The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-03
the TIDAL WAVE ROLLS Al
LITTLE HIGHER!
Mass Meeting in Darts Hall |!
Speech BY Ex-congressman Price, Of
Davenport.
Songs, Speeches and Resolutions
Nothing MISUNDERSTANDING In Neral
courage---Determined Efforts to Induce
the Ladies to the Front
MR.. PRICE GIVES THE TRUE REASON
WHY PRETENDED TEMPERANCE MEN
ACCOMPLISH NoTHINa.--"THEY
ARE AFRAID OF HURTING
THE PARTY"
clergymen again Demonstrate their Imprac.
ticability.
clergymen again Demonstrate their Imprac.
ticability.

The temperance mass meeting in Dart $
Hall last evening 1.-THE End, was a great
success, as far as numbers and enthusiasm
goes, but signal failure as to practical
results. The leaders quit just as they got
ready to do something, and appointed a pray
er meeting for the ladies, on Tuesday of next
week at P. NJ, in the NJ. E. Church. The
audience, numbering between eight hun
dred and thousand. men and women, were
presented with circular as they entered
the door by a saloon clerk, which purpor-
ted THE Freeman's Prayer" and was a
burlesdue on the crusade movement.
This circular business was extremely bold
and cheeky, especially as the ladies of this
city have as yet declined street crusading.
1t was evident the audience were prepared
for any definite action that might be deem
ed advisable. 1t was also noticeable that
a large proportion of the men present were
business men of the city, and also that
many of the saloon men and liquor deal
ers were present, besides many of the dali
ly and nightly frequenters of the saloons.
The general makeup" of the meeting
was such as to warrant the accomplishing
of definite and practical results, had it been
managed by proper men and not turned
into q religious and exhortation meeting.
AS it is, no further progress has been made
than at the close of the first meeting in the
Presbyterian Church, except perhaps a
strong public sentiment, and willingness to
see the laws more strictly enforced. AT
eight o'clock Rev. j. r. McCallister called
the assemblage to order and Rev. j. S.
Mabie offered prayer in behalf of the
temperance cause DR.. Plummer was
elected President, David Halves and J. IL
Wilson Vice Presidents, and Elijah Car,
ter Secretary. The hymn 'Old Hun.
dred" followed, sung by the audience with
organ accompaniment by Miss Sargent.
Hon. Hiram Price of Davenport, who
has been at the head of the temperance
movement in Iowa for the past ten years
was then introduced, and delivered an ex
cellent address. His positions were fairly
taken and ably sustained. He reviewed
both sides of the three first sections of oul
State law, giving the liquor dealers credit
for the boldness with which they defended
and watched, worked and voted for theil
special interest, and told the temperance
men of their lack of courage in not fighting
just as boldly and unitedly for temperance
He strongly condemned those Republican
temperance men (see our city counciD fol
not uniting against intemperance becaus,
IT WILL HURT THE PARTY. He then com
plimented the ladies. but did not, like
those impracticables who followed him, try
to push them into the front ranks, rather
considering il the duty Of men to lutte fo
the common cause. The speech through
out was practical, sensible and heartily re
ceived by the audience.
After a song in which the audience join
ed, the secretary read the following
To the Secretary Of the Temperance Meeting a
Darts Hall. Thursday eUeRino, April End, 1874
SIR: As the time for this meeting for me is engag
ed so that cannot be present, therefore will ex
press my thoughts In regard TO the saloons:
am, and wi be, an enemy to all intoxfcatin!
drink. which destroys life and peace in the fami
lies. Drinking leads also into other bad habits ant
il IN all 1t ways dem ralizing in the community
am in favor Of all the State laws and their rigi
enforcement OF city ordinance az inst them.
Yours respectful y v. SHrTERDAHL.
Sw. Evangelical Lutheran Minister.
Here the preachers took possession of tn,
meeting and changed it into one of reiig
ious character. and nothing further wa
done until Mr.. McCalister brought it bacl
to business by Offering the following reso
luton:
Resotoed. That we are bound as good citizens t
use all legal and just means to arrest the progress
the evil of drunkenness and its attendant crimes
that we pledge ourselves to aid in every honest 81
fort to enforce the state Law and CtyOrdnances,
call upon all friends of the cause of temperance
join In the rigid enforcement of the provisions
all laws regulating the sale OF intoxicating drinl
and the observance of the holy Sabbath
Mr.. McCalister sustained his resolution
be remarks in which he stated that it wa
their purpose to organize society 10 as
sist the city authorities in rigidly enforcin
the State law and city ordinance; that tn
city authorities would be watched an
their hands upheldin the discharge of thei
sworn duty. The resolution was adopte
by rising vote. A song followed an
and meeting adjourned.
The meeting was signal failure, 1T di
nothing, and placed the whole movement
further off than did the first meeting, whic
was of similar character and under tn
same management management tina