment.
or course, during all the period
there was a steady growth In the
sentiment of our people on this sub
Ject. When the local option privilege
was granted 1t began right specify
to be exercised, and as the senti-
ment against the saloon grew. the
area from which 1t was banished In
the State grew also.
AS always happens among earnest
and serious minded people engaged In
seeking moral reform. differences or
view were continually arising. There
were extreme men and moderate men.
reckless men and timid men. Pretty
much every type could be found among
the leaders of this great reform. Some
favored legislation which would root
the whole business up from start TO
finish, seemingly unaware that they
were at that juncture attempting the
Impossible. Others favored restrictive
laws that could be enforced. They en-
deavored to keep just step ahead OF
the public sentiment among their con-
stltusnts but. not far enough ahead
to be out OF hailing distance. Yet
others attempted some sort Of discrim
nation among the various forms OF the
business. discountenancing and con-
demning some but inclining to favor,
or at least to ALLOW others.
Antf-saloen League Born.
OF course the problem was TO find
some common ground on which all
these could be united and out OF this
necessity was born the Anti-Saloon
7 tat vi N va "
slightest sincere interest In the tenn
perance reform could favor the sa
loon. In fact IT can be said without
a trace OF fanattcism, In entire calm
ness ana elaboration, that no defense
can be made of the saloon. 1t 10 al
ways and everywhere ruinous and de-
structive both of morxfs and OF prop
erty. 1t has been a sinister and deadly
influence in our political life. 1t has
obstructsd all good measures. Its in
terest In public life has been uniformly
and shamelessly selfish and it's infiu-
enoe on the community has been al.
ways deadly and destructive. These
facts were so plain and so palpable
that very soon under the new organi-
cation all the various types OF tenn
perance reformers began to enlist.
Gentlemen. we ought not to forget
the early beginnings OF the Anti-Sa-
loon League in Virginia. We ought
not to forget that when 1t nrst came
to the State there were many of US
who put a large Interrogation point
after tho name and the organization
In this day OF our righteous triumph
we ought not to forget DR.. Crawford
do not kHe whether he La -eYen lily.
ing or not. He came to Virginia q
stranger to our people and to theii
ways. remember his FIRST visit &c
me in which he gave an outline of the
purpose which no and the organixa
ton which he was introducing has II
mind. l cannot forget and you mus
not forget that he suffered much. Per
haps some of the younger men do mo-
know that an irate Judge in this State
whose course in certain cases tina
came before him had been unfavorabl,
commented on by DR.. Crawford. The
judge. a young and strong and vigorous
man and DR.. Crawford. an aged minis
ter, horsewhipped the old preacher
| on the court green. You. perhaps. o.
at any rate some OF the younger among
you may not recall that under wri
of the court, he was dragged across
that State to answer for contemp