The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-04-12
wAHNAMAKER ON PROHIBITION.


Wet. U Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, March, 3lst.
Postmaster General Wannamaker
made his first public utterance to-day
on the question of high license and
prohibition He declared In favor of
the constitutional amendment and
exOrted the 500 persons present, to
work, pray and vote for it.
Mr.. Wannamaker reached Bethany
Sunday School at O'Clock, and half
an hour later was ia his place as
superintendent of one of the largest
Sunday School class in America. At
ter the usual exercises, he led the way
to the church followed by 400 men,
bers of the adult Bible class, and 600
visitors. He announced that it was
quarterly meeting and there was no
regular lesson. He said he had been
requested to talk on temperance. He
read portion of the fifth chapter of
Ephesians, beginning with the verse,
"Be not drunk with wine," and then
said "What lie the christian idea of
right? 1t is important that we get the
right thought, because then we will
do right, and lead u happy life. The
Christian idea is that we carefully
guard our department.
He then referred to the wreck of the
American men-of-war Samoa, and
spoke of the broken.hearted wives and
children who were wailing for the
return of their husbands ard fathers,
he continued: Fright here in our city
are people beaten against the rocks of
adversely by the tide of liquor and
license. The man who will not sign q
temperance pledge to help . weaker
brother is not as much man
as he thinks himself to be. There is
no need to be drunk to be under the
influence of wine. The man who takes
only little and will not give it up, is
as much controlled by it as an habitu-
al drinker. What is the reason you
will not stand up for the amendment?
Because you like glass of beer, you
say, Il want to be free to take an occa-
sional glass, if I want it, What
keeps you from voting for the amend
ment? Is it not for the glass of beer?
There are thousands of men in this
city who do not 60 to. church. They
say, I'VE have the right to drink it, to
sell, buy or give it away A man may
not drink it at all, but still he may be
under the influence of the liquor spirit.
He may say am temperance man,
but am in business and the liquor
people trade with me, so won't say
anything against it. It is the same
thing with many a politician, he is
afraid We won't get votes. so he is
silent on the liquor question. When
a man refuses to speak ont on this
question he is ruled by the liquor in
terests. just as the saloon keeper
must answer for every glass he sells, 80
We must answer for voting for liquor.
1t is question of whether or not we
are in favor of the saloons. 1t is not
question of high license, the bubble
that p rohibition does not prohibit, has
nothing to do with it; the law against
stealing does not prevent stealing. The
same power that puts the amendment
on our constitution will tend to the
enforcement of that law, it is our
duty to make it as difficult to get
liquor as to get poison. License means
that the State and saloon keeper shall
60 into partnership to ruin men, to
build up the jails, aims houses, hospit-
ais and houses of correction aud to
keep up the taxes. God is going to
count the voters, vote for prohibition
and you will be voting for Him, for
order, for religion and for the highest
civilization, He will see every ballot.
Whe You 90 home tonight, go down
on your knees, every one of you, and
pray God to help you carry the amend.