Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-26
the whole world will then want to adopt
the plan"

the whole world will then want to adopt
the plan"
REV. A. B. RIKER OBSERVES.
Eyes, have read the plan as outlined
by Rev. Rainsford," said Rev. A. b.
Riker, Of the Fourth Street Methodist
Church, ''and I emphatically regard 1t
as impracticable. My position and the
position Of the church is an uncompro-
missing hostility TO the liquor traffic. l
can readily see how this plan occurred
TO Mr.. RainsiOrd. To begin with, he is
an EngliShman, and the people OF that
country are more addicted and think
less Of drinking in common that in this
country. Again, he is an Episcopalian,
ana as everyone well knows, the posi-
ton Of the Episcopal Church toward
the liquor traffic is not near so positive
as that Of the MethOdists, and in many
places in this country Episcopal
rectOrs indulge TO some extent, them
selves This is the reason, perhaps, that
Mr.. Rainsford is so easily led into this
plan. There is no such thing as athll-
ating the saloon with the church, and
Mr.. RainsfOrd is simply undertaking
something that is absolutely impossible.
He speaks in his plan Of having beer
drinking under the auspices OF the
church, and eliminating the whisky and
stronger drinks. Now, l don't think
the mere elimination OF the whisky
would Tend 70 lessen the iniQuity Of in
temperance, as a large part OF the
drunkenness is produced through beer
drinking. l would be in favor OF the
establishment OF coffee houses here In
Wheeling in all that the term implies,
and not saloons under the name OF coffee
houses. But l have reference 10 places
where people can go and get lunch
and a cup Of finely made coffee. l
might perhaps be lead to advocate high
license here as a stepping stone TO the
final suppression Of the traffic, but the
license would have to be very high, not
less than 500, 1000. But am not now in
favor OF license, even if the money so
derived can be used to a large extent in
improving and beautifying the city. as
IL is nothing more nor less than effect
ing a compromise with wrong. There
are two things, l believe, that will tend
10 the ultimate suppression of the liquor
traffic, the education of the young by
the introduction Of phySiologieS bearing
largely upon alcohol and It's effects
upon the system, and secondly, the con-
tinued hostility TO the liquor traffic.
REV. AFFORDS OPINION.
Rev. C. NJ. Afford, pastor Of the
Third Presbyterian Church, was asked
his opinion Of the plan. Il am GER
tainly opposed to the whole thing" he
said. 81 would just as soon engage
personally in the saloon business as TO
engage in it enthusiastically. The rum
traffic is an evil, and the only solution
10 the question in my mind is to stamp
it out entirely. l do not favor any
compromise. To follow out Rev. Rains
ford's IDEAS would be TO practically give
the church the control Of the saloon.
''He would not sell whisky in his
saloon, but would offer for sale wines
and beer. Now there are as many men
who squander their earnings upon
beer and allow their families
20 suffer from neglect, as upon whisky.
To my mind, there is no choice between
the two, unless one does its work quick
err than the other, and I am at loss to
account for the reason the distinction
was made. I would favor any plan OF
establishing restaurants or refreshment
rooms by the churches, and sell coffee,
chocolate, soda water, and other drinks,
but they would not solve the liquor
problem, as those who indulge in tntox-
icating drinks have an appetite for
LIQUOR, and want nothing else. Besides,
if there was any merit in such institu-
tious. they would have some effect upon
the liquor traffic to-day, for there are
hundreds Of places where man can sat
isfy his thirst without going into a
saloon.
DIR. Rainslord states that he advanc-
ed his ideas before Young Mems
Christian Association meeting, and the
larger part Of his audience agreed with
him. am very much surprised at this,
as do not believe any Young Mems
Christian Association in the United
States would accept his views, and l am
surprised that a Christian minister
should give utterance to them"
Nessrs. Schmulbach and Caldwell, OF
the Schmul0ach Brewing Company,
were seen in reference TO Rev. Rains
ford'S plan, but declined TO express an
opinion. MeSSrS. Kenney and Blum
we're out Of the city and could not be
seen.