Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-27
HE DEALT IN FACTS.
VIEWS OF A MAN WHO NEVER
TOUCHED WHISKY IN ANY
FORM.
A. Intelligent ana Convincing
Argument ON the Local option
Question In Fort Worth

Arlington was crowded yesterday by
The best people OF the precinct to hear
Hon. o. w. Gillespie deliver an ad-
dress against local option. The school
house wns filled to overlooking. Dr.
Hutchenson introduced the speaker,
who was warmly received and FREE
euently applaudcd. He said:
Fellow lCit2ens-The question now
before the people of Tarrant county Is
Of very grave Importance and as is
usual In questions OF this kind. men
feel very strongly on their respective
sides. But, fellow citizens. we ought
not on any question of Importance to
ourselves allow our feelings and preju-
dlces 10 control our Judgment. We have
no way Of settling questions OF this
kind but by addressing them to the
Intelligence, fairness and honesty of
our people. The voice of the people or
the voice Of the majority on questions
Of this kind Is the supreme law and
every man, whether he wishes il or not,
ought To bow In submission to the
will OF the majority. We are not here.
fellow citizens, to advocate the viola
ton Of any law. We are here to deter
mine whether or not a law of the
kind now proposed should be written
upon your statute books. The very
first question to be decided. and the
most important question In this con-
test, Is whether the law-making power
has the right to go into the territory
proposed by the advocates OF local op-
lion or prohibition. and II 50, whether
1t Is expedlent to do so. In the present
contest several criticisms have been
passed upon those who are espousing
the cause of anti-local option. ! have
decided for myself 10 follow my own
convictions % right regardless Of what
any man might say for or against
me. Seven or eight years ago when
began to read law and study the ele-
mentary principles of government, /
became firmly convinced that legls-
lailng upon his question to the extent
here Involved did not come within
lne law-making power OF the state.
subject outside and beyond the
jurisdiction OF the law to determine
what man should eat or what a man
should drink. But being urged by my
trends That all the moral people of
we county were on one side of this
question, and knowing that with that
elass OF citizenship ] expected to cast
ny lot' | thought perhaps / was mis-
,aken on this subject; that / would
throttle my convictions and jump into
me nght on the other side OF the
question, md, gentlemen, j tried IL for
awhile but l could not be satisfied,
nnen ] would get to thinking OF my
auV as citizen, to think that would
hrottle and stlne my honest convic-
Nohs TOT the purpose of pleasing any
s asni so' after a very short while.
determined 10 advocate what l thought
vas light aud and returned TO the side
!, y harmony with my first convictions,
,lat legislation OF this kind or a law
shlerhklng to go into this territory
vas not right, that 1t was yiolatiye
the private rights of the citizen
sn9 that which only the law OF God
na NE moral law should enter; that
ms elNil power has no right to step
within this territory.
Mow' gentlemen. we are accused OF
bus the adherents OF Anheuser-
ouschi We are accused OF being the
slender Of the saloons: we are ac-
tissM OF standing in with the law
sSsaksr5 or Your country. look Into
,our iaces and ask You II my life be-
Us you VIII justify such a charge.
n. ~ are told by very able gentleman
ny represents the other side in open
me campaign In the city OF Fort
S'n lhu the question Involved in
Lar esnlpaign was saloons or no sa.
,nss, , and he challenged anybody to
NJ. "sr H. IL said he, you stand on
ny SIDE of this question you are OPP
XIX ssd TO saloons. opposed to prostitu-
,s sh opposed to gambling and drunk
NY II you stand on the other
nrs you are in league with Anheuser-
KEEN you are In league with the sa-
,na WIN drunkenness, prostitution
nst sshDllng' My fellow citizens,
wv ~ not the question. II It was,
,as Xxx ~ not prohlbltionlsts submit this
iay. sSh 10 me people OF this state and
ma ssnail uppling houses he estab-
sa,u II you want TO make il a
NV ~ oi SALOONS or No Saloons"
fils W you not urge law against tip |
iha a ssl. ons, question that In within |
,se.,suietion of your laws and your |
M, tsnilng power II Is q field that |
H. ney enter. But the real question |
tars addressed to You and to me is, |
H. NJ the right. the civil right,-not |
ilhave 'al right, not the religious right |
tsnrh,,W we the right as citizens of this |
,spuelin to say 10 man. .You shall |
IN prink whisky. you shall not drink |
f,lc,,y9u shall not drink wine" Now |
4 M, ..,tlHens, Is not that the question |
la, nat the foundation OF this con- |
IA, 70 YOU hold that when / say |
psn seu havn't the right under our |
,ou government 10 say to man,
sod ~ not eat this or that, do you
thsi Mat when tal;e this position.
N IA, an IN league with prostitution. |
Nth "ANAA tNHlnfiUSs IN ltNSue L
oen, ssIoons and violators OF the law, |
,hs, SIen. for those of you who make |
p,esls,iIse heedlessiy. not fully APP
IL san the question, seeing only
hna nosmlty OF drunkenness In the |
mi ,sTreing the fearful consequences
a lonnpw from the incorporate use
Il" s,i, and do not stop TO think Of |
4, hn,tnsiple OF right or wrong, l have
ihnurs charity and kind feeling, |
tAs No = oeneye you are wrong. But |
Dc p,rnN wao males such charge for
Ne ssaspose Of calling to his assistance
ntmher.5t q the church and church |
u, r,,s VINO make that appeal for
rooa 'apose of drawing TO his side
trgnkaounest men who are opposed to
tsyfcsnnsss or wish 10 save the coun-
ing ihss ~ We Influence OF liquor. know
- a. ~. WIS queEtioa is not involved In
lay. contest. for that man l
u AZ ~ enarity. / would say 20 him.
,oe AZ w league with prostitution.
INV N ~ league with Hypocrisy.
tAa n ,,sliow citizens, the question Is,
faas ot,' me only question In the
neasurs o. the expediency OF the
ftkl AZ as % whether we have the
4 M, SSt.'isens not asChristians, not
W; \. ta-let us not comminRle the
cnsstia,, a Christian people and a
HI-A nation. our l~hrfeftapFtx, xvas |