The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-26

II would be improbable TO take up
the cities one by one and would make
this letter too long for the purpose
for which II Is desired. but Peters
burg. always regarded as a eonserva-
tive city, may be taken AZ a fair rep
rnsenfAss@e OF the other cities and large
towns OF the state.
1t is little strynge TO many Of us.
familiar with the place for many
anoe OF all indications OF the whiskey
business. It has Just dropped out OF
sight and left In its place things pure,
wholesome and OF good report.
The great Improvement In conditions
from every viewpoint, has had It's eff
feet upon the strongest and most In
fiuentiai advocates of the liquor busi-
ness, who. almost TO a man, so far as
! ara informed. express their apprecia-
ton OF the great Improvement and
would vote for prohibition.
The city liz now quiet and orderly.
there are Few disturbances and ar
rests, and the life OF the police ON
GERS has become less strenuous and.
I might say, positively pleasant,
1t is known. of course. that some
three or four months ago the govern
rnent determined to locate the larg-
~--t ~ us environments aboQl tWo anu
one half miles e1st OF Petersburg, and
Svcfk AT once commenced on build
irgs required to accommodate Nifty
. five thousand soldiers
Many thousands of mechanics and
lahorers from all sections OF Virginia.
and from other states. leaving their
families at home, fiocked TO the can
torment for the wages II promised,
anc after a while soldiers commenced
70 come fr, not trained soldiers, but
Young men fresh from their homes. to
be trained into the responsibilities and
the obedience of q soldiers life, until
/ now there are some twenty-stx thou
sand young men in camp. Our streets.
/ on Wednesday and Saturday. are full
I OF soldiers. try to keep in touch with
! what is going on. and have only heard
/ of one fight I'm camp between two of
| the men engaged IN building the
houses, have not heard Of single dis
iturbancs caused ny the soldiers, and
can truthfuIly say that II I did not
see the soldiers on the streets or hear
of their being in Camp Lee. I would
/ not know they were in fifty miles OF
the city It Is true. rejoice to say,
that the young men at Camp Lee seem
! to be unusually Intelligent and gen.
tlemanly. and 50 perfect has been their
I behavior tNAt the people OF the Clty
/ feel that they are their boys. Their
homes, mine amongst the others. are
! open to them. and they are received
as welcomed and honored guests. But
| / frequently hear people in the city
/ and officers from the camp, thank God
| for prohibition. and some of them
wonder what would be the effect or
ardent spirits upon the behavior and
character. OF this splendid body of men,
/ for whose healths and welfare the
/ government and people are striving
what would happen il the old-fashton-
ed saloons were In full swing In our
/, midst?
Everywhere IN street, city and coun-
| try the absence OF ardent spirits put
| ting new vigor and efficiency into the
minds and hands OF the people. Drunk
enress has entirely disappeared, crime
| has iessened. prosperity and morality
| march hand IN hand to the tune OF
prohibition.
/ Much of what has been written Is
duo to the efficient execution OF the
! law by our commissioner OF prohibit
1 ton, bit the peopie made the law for
/ him 10 execute. and the evils II has
nurAd and the good Il has done vii