Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-09
AGAINST THE SALOON
The National Convention to Assem-
BILE Here Soon.
HOW TIE MOVEMENT Was STARTED
Forty-six Bodies From Which
Delegates Are Exp ected.
THE GENERAL PROGRAM

Since the last publication in The Star
with reference to the national anti-saloon
convention TO be held In this city Decem-
Der IL to 10. arrangements have been pro-
crossing, end everything is now practically
ir readiness for the gathering of the OPP
ronents of the drinking saloon. who are
expected from all parts of the country.
The following particulars in regard to the
origin and progrt IS of the movement have
been obtained by The Star from the head
quarters. prior to the convention, in the
Washington Lear and Trust building:
The idea of organizing a National Anti
Saloon League has been discussed in the
District of Columbia league ever since the
lrcipiency of the latter. AS an effort to bring
the rational organization into existence.
Prof Fl. r. Stewart, who was then an
active worker in the local league, proposed
standing committee on national organize
ton early December, 1888. when the
present revised constitution of the local
. league was under discussion. 1t was
thought by the majority of his associates
that such work did not belong TO a stand
ing committee, and nothing further was
done at that time.
How 1t Originated.
The present active efforts originated with
a conversation between Archbishop Ireland
DIR. a. ]. Kyrett, chairman of the commit
tee on temperance and prohibition of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. These two
eminent divines happened to be travelling
together, and naturally conversed about
temperance and the suppression of the
drink traffic. In which both are greatly in
terested. They agreed that platform on
which all opponents of the saloon could
stand for united aggressive work was prac-
tiCable ard very desirable. Subsequently
III hi yvAIty tv, II
manner with Rev. l.. b. Wilson, DID,, pres
tonnt of the District of, Columbia Anti
Saloon League, was informed by DIR. Will
son of the large degree of success that the
District of Columbia Anti-Saloon League
has met with in bringing together repre-
sentatives of different denominations, Of
al political parties. and both white and
colCred. and DR.. Kynett suggested that the
District of Columbia league take the initia-
tive in securing a conference of leaders
preliminary to national anti-saloon con-
Sention. This conversation occurred last
Ering, and the suggestion was laid before
the executive committee of the local league.
1t was decided to undertake the work; ar
rangements were at once begun for a con-
ference to meet here the last three days Of
May. 1895. and invitations were sent out
all over the country east of the Mississippi.
Arranging for Convention.
From the responses 1t soon became evil
Jent that a number Of prominent speakers
and writer's could not attend at that time,
which included Decoration day, owing to
previous engagements elsewhere There
upon the conference was recalled, and the
committee in charge undertook to endeavor
to settle the preliminaries of a national
convention by correspondence. Having re-
Yeived what were considered a sufficient
number of signatures, the call for the con-
vention was given to the press October is.
Names continued to arrive subsequently,
including those of Rev Jas NJ Cleary
n lif he
Union of Anne RIGA: Rev. A. j. Kynett, DID,
LID, above mentioned: Rev. S. NJ. New
man. DID, pastor of the First Congrega-
tic nal Church, and Maj Geo A. Hilton, presi-
dent of the National Gospel Mission Union.
Excepting Individual representatives of the
religious denominations, the committee only
asked 70. signatures of the heads of ma
tional and International temperance socie-
ties and ational organizations known to
be IT. sympathy with ant-saloon work. and
the responses were almost without excep
ton favorable to the convention and to the
national organization which Is expected to
result fro m its deliberations.
Places of Meeting.
Headquarters during the convention will
be In Calvary Baptist Sunday school house.
and NEST of the sessions of the convention
will be held there. 1t Is expected that
public session will be held the evening of
Tuesday. December II. in First Congrega-
tional Church, and that of the business ses-
sion of the convention the evening of We'd
nesday. the 18TH In Calvary Baptist Sun
day school house will be open to the pub
lie. Admission to the business sessions Will
probably be confined to delegates and to
known friends of the cause.
The promotion of the convention has
been managed by the District os Columbia
Anti-Saloon League and its executive COM
mittee. The special committees thus far
appointed are the committee on call, con-
sisting of Rev L. B. Wilson. d. D.. presi-
dent of the league, as chairman Jas. L.
Ewin, first vice president secretary of the
committee; Mrs. Fl. A. CLEARWATER; A. N.
Garfield, grand chief ter'plar of the indie
pendent Order of Good Templars, and Mr..
Cavour o. Bohrer; a committee on place of
meeting, consisting of Col. John F. Vinal.
chairman: Albert e. Shoemaker, esq. and
Mr.. J. S. Blackboard committee on accom-
mcdat.ons. consisting of Mr.. Jesse c:
Suter, chairman: Mrs. Clinton Smith and
Mr.. A. l.. Swartwout; a committee on
transportation, consisting of Rev. F. d.
Power, ID. D.. chairman: Mr.. Geo. s. Glib
son and NJ. Edward II. JONES' and a COM
mittee on ways and means. consisting of
Mr.. n. Z. Vowles, chairman; Mrs. NJ. v.
Page. Mr.. William A. Hedrck Sergt John
c. Daley and Mr. Ed. A. Beekman.
Bodies to BE Represented.
Forty-six bodies entitled to 143 delegatSs
have already signified their intention Of
being represented in the convention. includ-
Ing the following. which are national or de-
nominational in jurisdiction scope: Ma
tional Temperance Society, International
Supreme Lodge of the Independent Order
of Good Templars. High Tent of the indie
PENDENT Order of Rechabites Supreme
Council Of the Templars of Honor and Tenn
perance. National Non-partisan W.C.TU.,
National Division Sons of Temperance. Ma
tional Gospel Mission Union, National
Junior Prohibition League, Woman's Ma
tional Kelley League. Anti-Saloon Army,
the Epworth League Methodist EpscopaD,
the Methodist Protestant Christian En-
deavor Union, the permanent committees
on temperance of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. the Presbyterian Church and the
United Brethren Church. and the trustees
OF the UniYersaist denomination. 1t Is
also expected that the Roman Catholic
Church will be represented by Bishop
Keane of the Catholic University, II not
by full delegation. 1t is also expected
that great many more national bodies, as