Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-18
JUDGE AND WRITER.
Two Strong Speeches For and Against
the Amendment.
JUDGE WHITE AND KATE FIELD.
The First Speaks in Bitter Terms of the
Newspapers.
THE OTHER SAYS PROHIBITION FAILS

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A rousing prohibition rally. intended as the
last, took place at the Leighton Rink, Brad
DOCK last evening under the auspices of the
Blue Ribbon Club. A large and exceedingly
enthusiastic audience of sympathizers was
present. Rev. l. U. Boyle introduced the prin-
cipal speaker, Judge ]. w. F. White.
The Judge was enthusiastically received, and
it was some moments before he was able to
speak. He said: 81 am here this evening to
talk with you-a plain common-sense talk. 1
did not come for the qualification of making a
speech, but in hope that may say something
that will persuade someone who may be now
hesitating to vote for the amendment. I want
to talk more especially to voters. and want
you all to be comfortably seated, SO you can
listen better.
The electors of Pennsylvania are tomorrow
to be called upon to vote upon an amendment
to the organic law of our State-it Is the duty
of every citizen to cast vote. None can con-
sistently neglect or refuse to vote. The question
of the prohibiting the manufacture and sale of
liquor is one that vitality affects our people,
and one worthy the earnest consideration OF
every voter. For my pant look upon it as the
most important question of my life. have al
ways considered it my duty toyote at every
general election, and can truthfully say that
never neglected that duty. have been con-
nected with dozens OF great political cam
paigns and elections, but the one to be contest
all.
WHAT is PROHIBITION
"Now the question is, what is prohibition
What do we hope to do? l see in the papers
articles grossly misrepresentng the amend
ment, editorials paid for at SO much line,
giving outrageous Misrepresentation of the
question. What we want to do, and hope to
do, is to prohibit the manufacture and sale of
liquor as beverage. Legislation providing
for medicinal or mechanical use has been
looked out for. We do not want to stop the
use of intoxicants only as beverage.
Zone of the meanest fabrications used by our
opponents and their paid allies-the newspapers
is the one bulldozing the farmer into the
idea that if the amendment carries he will not
be allowed to make sweet cider. and saying
that in that case they might as well cut down
shea apple trees Tree once e. Mhat " an
contradict this. Sweet cider will not be affected
in the least by the amendment; not the least.
l have no hesitancy in saying that If its provi.
siOns debarred the manufacture of cider I
should oppose it.
81 believe in a man who is sick and imagines
that he cannot get well without liquor. having
it. Even if it be beer, but Lord help the man
who tries to get well on such beer as they sell
nowadays.
ASKED TO THINK CALMLY.
81 am now going to make some statements,
and I want anybody who doubts theirreliability
to speak out-not mildly or to yourself. but
boldly, speak out, or hereafter hold your
tongue. hold that the evils of 1ntemperance
and excessive drinking are greater than ever be-
fore-do yon doubt it? There are more dis
tileries, more breweries. more drunkards more
wretchedness. Just think, two years ago there
were :, 600 licensed saloons in Allegheny 1t was
not quite so bad last year. Something hap
pened that checked them little. and the same
thing happened this year. Two years ago the
saloons were open all night, selling to anybody,
to men, to boys, to women. You could not
look out on the street without seeing a beer
wagon. and it was almost impossible to walk
out without falling over beer bottles The
liquor used to-day is ten times worse than that
made and drank by our fathers IN years gone
by. Everybody drank, our fathers, mothers,
and even ministers of the gospel were not
averse to a little taste now and then: but it was
not the vile adulterated stuff sold to-day.
western Pennsylvania has a famous history
on whisky This drinking in saloons as prac-
ticed here is known in no other country in the
world: in no other country is license granted
for drinking shops alone; nor is there any law
of our Slate which authorizes the granting of
license for that purpose alone.
Most all Irishmen drink whisky, which is
better than beer, bad as it is. When you see
an Irishman drinking beer look out He can
stand whisky, but not beer.
Whats to be done? High license. some
say. What do they mean? How high? Do
they mean the Brooks lawF know 500 men in
the city of Pittsburg who would pay Sc, 900 for
license. A large sum you will think, but a tri-
f1e to liquor man, who, by his own confession
can sell S100, 600 worth year. We have been
200 years trying the license system, for there
never was day in Pennsylvania when a man
could sell without license, and it has been
failure. No license has ever been able to
stem, even for moment, the tide
of intemperance. I do not object to
good license law. if it could be faithfully ad-
ministered, but it cannot be. Too many
obstacles are thrown in the way of faithful
service. Look at the judge who tries to live up
to the law, he is assailed as a monster, and
abused on every side. You cry for more
saloons. because those that exist are too
crowded. Why do you not sustain the law?
1 will tell you why. You don't want any law,
that it is inconsistent in the State to issue
license at all. Evils will exist where liquor is
sold, and to grant license is to throw a shield
around most pernicious and dangerous curse.
No, there is nothing left but prohibition. Let
us try 1t, and if it is failure we can 60 back
to the old law.
PAID ATTORNEY.
"In regard to the published list of lawyers
who offer objections to the amendment, no.
tice the name of an attorney who heads the
list. 1 know him to be the counselor for
number of wholesale liquor houses, and his
objection therefore takes the form of plea
for his clients. l also notice a number of names
of PittSburg lawyers who are also attorneys
for the liquor interest. One of the most
lists is that prohibition will destroy all
business and the paid hirelngs publish
an astonishing list of losses which will
result should prohibition win. Editors who
say that prohibition does not prohibit are urg-
ing the people to go ahead and break the law,
and they are morally responsible therefor. l
admire good liars, but some of these men are
too much Heed them not; let not the bug
bear frighten you off. To the polls, and fight
the grandest fight you will ever have, and God
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