Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-08-10
LlOuOn IN CONGRESS.

PERHAPS no mat IN the United
States within the past half century has
attained notoriety 70 suddenly as the
Hon. Thomas f.. Watson, a member Of
Congress from Georgia. He is stern
Prohibitionist. A short time ogo he
wrote book IN which he treated ON
the relations Of Congress TO the liquor
traffic. The first edition Of that book,
5000, is now exhausted, ard the public
appetite for It's contents has only Just
been stimulated. In his description OF
Congress he says that drunken menu
borA reel about the aisles--a disgrace TO
the republic"
such u charge a. this could not go
unchalienged by the House when
made by one OF IT, own members. An
investigation follow I'd, as readers OF
our dispatches will remember, but II
did not entirely dlsrrovo what Mr..
Watson said. IL was no, shown that
drunken members resled about
hurrahing for the Fourth OF July, but
II was PRETTY clearly shown that In
about 20 cases honorable members were
very unstable on their feet, and had to
be propped to keep them upright In
their seats while voting on important
measures.
Mr.. Watson contends that Congress
could do the work OF the people much
more etiectually without n bar for the
sale OF liquors than with one. On this
question he says;
This Congress il sent hero to repre-
sent the people, aud Il ought to do what
il right. we know that millions Of the
people are strong In the belief TINT liquor
docs vast harm; that il Is tho enemy OF
mankindi that IL has killed husban ds and
fathers anu ruined sons and daughters,
aud yet Nc authorize the establishment oi
u bar IN the public building which is the
property Of these people As much ~ Of
tho rest Of our citizunS.
"Nhy should II be strange II Congress,
having become barkeeper. should pa :
i'h'SN AhtN hAi hAh i'NA wv HANhih 'AA'Nt
u that patronage? We have nothing 10
do with tho bars all over the city, that
does not make Us 20 responsible IA when
we turn these marble halls founded by
the Father OF his Country, and which,
should bc the light OF the nation, into u
mere barroom.
"Whon such things as this are done
do not think that any member Of Con-
grcss ought to be- restrain cd by any so
callod ethics or by sonlmcuts Of personal
friendship for his fellow mombors from
denounc.ng such monstrous evil.
don't believe bauoOm is a necessary
adjunct to tho American public halls OF
legislation.
II have treated this subject both In my
book and In the paper which publish at
Atlanta In tho manner in which am
sure my duty demands, aud have lrio
To base oyory statement on acts"
10 Prove that matters we're no better
In the Senate, Mr. wstst quoted from
areocnt speech by seu.tor Vest, ~
followg
avery senator here knows that he can
go into the Senate restaurant and get all
the liquor ho wants, u ho has the money,
aud he can buy IL from a citizen from
Maino-irom the Headquarters Of prohi.
billion. Non hP,9 card, published
officially from the Senate restaurant,
with all the wines npon ii, and you can
obtain Bourbon whisky ten degrees
above proof, undor the souhrilucs Of
cold loa,' and they havo ovon thrown
OIL that disguise recently, and yOu can
now drink Il openly In tho Senate roslau-
ranl.n
In spite OF the whitew ashlng report
that was made In This matter, the PEG.
pie oftheUniiol States are keeusighted
enough TO perceive the evils that II
was intended toloover, And u great
many citizens who are not strict pro-
hibitionists consider the congressional
traffic in alcoholic stimulauts die
grace to the capitol and to the nation.