The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-05
Anti-saloon League Gathering
at Virginia Beach Hears ok
Advance of Great Work
UNPATRIOTIC ATTITUDE
OF BREWERS EXPOSED
BY DRY LEADERS
Drink Interests Would Have
Held Up Food Bill All Sum.
mer, So President Turned
to Temperance Men for Aid

Virginia Beach. Va. July The
President know that he could not ~.
peal TO the patriotism OF the liquor
crowd in Congress because they had
none. He knew that they would let
their egiance to beer stand above
everything else. and that they would
make good the threats they had mAds
to Senator Martin. the Democratic
leader of the Senate. that they would
tie ND the Food Bill all summer and
defeat II II necessary to save beer. So
the President naturally turned to the
Drys for cooperation" said DR..
James Cannon, Jr.. in an address this
afternoon TO the Virginia Anti-sa-
loon League Convention.
Great Enthusiasm Aroused.
DR.. Edwin l. Stems spoke at the
afternoon session on some Of the ma
tional aspect sof the liquor problem.
AT night the principal speaker was
Judge John wallace. OF Arkansas. one
OF the most conspicuous men In the
dry movement OF that state.
DR.. Pitt, president of the Virginia
league. presided today and will make
an address tomorrow. The legtsla-
tive committee OF the state league ap-
pointed a subcommittee to dram
recommendations as to future lsgiaiA3
ton in virginia which also will re-
port tomorrow.
DR. Cannon reused the convention
to repeated outbursts OF applause ~
he told OF the work done by the
legislative committee of the Anti
Saloon League OF America, Of which
he Is chairman. He told OF the sev.
eral- dry balls passed by congress- IN
the last year and told how the vets
fought every proposed plan for bet
tering the condition OF the men who
are to fight the country's battles in
Europe OF the present situation. he
spoke at length. Prior to the food
bill crisis he had spent two weeks II
Southern states cosferring with dry
leaders ana publishing series or d1u-
play advertisements in daily papera
in order to keep the people inform.
ed of the record OF their senator's
This had resulted in an expression
Of views from the folks back hons.
which greatly strengthened the posi-
zion OF the league.
After the house by by the skill ana
persistence OF dry leaders had over
vets and had adopted the beer amends
ment to the food bill, the vets be-
came so bold in their threats that
Senator Martin went to the president
for conference He told the president
that any appeal 10 the vets on pa
triotic grounds would be futile.
The president then sent for Us 70.
confer said DIR. Cannon. but W
respectfully asked him TO put In WRIT
ing what he wished to say, as tins
matter was Of so great importance 10
the country. and to our. constituencT
that we FELT We should not be put n
the position of quoting him on verbal
statements The president wrote the
letter which has been published in
The Richmond Virginian and we res
piled that we would not stand IN the
way OF the passage OF the food blu.
Neither Of those letters. 90 far a. Z
know, has been printed In any vet
paper in Virginia or in any wet paper
OF the North.
They do not dare print them while
they continue to denounce us An
traitors and quote the president N
fayoring beer and wine. The prA1fe
Diet took no such stand. Nothing ~
his letter can be construed to moan
anything of the kind.
l. T.
ture of the national prohibition pro.
gram which filled the three sesatone
Of the national holiday. At the open
ing session Wayne B. Wheeler, na-
tional attorney OF the Anti-Salo0n
league and member Of the leEislAttxo
committee. spoke on the theme. FhA
Liquor Filibuster a Boomerang" Ae
praised the skill and hnesse displAyea
by DR.. Cannon in handling the hQu0r
crisis
The wetness of tho World.
Mr. Wheeler called attention to -
editorial which recently appeared ~
the New York World denouncing south
ern Democrats for the progrsss ~
temperance legislation. especially ~
connection with the food bill The
editorial said that the Democrats ~
the North and the Democrats Of -
South are at the parting OF the wey4
once more. their differences are iyge&
concilable because Domacrscy At tAM
South seems to be only = name ~ ~
which refuses to stand unitsdly -
local self government and psrsopal NJ
erty 10 doomed. 81
Mr.. wheeler suggested that tAeoe
his hearers. most Of whom are 0@
Gratis. ask the New York word w1yx
help New York gavs the Denoee946
party In the last elAcfinn and the Ss
slider the number OF prohibjtioA ne4<
which voted for the DemoeFatt& y
tiVnal Ticket. He considereA t114
DameerAts have eauee foe -
congratulated oa thie noQe4
xeek ~ - ri&At q
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