The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-04-01
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MARKS PROHIBITION
CAMPAIGN IN ENGLAND

Professor John A. Nichols. foreign
I field secretary of the international
Reform Bureau, writes Of great DIS
order attending prohibition meetings
| in England and Wales these occur
rences are producing distinct re-
action in favor of the prohibitionists
among the better classes of people
Dr. Nichols, who is himself a native
Scotehman, says in part;
THE liquor opposition 10 getting
warmer all the time. Meetings are
constantly broken up by organized
mobs-and several times ! have had to
escape at the risk of my life In
Abertillery. South Wales. a mob of
1900 led by liquor sellers took charge
of the chapel, refused to allow any
one to speak. passed resolutions Of
their own. and then waited outside
for over an hour in the hope of as
saulting the speakers. We got out
while they were waiting by going
through the cellar OF the caretaker S
house. and At the other end OF his
garden. In Bristol "A great mob tried
to storm the hall, but were prevented
by the police, Al Hun $50 publicans
sat together in one group. AT Chester
on Monday last a drunken crowd filltu
the back part of the hall and yelled
and sang all the time. We have in
,terruptions nearly every night except
sundays
1T has been deemed advisable not
to mention on the bills the names of
amy American society, in connection
With any of the speakers, There is !
very bitter feeling against America
and TO he'll with America" is ona
! of the common cries of the mob. TIC
walls are covered with posters ISSUED
by the liquer forces. railing az AMER
4 =
American liquor forces about prohibi-
ton.
Il 60 to birmingham on Saturday
and have two meetings that day three
/ on Sunday and two every day Of next
week. The strain is very great, the
nervous tension tells on enc, ] have
hardly time to get proper rest
! AT Hull the liquor men had eight
speakers holding open-air meetings
for week. They denounce America,
! claim that she did nothing to help win
the war. and arouse the passions Aal
prejudices of the molly crowd. The
Opposition has the effect, however. OF
arousing and uniting our own people
But British beer mob Is brutal in the
extreme. I was escorted to my hotel
on Monday night by a police inspec-
tor. as they were afraid Of personal
violence"
/ 1t is a strange coincidence that the
classes which are doing eVerythi1 &
possible to excite hostility to England
( in the United States and to the United
Estates in England are thoroughly anti
prohibitionists.
The reaction of 'fsi,~minded people
against the rowdyisrn OF the vets in
England has resulted in an appeal ae-
ing made in the name OF many promi-
lnent people for a patient. attentive
Intelligent hearing for those Ameri-
can speakers who have been invited to
/ this country to explain the results ot
Iprohi bttion in the United States
/ Sufficient is already known of tne
operation of prohibition in the States
the signatories say, " to prove that tho
elimination of beverage alcohol from
the national life will profoundly ef-
feet the social and economic future Il
that great nation, and indirectly OF the
world
| The practically universal impress
America is. to quote Sir James Hope
simpson, the well-known banker, ,ne
of the great prosperity of the Uni ed
men, and, above all. the enormous IN
dustrial advantages they have already
begun to reap from their policy of the
prohibition of drink"
Among the signatories are Sir John
Drummer. Rosalnd Countess OF Car
Isle, Rev, II. Carter Lord Clwyd Sir
ALFRED Pearce Gould. Rev Arthur r
Cutlery. Sir G. b. Hunter. Sir r. Mur-
ray Hyslop. Left Jones, the Bishop CT
LANDAU and Sir G. Sims Woodhead.