The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-12

While the foregoing facts and figures
in no manner measure the moral ef-
feet of the prohibition law upon our
community. they show. l believe, TO
demonstration. that the law lis operat-
ing nightly for good. even under con
dItIons very unfavoraole to ITS aatls-
factory enforcement
For simultaneously and IN a short
time, we have a considerable dtminu-
ton in crime and a very large increase
In population.
Men. regardless of whether they
voted for or against prohibition, now
say that conditions for the past few
months, since the ctty's ropul* ion has
about doubled. would have been UNI
bearable with the saloon: and VITA
equal unanimity, they comment on the
remarkably good ufder on our CON
stantly crowded streets
The millennium has not been ushered
in by the operation of the prohibition
law. and the devil Is stil much alive
down here, but We have better city
in every way, than we would have
with the saloons that We're here.
though admittedly they were Well regu-#
lated and conducted.
Yours very truly.
T. j. RARHAN.
Corporation Judge.
Rev. James Cannon. Jr..
f9LaCkstoHrf r.
Blackstone. Va. Oct -, 1917.
DR.. James Cannon, Jr,
Blackstone, Va,
My Dear Sir:
Absence from my Office and tbs sick
ness OF my secretary have delayed my
reply to your recent letters forwarded
to me requesting my opinion as to the
effect of the prohibition law in Nir-
ginia-
Public duties have kept me con,inu-
ously at Washington during the past
year, and since the law became @nec-
tive have had no opportunity for cb-
serving It's practical working winch
would entitle me to express an opinion
based on personal knowledge. IT.
formation coming to me from others.
however has heen-to- thr erect that
the state law had proven generally
satisfactory in its results; and that
there was no considerable desire any
where for the restoration of the sa-
loon In Virginia. In fact the only
dissatisfaction of consequence ] have
.,eard expressed has related to the
bone dry provision of the federal
statute which went beyond the restric-
tions of our state law. and which i
believe has produced some oisanec-
ton among those otherwise earnestly
and sincerely In favor of generaa tenn
perance legislation.
Very truly yours.
WALTER A. WATSON.
Congressman.
DR.. James. Cannon, Jr.
Norfolk Va. Oct "a, 1917.
DR. James Cannon, Jr..
Supt. Anti Saloon League of Va.
Richmond, Va.
Dear Sir:
Having been continuously in court is
my excuse for not answer ing your raw
or of the 4th instant. You have ask
ed me, what effect l think prohibition
has had upon the material and moral
welfare OF the state. The material eff
feet has been, that men who. before
the law was passed did not pay their
debts, nor support their families, are
now doing both---they are spending
their money for food and raiment for
their families and themselves; market
baskets I never saw filled before, or
whose principal contents were bottles
OF whiskey, are now Allied with food
the result I > the mercha 1t is to make.
not only go ID business. but better busi-
ness: the negro labor in my neighnor-
hood, now works full time and does
more efficient work: In fact, it would
be hard for me to enuTuerate the many
things showbiR the material benefits
Of the law. ~ g moral benefits. large
" follow the material, The open sa,
loon, with its indiscriminnte treating.
the rattsketier. in which men and wo-
men were drinking, and witnessing
dancing that could not conduce TO good
morals, have both disappeared: It Is
rare that you see drunken man, and
our 1ails. certainly in my own judicial
circuit, IRE practically empty. I have.
in the past year, had the opportunity
to observe the working of the prohibi-
ton law in other circuits than my own,
anG. In these too, ths results have been
excellent. both materially and moral
ly. Tho law should be amended 90 A.
70 meet tho sales Of bay rum essences.