The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-05
RESULT OF PROHIBITION In T1DEwATER
fsy Rev. Dr. e. T. Wexford, of Newport Newsl

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I feel it great pleasure in being
able to tell the story of what prohi-
bition has accomplished for Newpor'
News and Tidewater Virginia
j We should not forget in dealing
with this subject that the most extra
ordinary conditions have prevailed not
only In our country. but especially IN
its seaport territory during the past
few years. Should prohibition have
proven a failure in Newport News.
this would present no criterion that II
would not be workable in other com
munities or in a seaport city itself
under normal conditions.
When we recognize that the govern
ment has expended over $4,000 900
In preparing for and In the shipment
OF troops across the sea through this
port. and that men are now being
discern barked at the rate of ninety to
a hundred thousand per month. over
seventeen thousand troops having
trod its streets in the last iorty~eight
hours, and that coming to bid these
men farewell when they left, and to
welcome them upon return. have
been friends and relatives from all
over the country, doubling and thrib-
bling the ordinary population OF the
community. 1t stands to reason that
Iif prohibition has been successful at
such a center under such antagonis-
tic conditions. 1t would prove efficient
anywhere under any circumstances.
We shall not present figures for
unless in writing 1t would be hard to
remember them. With theories we
shall not deal, for this Is time in
which we do not desire to know
what men think, but to think what
men know. We unhesitatingly claim
that prohibition has accomplished at
least five distinct things since the
passage Of the law in Tidewater Vir-
GINA, the confirmation of our hopes,
the conversion of our opponents, the
conservation of our manhood the
conquest OF our poverty, ana the con-
struction of character.
Each of these positions may be for
tined by abundant and satisfactory
evidence, attested with the matha-
NAUTICAL accuracy OF figures and con-
firmed with the testimony OF 1 eye
witnesses.
1t was very natural that grave. ap-
prehension should be entertained as
to the effectiveness of prohibitory
laws in a territory so accessible by
land or sea. and composed of such
claim. Of course, that bootlegging and
other breaches OF the law have not
prevailed, but we do rejoice in that
the check upon them has been album
dainty as effective MS we had hoped
to maintain It. None but the con-
flrmed drinker and defiant law
breaker viii patronize the Illegal traf-
nc, and there is growing up in the
community body of lads and lassies
who have never seen saloon, and
who will never seek one. Our hopes
have been confirmed that prohibition
would prohibit. A pawn broker APP
preached the speaker and expressed
his appreciation of what the new
regime had meant to him. We con-
fessed to little surprise in this case,
for we had supposed that with tho
Punishment of the saloon would
probably be the curtailment OF
pawn brokers clientele. but he quickly
replied by saying that men now
bought who formerly borrowed, and
he carried a stock twice as large as
formerly. which was composed today
OF new goods rather than in the olden
days OF secondhand articles.
Opponents Converted.
Prohibition has further resulted In
the conversion of our opponents. Dur
ing the intensity OF the campaign 4
prominent and distinguished gentle
man asked the question why We
should endeavor to foster upon thu
peopie such a fanatical law a. the
proposed statewide prohibition statute.
"a pleasant ccnvers&tton. NJ preAented]
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