Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-09-20
WAR ON RUM.
Bishop Messmer's Plan to Organize
Against the Liquor Bust


Against the Liquor BUSH
ness.
Green Bay, Wis, Sept. 12.-Bishop S.
| G. Messmer, the eminent Catholic dl-
vine. who is at the head of this inn
| portant diocese, is planning the forma-
| ton of a new national temperance league
| which is expected to wage more sue
cessful warfare against the sale and
| use of liquors than any organization now
| in existence 1t is proposed not to con-
fine the membership to Catholics, but to
| take in members from all denominations.
| While the bishop is a pronounced advo>
cate of temperance, his views as 10 how
| the desired result may be attained Differ
| somewhat from those as held by other ma
! tional temperance workers. He maintains
! that prohibitory laws fail and have falled
| by reason of their being too extreme al
together There would be more tenn,
perance among Germans, for instance,
| he said today to a Gazette man, IT they
were to be approached in Il different man
ner. less forcble and less compulsory
| Total abstinence. as we see 1t advocated by
prohibitionsts, will never be looked upon
| kindly by Germans.
For years | have studied the subject"
continued the bishop, " and have come to
| the conclusion that there may be a way
out of the difficulty. | have in mind a
plan by which certain ideas of mine may
| De l1ldue Instrumental III TIE way
| for the realization of the hopes of adyo-
Gates of temperance. This is the forma-
| ton of Il temperance league which, l hope,
will take in members of different denomi-
| nations and not confine its membership
to only Catholics or Protestants.
THE great work of the league would
| be in the first place to counteract the gem
eral causes of intemperance. These are
principally three. First. aduterate ted
drinks, by which is caused depraved
h,% +s,.t<N l,xy
use and consumption of strong drinks.
Secondly, the saloon in its specific work
and effect as distinguished from restau-
rants and hotels and with all its dire
surroundings. Thirdly, certain social hab-
its, leading to drink, such as treating,
| frequenting saloons, manners by which
others are more or less morally forced to
drink; playing and gambling for liquors,
These direct and indirect causes could
be most effectively cOmbated by the
| Temperance league. First, in general by
creating sound public sentiment and
opinion against intemperance, and in par
| tlcular against these causes thereof. Sec
ondly, by directly counteracting them in
securing the enactment of laws and see
ing that they are enforced. In Europe
strict laws covering the adulteration of
all spirituous beverages are enforced The
distiller and the brewer alike are under
strict police surveillance. Why can't it
and sale of intoxicating liquors should be
under regular supervision of the law.
Third, as regards the saloon, by (a) reduc.
ing their number. High license, strict
rles III granting licenses, and rules as to
the proportion of the number of saloons
potent factors in that direction. And (b)
as regards the closing time. l would like
to see saloons closed all through
Sundays; city and park hotels might
be open, but. they certainly. should
be closed during the time of church
services, forenoons and evenings. On
week days they should not be al
lowed to keep open after midnight and
on Saturdays they should for very good
reasons close much earlier. 1t is then
that men receive their wages They
know that they need not work on the day
following and thus they are induced tc
carOuSe and to waste their money. On
Sundays they lie ut home, suffering from
the effects of the liquor and quarrel with
their good wives and families. 1t is then
And (c) do not allow minor persons under
Is years of age stay in saloons either fo1
the purpose of drink or play. They have
no business there. Fourthy, the league
might work against the causes of intern.
perance by special rules and habits to be
observed by its members, which rules
ought to be on a basis broad enough tC
admit to the league all who are in favor
of practising and promoting by example
and persuasion the cause Of temperance
The league could inaugurate a system OF
different degrees or grades, progressing
from the less severe to Stricter observance
eff | were to outlive these degrees ]
would say let the first degree be formed
by those VINO pledge themselves not tC
treat or be treated in the accepted SENSE
of the word. The second might be the
anti-saloon degree The members would
agree not to visit or go into any saloon
merely for the purpose of drinking The
third / would call the anti-whisky degree
Abstain altogether from strong drinks.
like whisky brandy, gin, etc, though yor
may take your glass of beer or wine. The
! fourth, the total abstinence degree. would
enroll sll those who would be sincerely
willing to abstain from the use of all in.
toxicating drinks, for certain time only
or for the course of their lives.
''Such a broad temperance league has
the advantage concluded the bishop. 'Ot
gathering and uniting with itself all per
sons who are in favor of helping the tenn.
Derance movement in one way or an.
other; it will gain in strength and influ,
ence as it grows in numbers Besides, il
will avoid extremes which at present
cause many to keep away from the move.
ment who would otherwise from nclina.
ton be among the foremost of temperance
promoters
Il shall be in Louisville" said Bishop
Messmer, ION September % when the
Union of Catholic Youths will meet at the
same time. / am to address them. and il
is my purpose to outline to them this plan.
nd T hat thor, al