The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-23
A Talk ON PROHIBITION.
Mrs. Clara Hoffman, Of Missouri,
Lectures at the Grand
Street Church. ...
The Liquor Traffic and It's Great
Influence on Political
Matters.
President HarrlsOn's Administration Gets
Rounding Up on Account Of
Blaine's Beer Circular.

Blaine's Beer Circular,
Mrs. Clara Hoffman. of Missouri, made
an address at the Grand-stree Methodist
church last night in behalf of the Women's
Christian Temperance union. Mrs. Hof-
man, though we'll advanced in years. is
vigorous talker, with clear, pleasant, earn:
est voice, and forcible way of expressing
herself which carries conviction with it.
Her reasoning is logical. and though speak
ing extenlpore she followed her subject
from beginning to end with straightfor-
wardness that showed she was thoroughly
posted on the matter at issue. Mrs. Hof-
man had the encouragement of a large
audience, there not being vacant seat IN
the church.
The liquor traffic. Mrs. Hoffman declared,
like any question involving moral consid-
eratipn which had to be submitted to the
people for solution, must necessarily give
trouble. All natioralities were repre-
sented in this government. Acia was
mott represented at the ballot box how
ever. Africa was represented because
of the unwisdom of the past. 1t had been
said, many years ago, that the only solu-
tion of the slavery question without over
turning the government was the coloniza-
tion of Africa. The colonization of Africa
was about az near a solution of the slavery
question as the anti-saloon republican idea
was solution of the liquor question. The
African was not the worst material in this
country from which to make citizens. The
negroes made far better citizens than the
slums of southern Europe. But all kinds
and conditions were represented here.
There were the white. the black and the
red men; the cultured and the uncultured:
the religious and the irreligious; the drunk
and the sober. With q preponderance of that
worse element thaS had come in and crowd
cd the better, it would be hard to settle
those questions which were troubling the
government. II have no words of con-
ment in our midst" said the
speaker, "but have only words of con-
demnation for the policy of our govern
ment which enfranchises them as soon as
they step on our shores. Under the law
five years residence is required to become
q citizen. Do you suppose little thing
like that troubles the politicians. just
previous to the last presidential election
nineteen states enfranchised the aliens Who
were not citizens on their simple oath to
become SO. In Nebraska last fall several
thousand Italians-I believe you call them
dagos here-were brought from Castle Gar
den direct to Omaha to work on railroad.
They had been in the state only six months
at the time of the election. Yet they were
taken by hundreds into Omaha by the dem
ocratlc and republican managers, and
through an interpreter took an oath to be-
come citizens, and were allowed to vote. At
the same time the women of Nebraska,
who had braved tho perils of frontier
life and suffered tho hardships
Of the pioneers, stood helpless while these
homes. Consider for a moment what con-
stitutes citizenship. Is it patriotism? No.
Patriotism has no part in this matter, nor
has intelligence. The more ignorant the
voter. the more easily managed. The only
qualification for citizenship is sex.''
Mrs. Hoffman said this country had al
ways had the liquor traffic, but not under
the same conditions as now. She could
remember when there were no saloons, and
when liquor was only sold at the hotels
and groceries. Liquor then had no more
influence in political matters than any
controlling power in politics. 1t had passed
from American to alien hands. Then the
saloon keepers saw the rising tide of oppo-
sition, as the people woke up to the fact
that something must be done. The Maine
prohibition law was passed. On November
was held in New York. In the preamble to
tho resolutions adopted at the meeting oc-
Cured these words: Whereas, as individ-
uals we cannot exercise the proper infiu-
ence on legislation and public administra-
tion." It was decided. therefore, to organ
iZe for that purpose. Before the meeting
adjourned it had organized as the National
Liquor Dealers association. The next or
qanization of the kind was the National
Brewers association. Following it came
the organization of the Masters, the Bot
tiers and the Saloon Keepers National as
sociations. "They constitute a hand" ex-
claimed Mrs. Hoffman, (which grips the
party by the throat and the republican party
by the beard, which is pretty good grip"
"One of the greatest perils of this coun-
try" she said further on. lis the misrule of
cities. This is because the saloons are all
potent in the big cities. They, nominate
then paid her respects to congress. I'm
1922 she said, "the National Temperance
society petltioned congress to appoint
commission to inquire into the liquor ques-
tion. Year after year petitions were sent
in. Several times bill for the appoint
OF cong ess ana was killed in the other
Senator Blair said it would be all right if
the republicans ever got control of both
houses. AS it was nothing could be done
so long as those wicked democrats
controlled one house. Well, the republi-
cans got both branches of congress at last
and the matter of commission to look
into the liquor question was not voted on
in either house. We had had commissions
on silver, on tariff. on potato bugs, on Utah,
on grasshoppe,s, on steam boilers, on
pressed beef showing that congress was
not averse to commissions. But the true
reason why the liquor commission was not
nppo inted came out later when the paid at
torney of the National Brewers association
announced to that body that by judicious
use OF money and influence have thus far
heen able to prevent amy legislation in
congress Rverss to your interest,""
The speaker then went on 10 demonstrate
that the liquor interests were not attached
to any one party, and instanced the cleo
tions in 1t. Louis i'll 1856 and 1888. In 1856
the ctv of st. Louis gnve 1000 democratic
majority. The legislature of 1S8687 passed
the Woods local option law. Within eigh-
teen months eighty three local option cleo
tions had heen held, and in sixty-ono of
them local option carried. The twenty-one
cities went naainst it. The liquor interests
said there was but ono thing to do--to tor.
rorizs the democratic party. to in the
election of 1888 st. Louis went 1900 repub |
lican. People said it was the tariff that did |
it, The thrift had nothing to do with it, |