The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-22
Resolutions on Prohibition
Adopted BY Virginia Baptist

4 Lynchburg. Va. Nov. 2i.--Tht
BAPTIST general association in this city
yesterday adopted the following reso
lutfons, which were offered by Rev.
= David Hepburn. The resolutions
were adopted unanimously. and ex-
press the sentiments of the Baptista
! OF Virginia in reference TO the cam
paign OF the Anu-Saloon league of
America for worldwide prohibition.
in raising the sum OF S25, 600, 900 TO
meet the immediate pressing need in
the foreign 6ald:
with profound gratitude We re-
port the victories won by the kofc<6
OF righteousness over the beverage
liquor traffic in the months that havo
4 Just passed. Never before In the his-
ment has such tremendous progress
been made, or victories won over hu-
! InAntty's greatest curse-the bever-
| age liquor trahkc- The cause of tenn
perance has made steady and unmis-
taxable progress for the past nfteen
years in Virginia The browning vic
| tory OF ali the concentrated efforts OF
Gods people, and the forces that
make for righteousness was the writ
ing OF the convictions and the sent
! ment Of the best people in this state
into organic law, and the creation of
the machinery by which prohibition
might be enforced.
The reduction of poverty lawless.
ness and crime in the state proves the
wisdom OF our leaders. The last
year of prohibition shows decrease
OF over $4,000 appeals for aid from
charitable institutions over the last
year . the wet regime. The Meth
odist Institute for Christian work in
Richmond has had to abolish the de-
/ partment for hobos. because they
have none such in Richmond. The
Associated Charities report very few
destitute families to be cared for.
nents to the Jails In Virginia than the
last year OF the wet regime, and
over 400 fewer commitments to the
| Virginia penitentiary--and all OF this
Notwithstanding the restleasness
caused by the world war, and the op-
position and autagonism to the pro-
hibition law by lawless and vicious
element, and by very few wet"
. newspapers, that by some means or
liquor interests to carry on the pro-
paganda OF Misrepresentation and
! eilitication of the law enforcement de-
partment and the cause of prohibit
ton.
"A professor in one Of our state In
stitutions some months ago made this
statement: I am opposed to prohibi-
tion, state or national, because II in
terferes with my personal liberty but
am free to admit, and no intelligent
Nirginian can deny. that there is less
crime, poverty and lawiessness in the
state today due in large measure to
prohibition, but the thing that gives
me concern is what will Virginia do
for convicts to work her county
roads.
There are men in Virginia who
would rather see their fellowmen in
Jail in the changing than at home
with their families, if thereby they
might have the legal right to make,
sell and drink their beer.
There Ia at the present time in
Virginia grave danger lest the great
victory won may be turned into de-
feat. The national government main
tains number of men In the In
ternal Revenue Department whose
business Is to enforce the prohibition
law We have hundreds of other
men, state and local officials. charged
with this same specific duty. and yet
1t is admitted by those who are in a
position TO know that the success of
prohibition in Virginia is due to the
Law enforcement department created
by the general assembly Of 1916. The
state and local officials have ad-
mitted from time to time their in
ability to cope with the lawless ele-
ment engaged in the unlawful busi-
ness OF manufacturing and selling in
toxicating liquors. and have appealed
to the commissioner OF prohibition
and his men for assistance. some OF
them directly to this department, and
others through the chief executive Of
the state, or through the AntiSaloon
league
There is an organized effort being
made by the Anti-Dry forces. under
the direction of w w. Malone, OF
Washington. ID. C.. in cooperation
with the wet" forces in the state. to
abolish the department OF prohibit
ton, in the hope that prohibition may
be brought into disrepute. and the
commonwealth revert back to the
| licensed system. No true friend OF
temperance or prohibition will lend
his influence, or aid In the efforts to
| to do away with this department that
| expresses the best Judgment OF the
| temperance forces in the state and
nation on the enforcement OF the pro-
hibition law.
This is the first session of the Bap-
| list general ASSOCIATION OF virginia
ever held in safoonless nation.
| Since the last meeting OF this great
| body wonders have been wrought
! along prohibition lines. sufficient
states to make thirtytwo great COM
monwealths have adopted prohibition
| as their policy on the liquor question.
| over sixty-five percent OF the coun-
! try reside within thase states. and
| contain over eighty-ave per cent OF
| the area OF the country. The con-
gress OF the United States has Sub
nlitted the constitutional amendment
for national constitutional prohibition
and forty-nve states Of the nation.
which contain over ninsty per ecnt
OF the entire population Of the coun-
Try have ratified the ameAdm emit
Only legislatures OF three small states
have failed to ratify. namely Rhode
Island. New Jersey and Connecticut
"A war time prohibition bill wa.
enacted, which went into effect the
first OF July 1919, which closed every
hrewry, distillery, dispensnry and sa :
loon under the flag. The repeal of
this act has been sought by some of
the most influential and powerful in
terests of the country without avail.