Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-13
ANTI-LICENSE LEAGUE
Steps Taken to Unite the Temper
ance Organizations. o.,
TO FIG HIT UOR MEN
What Was Said at q Mass Meeting Last
Night-Ministers and Others Talk-Criti-
cism of the Authorities-A Proposition to
Organize q National Body.

Inc nrst movement looking to the formation
of a national temperance league was made last
night at Typographical Hall. number of
temperance advocates early in the week decided
to call mass meeting for the purpose of con-
sidering the advisability of such an organiza-
ton, and a number Of people. a large majority
of whom were women. attended.
Mr.. John R. Mahoney, WHO'S the grand secre-
tarv of the Good Templars. explained the objects
of the meeting. which were to bring about an or
ganization for the purpose Of fighting the
liquor dealears and compelling strict OBJ
servance OF the law. Mr.. ii. Il. Stewart moved
the appointment Of a permanent chairman,
and named MIR. Mahoney for the position He
was unanimously chosen, and MIR. W. s. Row
ley was elected secretary.
MIR. Stewart, replying to an invitation from
the chairman for a speech said that he had
been studying the temperance question for
years. and was convinced now more than ever
before that organizations did more to advance
its interests than anything else. The formation
of National Temperance League. he said, was
the only thing for the people Of this fair citv
to do. and the meeting was for the
purpose of concentrating all the temper
ance forces for that purpose. When Congress
meets. the league, he said. can present In better
shape the arguments advanced against the great
curse OF liquor The temperance people of this
country wanted an organization here at the
capital where they could compel saloon keepers
to obey the law, and to impeach il necessary
the Commissioners if they violated any Of its
provisions.
The liquor men. he said, boosted the author
ship of the present law. Such thing is dis
grace to II civilized community but since the
bill has become q law 1t has been found bitter
medicine. and the temperance people should
see to it that the doctors who prescribed it for
themselves are made to take it.
REV. MR.. HERsHEY's TALK
Rev. Scott +. HERSHEY said he was convinced
that the saloon keepers would continue to do
about AZ they pleased. and will control the Com
missioners unless there Is personal and direct
power from the best people Of the city. They
should say in one voice, through an organiza-
ton known as the National Temperance
League, that this shall not be- This il the
point of the focus. The more he lived in this
city the more Disguised he had become. Rev.
Mr.. Hershey criticised the authorities for their
action in regard to some liquor license cases.
This. he said. was only another argument to
demonstrate the needs of concentrated action
by the temperance people and the formation of
a National Temperance League was the best
means he knew of to bring about the desired
results. His plan would be to get representa-
ton from each Of the churches and temper
ance societies Of the city and let them form the
league. The time had come when the people
should demand that the public officers should
be public servants and nothing more. We will
never have decent municipality, he said. until
we insist upon strict enforcement OF the law.
REV. MR.. BROOKS INVESTIGATIONS.
Rev. Walter H. Brooks. pastor of the Nine
teenth Street Colored Baptist Church, made
stirring appeal in behalf of the proposed
league. He said that number Of the colored
ministers of the city were in sympathy with the
work. He had gone through South Washington
n number Of times during the past month and
had given this subject the greatest considera-
ton in his power. 1t was very strange that in
all Of his Investigations he could not find one
place that the police had reported disorderly.
They were all quiet Places yet he knew of
number that were the scenes Of frequent
brawls and fights. disturbing the neighborhood
and perhaps fleeing the police. He had been
to a number of persons to try and keep them,
from signing applications Some Of them we're
members of his church. and when he told them
that he had obtained their names fr, M
the records In the Commissioners Office they
promised not to sign again. There are
scores Of poor ignorant men and women in
this city. he said, who are imposed upon
by these liquor men. As an instance he cited
the case Of one Of his parishioners who was
firm believer in prohibition, but whose name
appeared upon the application of a man for a
liquor license. When he asked the reason for
such a thing the reply was that she had beefG
deceived. She told that she WAS only sagu-
ing IOr the purpose OF giving the RoOu VIII M
the neighborhood to 4 new grocery store about to
be started. 1t is a wellknown fact that the great-
est number of saloons are found i'll the poor
district. yet after careful investigation of all
the applications at the Commissioners Office he
was unable to find single cross mark which
showed conclusively that the signatures of
these poor ignorant men and women had been
forged. He maintained that when the law said
the written consent of a resident or property
holder must appear upon the application for
liquor license it meant exactly what it said and
not that man could by word of mouth agree to
an application and allow another man to sign
1t. He had found from experience that the
whole business of liquor license turns upon the
assessor and the lieutenant Of police in whose
precinct the applicant is located. The Com
missioners don't bother themselves about the
names of people Who appear upon the applica-
ton 1t is sufficient for them to see The name
Of the lieutenant Of police under the statement
that the signatures correct.
Mr.. BRADLEYs ADDRESS.
Mr.. F. NJ. Bradley was the next to speak