The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-13
THE TEMPERANCE PROBLEM
Strong Speeches Against Work by POliti-
cal Methods

cal Methods.
New YORK, June 12.-The National
Temperance congress resumed its session
this morning. The Rev. DR.. Deems an
nounced for discussion the topic Should
there be a political party where the domi-
.nant idea is the prohibition OF the liquor
'trafficg'
The Rev. DR.. E. K Carol, editor of the
independent. took the ground that such a
tnational party was not needed. Prohibi-
hiOn was question that did not come,
except in a very limited degree within
the scope of congress. Congress has
,power only to prohibit the sale of liquors
in the territories, in the District of Column
1bia, at any post and on board United States
vessels. Prohibition is evidently a state
question. A national party to live must
have dominant national issue, and prOhi-
bition is not such an issue. The speaker
thought we would have more prohibition
If we had fewer prohibition parties
The Rev. DR.. John Bascon, late presi-
of Wisconsin university, said the Republi-
can party is now under the most un-
scrupulous leadership. Itcan not be trust
ed to secure prohibition, hence the
necessity of a prohibition party which
shall devote itself to that one question and
for the politicians to assent to it.
f. c. Chase, ex-prOhibition candidate for
governor of Texas, fOrclbly declared him
self In favor of prohibition party.
Mr.. Hllllard, of Boston, spoke IN OppOsi-
tion to prohibition party. He thought
this was to be a congress or conference,
but it seemed to be only a caucus. There
seemed to be no room for any one except
ing those having one idea and one senti-
ment.
The next subject taken up was "The re
latiOn between temperance reform and
improved dwellings"
r. Fulton Cutting referred to tenements
and discOmfOrts to which their inhabi-
tants are condemned, and then pictured
the attractions of bright, well filed warm
and spacious saloons, where companion
ship and sOciability can be found. Much
as be detested the saloon, had he the power
TO close them tomorrow he would not do
SO while so many Door tOiling men were
condemned to such dwellings as they oc-
cupied.
The first subject of discussion in the af-
ternOOn's program was, ''TO what causes
is to be attributed the failure of the prohi
bition amendments in the late contests in
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and
Rhode Island?"
II. z. Foxson, of Massachusetts, attrib-
uted the defeat in his state to the fact that
high license had been placed upon the
statutes before the campaign, and that
Boston was determined that it should get
the SSSS,30S to be derived from IL
cense fees. Local option, the speak
GER thought the shortest and best road
to prohibition. The prohibition party, he
said, Is eXerting healthfui and restrain
ing influence on the Republican party As
Tor the Democratic party, it can not be
trusted to do anything which will advance
temperance and morality. The Demo-
cratic party Is composed of the political
savage of almost every nation of the globe
especially the Irish, TO shout for De
mocracy and free rum. In the present
Iii . 1.F e.. L.
TO be absolutely independent, by voting
only for candidates representing their
principles.
The feature of the afternoon session was
the discussion of the attiCude of the labor
unions toward the liquor traffiCe. 1t was
opened by Samuel GOmpers. He said as a
rule that labOring men were indifferent to
the temperance and prohibition move
ment. Underpaid labOrers unable to pro-
cure proper nOuushment sought relief in
liquor and looked upon any attempts to
deprive them of IL as a movement to Sc
cure for the rich, privileges which they
could not enjoy. Personally, Mr.. Gompers
favored temperance
Mr.. L. :. Wakeman followed and said
that the present attitude of the prohibi-
Uonlsts was antagoniStiC to the working
men. The proposing of sumptuary laws
he characterized as a sort of 4 am holier
than thou position and this the labOring
In"h Wouiu not stand 1 ne prOhlDltlonlStS
should discard the religious fanatcism
which seems TO guide them at present.
The prohibrtloniSt must descend from his
pedestal of holiness, study the working
man, place himself on the same level and
change the mode of procedure
MIR. Wakeman's little speech created no
little commotion. The congress did not
like his unasked opinion of its work and
was not slow to let him know it.
A statement hV John IOvd Thomas that
drunkenness in England was found in its
worst forms among the skilled laborers,
those who received the highest pay and
had the shortest working hours Mr.
Gompers answered and fatty denied that
this was so and deded any one TO prove it.
On the contrary, he declared Sobrietv was
found among those who worked short
hours and could buy nourishing foods, while
drunkenness was common only among the
OyerWOrkad and updarFaS