Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-08
AGAINST THE WINE CUP.
Mrs. Ellen Fosters Appeal for Prohibition
in the District.

L
in the District.
High license may satisfy to q certain extent
the Commissioners Of the District, but the tenn
perance women are heartily opposed to it and
lose no opportunity to express their feelings on
the subject At the meeting at the Congrega-
| tional Church yesterday afte rnoon, held under
the auspices Of the Non-partisan w.C.T.U.,
Mrs. ]. Ellen Foster delivered lengthy ad-
dress on the subject. The church was well
| filed and the greatest interest was shown in
the exercises.
Rev. Geo. II. Elliott Of Foundry Church pre-
sided and conducted the religious exercises Of
the meeting. In introducing Mrs. Foster he
said that the meeting was held to consider the
general condition of the liquor traffic in the
District Various generations of Commits
missioners. said Rev. Mr.. Elliott, ''have strug-
gled with the problem that presented to
| them. each with the purpose Of doing the best
he could if he only knew what to do. But they
have all complained of the ineficiency of the
legislation applying to the liquor evil at pres
ent We are come together today to ask our
selves as Christians and temperance people
what We can do to aid in the suppression of the
liquor traffic" He read telegram from Mr.
Il. II. Warner, who had been asked to speak
ut the meeting from a business mans stand
point. Mr.. Warner expressed his regret that
he was necessarily absent from the city, but
placed himself firmly on the high-license plat
form.
MRS. FOSTERS ADDRESS.
After an organ voluntary by Prof. BischOff
Mrs. Foster began her address. She spoke for
over an hour. but in an earnest, eloquent way
| that kept the interest of her hearers to the
| close. She said: Here, amid the peals of this
great organ that might have sounded from
Westminster Abbey or st. Paurs Cathedral we
have met to discuss plain everyday question
what Is to be done to restrict the liquor traffic
in the District? This NAV seem a small ques-
ton. affecting it does only about $50. 900 peo
pie out of CO. 600 900. And vet, no matter where
we come from where we will be next year,
We are here now and when We are called upon
to give an account of our lives will have to
give an account of our actions in Washington
in the year 1880; so the question becomes an
all-important one. In Washington life il be-
ginning to take on its usual winter activity.
The social season is opening. not as the spring
opens. with its glory of leaves and blossoms.
but into a mad whirl of gayety and the round
of teas, receptions and entertainments. Oh.
the season! The season, What does it mean!
We temperance women know it means tempta-
ton and the ruin of many who have hitherto
resisted it. What does the young girl
she steps out of her nursery? The matron
taking account of the Judgment day that is to
come? No. rather of a settlement and bril-
liant match for her daughter. A society woman
in this city recently told her own son tina. it
was necessary 1Or MIN TO drink occasionally,
lest people should think him crank.
THESE EVILS ARE EVERYWHERE.
''These evils are everywhere and continual.
What shall tell you to do? Elsewhere would
tell you to go to the polls and remed, them
there. but in the anomalous condition that pre-
walls here your only and last resource il in
Congress. 1t has been suggested that the
Presiden. might appoint Commissioners
pledged to prohibition. But this would not
answer. The Commissioners are an adj
administrative and not an executive body. They
cannot arbitrarily refuse to grant any liquor
licenses. The courts would not sustain them
wish the President would appoint Commits
slOners who would sweep away this evil and
then let the question so to- the courts and see
what they would do with it. But conserv: i've
men say 1t would be impolitic for the President
to commit himself to position the courts
might not sustain. and We are driven back to
the final power. the House the hill. II the
men and women would unite to lend their in
fuence it might be felt within the halls of Con-
gress.
MANY HOUSES WHERE no WINE Is USED.
1T lis a matter of congratulation that there
are so many houses in this city where wine is
never used, and am thankful for those house.
holds N our little court circle where the wine
cup never goes. Yet was deeply grieved that
wine should have been used at the recent state
dinner given in honor of the representatives
from a new republic by those of the older. Oh.
that it might have been given it would have
been by any one of the majority of the men,
bers of the cabinet"
Mrs. Foster criticised at some length the two
liquor bills at present before Congress. The
one known as the high license bill she said,
involved a contradiction at the very beginning
for 1T called for fee Of 1000, which is not
high license at all.
The good that may come from a high Ii
cense bill, :" said Mrs. Foster, .'does not arise
out Of the money it brings in, but from the
prohibitory clauses that are contained in it.
1t makes no difference whether YOU impose a
charge Of IS or $1,000. The evil that arises
from the liquor traffic is tie same whether the
license fee is high or low. As many men would
take out permits to sell liquor under q high
license as would under a low license. and it is
easier to enforce the law against disreputable
sellers than against respectable men. We do
not believe high license il any advance at all.
We will support every clause of prohibition in
these bills bu. we must denOunce all that
recommends the taking of money by the gov
eminent III return for the privilege of selling
liquor"