The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-11
TEMPERANCE IN HELENA.
WeIl Attended Mass Meeting at the
Opera House Yesterday
Evening.
Lecture by the Well-Known
Speaker, Mr.. j. O. Dickey, Of
New York.


New York.
n. Handles the Subject in an Able Nam
ner-Collection Taken Up to For
ward the Cause.
The temperance mass meeting in the
Opera house last evening proved an entlre
cnccess. Considerable annoyance was
cansed. however, by the delay IN opening
the doors. j. H. Nelson engaged the Opera
house for Monday evening more than
week ago. and it was supposed there would
ha No difficulty about the matter. But Mr.
Kemington's agent insisted upon being PAID
in advance and Il certified check Tor the
snm Of $50 had to be procured before ne
,vould admit the audience. The temperance
people feel little sore in consequence OF
this. and believe the peremptory demand
was not justified. :.
Rev. M. J. Hall presided at the meeting
md announced song by the quartette,
consisting of Messrs. Eddy, Armitage, Bur-
oess and Ospood. They sang "Come Join
H. Temperance Band" which was followed
With nrayer by Rev. George X. Berry Inc
"nartette then sang 1.-The Old Oaken BUCK
et'' in very fine manner ana were iouoiy
applauded. :-.aooa Mr. D;clev If
Nav York. and the latter occupied FULLY an
bonr in delivering an address on temper
ance. Mr.. Dickey is an eloquent speaker,
and had no difficulty in holding the close
attention of the audience from beglnhlng
to end. ,,..., ..,,,,,,,
should we have prohibition party!" ana
answered it by stating that, no effort
tnward prohibition could be looked for
from either of the old parties. Temper.
ance is distinctly a political issue, ana
neither of the old parties are able
to deal with it. There Is at me
present time no great issue b., be
between either of the old parties. The
sneaker here stated that he had spoken con-
tinuously for the past III nights, with one
exception, and in consequence was not leei-
ing in very good voice. There was enough
money squandered for liquor IN the United
States yearly to build and equip two rail-
roads from Puget Sound to Boston. Every
school house, college and educational insti-
tuition in the land bould be burned down
and utterly destroyed, but they could all be
rebuilt in years time with the money
spent in saloons. Danish the saloon and
what would become of the money thus
suuandered. It would be used to create
traffic, to purchase more and better sup
plies. The city would take on
new life and this wasted money
would be used in legitimate enterprise.
He said that some people claimed that hard
times were caused by oyer-productlon.
in the world. It is impossible, except for
a short time. The power to consume is
practically without limit Our wants are
ever in advance Of our ability to supply
them. This is the result of an unjust
Distribution of the product of toll. We
They claim an over production IN the mills
Of Massachusetts, and of coal in various
places. But if the money that is spent IL
orog-shops was used to buy calicoes ane
Vs. there would be no over-productlon
wages Increased and more workmen EN-
ployed in all branches of trade.
When the drinking man spends dollal
in saloon he robs himself of the pur
chasing power of that much money, which
would furnish him so much beef, flour, etc
One billion dollars are spent yearly IN ths
United States for drink. Is the question
political? Here the speaker related by
, pothetical story to convince his hearers
Q that it was political question.
Prohibition does not prohibit, some say
believe it. believe in the doctrine OF
falling from grace. A farmer may take I
keen-edged scythe and throw it in q fence
COTu0rs OF Il WOOuIlluu Il Dulule u uAcb lIitS
forest. Neither will cut unless in thu
hands of man who desires to use them
It requires earnest work to prohibit tn
liquor traffic. You cau't kill tn
Montana saloon with pape
wad, even though the governor fired it on
with his signature attached. But the da
will come when prohibition officers vii
take the law-breaking rum seller to til
prohibition boarding house. That will pre-
hibit. 1t must be done by some party nc
in debt to Montana saloons. Both the dem
ocratic and republican parties were incon
petent to deal with the question. d
calico with a. threshing machin
as to prohibit the liquor traffic throuG
either of these parties. The republlca
party has the best record of any party eve
existing on the continent; but the ISSUE
upon which it was made had long bee
settled. It is divided on the rum question
party can be expected to espou'
new issue certain to drive Q,
of its own party minority of its SUI
posters, which would result i'll its defea
Both parties are equally incompetent al
equally indisposed to deal with the prohib
ton question. There are more prohlbitlt
men in either the Republican or Democrat
parties than there are in the prohlbltlt
party. But the great fat saloon keeper pu
his foot upon the teeter- totter board and II
1t which ever way he chooses. Inc hepu
lican party pleads not guilty; but he con
find men in the opposite party who cou
prove it guilty of every crime IN the Gale
dar. Campaign newspapers received q 10
handed compliment from Mr.. Dickey. FRI
ident Harrison, he said, had not gone IN
the liquor business, but Levi Morton. VI
president of the United States, had.
had been in his saloon in Washington Clt
He owns the whole outfit and it Is
shame to thus besmirch the noble matte
If Harrison should die grog- seller wor
take his place He thought if the republics
could prove greater issue than that
prohibition. it might be we'll to vote
republican ticket. But he did not belis
they could prove it. A saloon keeper coul
for more in this state and
than a minister of the gospel. i
1t Is no reflection on the prea
er. It is because of party spi
which is more influential than any oth
! believe in segregation and am glad to
long to party which stands for somethl
besides the postofiices. 1t is the labor
Trend. 1t is the best anti-poyerty party
the continent.
A collection was taken up at the conc
non OF the address to forward the pollt
interests of the prohibition party IN N
tana. About 800 were contributed.
Cheap Rates for Commencement
For the accommodation of those wish
to attend the commencement nYarciSee