The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-10-14
Washington LETTER.

FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. "
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 8, 1876.
1t was my good luck, few days ago, TO
meet, at one Of our hotels, . gentleman |
who has for three successive terms, cover
ing period Of eighteen years, occupied
seat in the United States Senate. The
weather was fine, and my venerable friend
proposed walk up Pennsylvania Avenue,
a proposition which gladly accepted, and
in q few minutes we had reached the cor
ner Of Seventh street, where, on the large,
open plaza, we found, mounted on a dry
goods box turned bottom upwards, an ora
tor who was discussing, from this impro-
vised platform, the evils of intemperance.
He was surrounded by a goodly crowd,
most of whom listened attentively and
seemed impressed with the earnestness
and forcible delivery Of the orator. in whom
| recognized one Of the members Of the
Young Mems Christian Association. We
listened awhile, and then, Aauntering
slowly up the avenue, my old friend said
to me
do you know that Dick Yates, Of ILL
nois, delivered the best temperance lee
ture ever heard in my life r.
| expressed surprise at this, as Senator
Yates habit of intemperance was well
known both in and outside Of Washington;
or rather, he had the reputation Of being
an incorporate men, whether he was or
not. However, such appeared to be the
case, as 1 learned in the course Of an in
teresting conversation, Of which shall
here endeavor to give the substance
1T Is now many years ago, when was
quite q young man and served my first
term in the House, that some Of us re-
solved to establish . Congressional Tenn
perAnce Society Of such an association
there was, At that time, sore need, for the
excuses Of Congressman and Senators
were frightful and proverblAl II mis-
take not, it wss about the year 1888 or
1884 that we issued our call to members 10
join our society; preparatory TO that we
had had several informal meetings to set
tie upon the laws and rules for the govern
ment of our association. Among those
who signed the call wAs, besideS myself,
Horatio Seymour, Of New York The was
then q member from Connecticut) Els
worth, who had, before he came cUCon-
gress, been Chief Justice Of the State Of
Connecticut, and was n brother to the
Chief Justice Of the United States Of that
name Honest John Davis, a. we used to
call him Everett, Of Massachusetts Bell,
of New Hampshire Hendricks, Of Indi-
ana (he was the hrst representative In Con-
gress from that State) Prentiss, who had
been Chief Justice Of Vermont Wilkins.
afterwards our Minister to Russia both
the Condicts, Of New Jersey; Felix
Grundy, Of Virginia Thompson and Dal-
las, OF Pennsylvania and q great many
more, whose names ! do not now remem-
Der /; but we had at least one member from
every State that was represented in Con-
gress. At that time liquor Vas openly
sold in all the public buildings, and was as [
plenty as water in the committee rooms in,
the Capitol in fact, some Of the rooms in''
the upper story did not have water, a. thee
pipes had not been laid but there was no
scarcity Of whisky. Liquors of all kindsI
were, with raisirs, almonds, cheese and
crackers, among the contingent expensesa-
of the Capitol, and the best and finest
brands Of imported brandy and wine were
always to be found at the Capitol commit
ee-rooms. - N
''It was the primary object O. VI
ciety to prevent this condition ~
and prevent the sale Of inIn Xl
liquors in any building that be-
or was under the control OF the
ment, but it took ten years to effect tn.
In 1874, Holmes, Of North Carolina, sue
ceeded in having . resolution to that effect |
passed, and thls resolution has been in |
force ever SINCE. IL was impossible, of
course, to prevent the uSe of intoxicating |
liquors in the Capitol building. and To this |
day there Ia, perhaps, scarcely a commit
tee-room without one or more private bot /
ties locked up in wash-stands and closets;
and moreover, l strongly suspect that the
China cups Of a liquid that N called and |
looks like tea, winch often appear upon
the desks OF members during a night SEES
sion, in some cases contain fiuld OF differ
emit odor and less innocent nature.
Well, the first ten years Of our orgAniza1
ton We worked along among ourselvesI
Slowly but steadily the roll Of members
gradually increased, and to ahow you that
there was room for improvement amonail
the members Of that day, may mentiOI
the fact, that few years after Va had orr n
gained, three Congressmea died from dei
hriasm trcpens during one session A great
many died from causes that could be a.
cribed only 10 the too free use OF liquor NC
When John Quincy Adams joined ~ he infr
fused new life into tho organization, AndCI
you arc doubles familiar with his efort4o
In aid Of the American Temperance