The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-26
Mr.. DICKIE'S ADDRESS
Del iVered Before a Large Audience in thu
rockingham Theater.
The VICTORY IN NORFOLK. VA.
It Inspired the Speaker with Great
Hopes for the Future of the Pro.
hibition Party-He offered Ten DOL
lars to Anyone Who Can Tell Him
the Political Difference Between
Democrats and Republicans.

1t is seldom that such a large and
cultured audience assemblies in this
city to hear a lecture as was present at
the rockingham last evening to hear
Professor Samuel Dickie, the national
chairman of the Prohibition party.
talk on obstacles to Political Re.
form" The speaker was escorted to
the platform by Attorney W w.
L~athrope, who had been selected by
the Central Prohibition league to pre-
side. The appearance Of the gentle
men was the signal for a hearty burst
OF applause. MI. Lathrope in intro
ducing the speaker thanked the audi.
enc for their presence on such II dis
agreeable night.
Mr.. Dicks began by saying he would
read a telegram handed to him after
his arrival in this city. The telegram
Is as follows:
NORFOLK, Va, May %. 1894.
SAMUEL DICKIE, Scranton, Pa:
Entire city government Prohibition.
Clean sweep. Straight party ticket, Old
Virginia places first municipal jewel in
the crown Of national Prohibition. 1t is a
gilt from God. W. II. GIBBS,
State Chairman.
FIRST NEWS FROM SEAT OF WAR.
The speaker said that no was on his
way west from the exciting campaign
in the city of Norfolk, and this tele-
gram was the first news he had re-
ceived from the seat Of war. There
were only two tickets in the iield-the
straight Democratic and the straight
Prohibition ticket, and the Prohibition
ticket had won.
After showing !the dangers Of the
municipal corruption that he said pre-
vail in most Of the larger cities of this
nation. He returned again to Norfolk,
and said that city had many apparent
spasms of virtue. aud the officers Of the
law would 90 forth on Sunday morn
ing and in the majesty of
their official power c~hsrge-on
the soda water fountain Qaughterl
on the barber shops and the milk
dealers, but all this time nearly 800 sa-
Icons were permitted to carry on their
nefarious traffic in defiance of all law.
But the soda watar men did not have
a pull" in politics. And though the
BARRIERS occasionally have a rather So
we're pull" they had nc pull" in pol
iticS Continuing he said:
What do our large cities need the most
today? Better mayors? probably so. Bet
ter police officers? very likely. But what
is most needed is municipal officers who
shall be held accountable to n better polit-
ical party. l am acquainted with the
mayor of Norfolk, and though he is no arch.
angel, and has never made any effort to
enforce the liquor law, yet l can
safely say that If the same gentleman
had been elected by the Prohibition party,
that the law would b. thoroughly en-
forced, for the reason that most mayors
are anxious to be reelected, and if he
were held responsible to better party he
would see to it that the municipal and
liquor laws would be most rigidly en-
forced.
AGAINST GUERILLA WARFARE.
The Prohibition party does not believe in
this guerilla warfare Of now supporting a
good Republican in order to defeat q
''bad" Democrat or vice versa. The liquor
men could cross party lines IA well as the
better elements, and a good deal more
prompt, for the baser elements of our
population are much more easily ''influen-
| ced" than the more decent part.
After discussing the immigration
question, he turned HIS attention to
trusts and monopolies. He said there
was great danger in this concentrating
and that something had to give way
pretty soon.
The speaker next took up the liquor
question, and said that il the traffic
did not create any Of the misery and
w~retchedness for which it was respons-
ible, it was yet the most gigantic prob
lem now facing the American people,
for the traffic costs the people Of the
nation over one bill ion and q quarter
| of dollars.
The speaker said that the liqnor ques-
ton was taken into politics by the
liquor dealers In 1862 when they met in
united convention on Nov. 10 of that
year in the city of New York and re-
solved they would support no man or
party that ever favored total abstin-
encc, much less prohibition. He
followed the history Of the power
of the saloon in politics from
that time up to this. and referred to
campaign in Ohio, Michigan and Penn
sylvania. He said that he would ven.
ture the statement that no mar could
be elected into Office in this city whose
record was known to be antagonistic to
the saloon.
CRITICISED SALOON SUPPORTERS.
He criticized severity clergymen and
Christian people who supported the
saloons by their votes. He said
that u minister who votes the Rspubli.
can or Democratic ticket did more to
psrpstuate the liquor traffic than any
saloon keeper in the land.
The speaker offered $40 to anyone
who could tell him the political differ
snce between a Republican or a Demo-
crat. What did u man have to believe
in in order to be a Democrat or Repub.
licanf In 1899 the Democrats swept
this nation on an anti. Mckinley bill
platform, but ven yet the Mckinley
bill is doing business at the old stand.
The fact is that the two old parties at
Washington are trying to get into the
same bed,
In conclusion MI. Dickie made an
eloquent plea for the Prohibition party
and predicted the triumph Of the cause
for which 1t 10 battling within a few
years.
Mr.. Dickie left on the midnight train