The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-03-21
ON THE OTHER SIDE.

In response to the call published in our last
the friends of claw, justice and liberty" or, in
other words, those opposed to the present TEN
pcramce movement in Ottawa, gathered in force
at Skaters Hall on Saturday evening. The hall
which holds three or four hundred people, was
comfortably flied. A. H. Strobcl was called to
the char and addressed the audience in the Ger
man language. His speech was couchcd in tenn
pcrate language and while the speaker protested
himself friend of temperance, he yet earnestly
protested against the right Of any one or class
% dictate TO others what they should eat or
drink.
Jack" LayIne, the cigar maker, well known as
somewhat prominent in the movements OF The
workingmen heretofore, thea addressed the
meeting in English. The speech was character
istic and abounded in some pretty sharp hits,
one Of which, illustrative of the character Ct the
Yankee. was, that if bottle of whisky was placed
ina hot place. for safety, Yankee would be
sure to steal it. Jack concluded that, as the
liquor traffic was recognized by all civilized ma
tions and regulated and licensed by municipal
authorities like any other lawful trade, it would
take something more than praying to stop it.
Alderman McGinnis spoke next. He repre-
scented this ward in the City Council, and, as the
servant of his constituents, tried to carry out
their will lie believes he did SO In supporting
licences. While he made no claims to being II
temperance man himself he yet denied that he
was Incorporate. He thought there was good
deal of hypocrisy in much of this professcd zeal
for TEMPERANCE. He had noticed that many good
temperance men in Ottawa were quite the reverse
when they got to Strcator There was also
good deal of slipping out of the back doors OF
drug stores with a bottle Of "bitters" under the
coat tail. Mr.. McGinnis said he was candidate
for reelection MS alderman, and believed he
would he elected: but it would not be on account
of any pledges he made at this meeting as to how
he would vote if certain temperance measures
were brought before the council, for he had no
pledges 10 make.
Gee. W. W. Blake was the last speaker and
after commenting pretty severely on the ladies'
movement as he had seen it eXnmpliticd in Mar
settles, "curricd down" Father Clcghorn in his
choicest vernacular. He closed by processing his
ability to take care Of himself either as odrink-
ing or letting it alone.
coMmttce Of three from each ward was now
appointed, charged with the rather delicate duty
of selecting a candidate for alderman for each
ward. While the committee were out mcdta-
ting on this weighty matter Alderman Hook got
the floor and made speech in favor of the cleo
ton Of Henry Wolf as alderman Of the 9Th wsrd,
in place Of p. McGinnis. Pat heard him through
patiently and then squelched Charley by the
simple remark thathc considered Charley Hook
the poorest alderman he ever saw"' Then the
committee returned and reported in favor OF the
anti-temperance interest supporting for alder
man Douahue in the LIST ward, Rose in the Sd,
Brown in The 4th, McGnnis IN the 9TH and lIo-
ban and Mates in the 9th. The report was
unanimously adopted, and, after afew closing re.
marks from Jack Lavine the meeting adjourned