The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-10

generation. He termed alcohol a ra.
'cial poison. For its malfgpancy, he
said. alcohol Is the most damaging OF
all racial diseases and is comparable
to veneral disease.
Hope of and inspiration for eradi-
] eating the menace in Europe. he said,
lis to be found in America.
Bryan Resumes.
Following DR.. Saleeby's talk, Mr..
Bryan resumed. The Anti Saloon
League. he said, Is not the oldest or
gani2ation of Its kind in America, but
1t has done more to mobilize the forces
of temperance than any other
:, He considered the following essen
, Itial fundamentals in carrying the work
OF the league to final victory. Holding
the ground already gained: helping to
enact and enforcing anti-liauor legis-
lation and carrying prohibition to the
most remote parts OF the world--re-
claiming the world from menace that
has debauched society and corrupted
politics.
He expected Milwaukee and st.
Louis and the home of Anneuser-
Busch to complain, TO find unpalatable
anti-liquor legislation. They know no
law. he said. Nor was he surprised
when the %hiskey lawyers became ac-
tive. As long as the money of the
vets holds out there will he found
wet lawyers, he said. The Anti-Saloon
League. too, has its lawyers. and a BILE
ones, he added men who have sue
cessful,y met every attack Of the OPP
ponents of Inhibition. They proved
that the Webb Canyon law was CON
stitutlonal and that the saloon is not
constitutional. This country, he said.
having achieved victory. now turns its
70.
ING Europe
Mr.. Bryan introduced DR. Howard
Fl. Russell, founder of the Anti Saloon
League. and one of the presidents of
the World League Against Alcoholism.
DR.. Russell said that the league ha
been successful In its c>Iarter of a
century of existence because il has
had a financial system which has been
efficient. He expects TO have,two mil
hon names enrolled with the new
world league by the end of the year
The league, he said. will keep its mem
bers instructed as to how TO vote for
officers who will enforce the prohibi-
ton laws, and viii bring TO bear such
pressure upon congress as will produce
enactment of anti-lquor and enforce
ment laws with teeth in them"
Bryan Concludes.
Following DR.. Russells talk, Mr.
Bryan resumed and concluded his dis
course. My purpose" he said, is not
SO much to encourage those who ap-
prove prohibition laws and their en-
forcement as to discourage their OPP
ponents The cause of the drys. he
declared with emphasis. is not going
TO turn back, the expressed opinions
and views who say it will to the con-
trary, Notwithstanding.
| The first cause that contributed to
! the success of the prohibition move
ment. he said. was the conscience Of
the nation. AS It has awakened the
cause has grown. He paid n glowing
tribute to the W. c. T. t., which he
. declared Is the greatest woman's or
, ganiZation in the world, although il is
less than fifty years old. It has a mem
bership, he said. of more than half a
. njllion Of the leading women OF the
country .-,
Seventy-five and q hundred years
ago. he said, the churches were not
iactive in the fight against alcohol, and
a good many were only pasSively ac-
tive fifty years age. He told OF a group
of Congregational clergymen who
fifty years ago, got together to discuss
the liquor question. Adjournment was
taken following the morning session
and the clergymen drank so much that
it was found impracucable to hold an
afternoon meeting
a The first resolution anent the liquor
? question passed by the Methodists, ] 90
, years ago, he said. was to the effect
! that Methodist preachers should not
!, be peeuniarily interested In The iiaaof
:. trafhc. The Preshyterians, who. he
said, have been "a tower OF strength &c
+ the cause of prohibition, passed their
n first resolution having to do with this
= whiskey problem almost as many years
ago, and it was to the effect that Pres
r byterian preachers ought not to gel
:. drunk in public. The progress of the
n churches he said, show just how faI
q we have gotten"
= Aid of Science.
: Scientists" he said" have aidec
the cause of prohibition wonderfully
People for years, he said. have labored
under the delusion that il was not
harmful to drink, provided one die
not drink too much. II was hard tc
idehne the line between moderation anC
excess. and men have honestly looked
- for such a line of demarcation"
Il The line between moderation and ex
: cess. he said. recedes as one APP
q proaches it and, finally. is lost in tn,
a darkness, Scientists he said. "tel
a us that not only is excessive drlnkini
harmful, but any drinking is detri
u mental Instead OF looking for tn,
u line between moderation and excess
- we must draw the line at any drink
= ing at all
a Business, he said, has come to tht
q aid of the prohibition forces. 1t ha.
: found that 1t cannot afford TO trust af
}. fairs of Importance TO men who's.
j. minds have become befuddled b,
h liquor.
d Patriotism" he said. came to on,
e relief and helped us over the top. No
that we would not have gotten ther,
y anyway. but ii speeded the victory
l, England found that booze was hat
y enough in peace. but worse in war
e The bomb or the torpedo were not al
dangerous as the schooner that crossed
y the bar. Lloyd George declared tina
. England was fighting GERMANY. AUS
> tria and drink, and that of the three
:" drink was the worse. II impa tn,
= efficiency Of $50. 900 munitions ork
" England were those who were behint