Evening star., 1895-01-14
Resolution Against Saloons Passed n,
the Meeting acknowledgement
and the Speakers.

The largest mass meeting ever held In
Aracostia in the cause Of temperance took
place yesterday afternoon in the Baptist
Church. The building was packed with
the best citizens, and many others were
unable to gain admittance to the building.
The meeting was called to order by Rev.
Hugh T. Stevenson, pastor of the Baptist
Church, after which Rev. w. G. Daven-
port of Emmanuel P. E. Church read
selection from Scripture. Prayer was Of
fered by Rev. J. b. North of the Presby-
terian Church, and then Mr.. Stevenson
introduced Professor 3. E. Messer Pro-
fessor Messer emphasized the idea that
saloons deprecated real estate values.
while churches improve it. DR.. E. II. Grant
spoke of his visit to calamity row in the
Jail recently, on which occasion he saw
one hundred persons behind the bars each
one of whom came from this side of the
river and ascribed his downfall to liquor.
Carleton Emerson Smell, representing the
Young Peoples Society of Christian En-
deayor of Garden Memorial Presbyterian
Church, spoke of the duty of citizenship
in assisting to get rid of the liquor traffic.
Mr.. Benoni Miistead said the Christian
should oppose the saloons because of his
faith, business man because it ruined
business by increasing bad debts and every
body because it had grown to be monop-
oily in AnacoStia. Mr.. Barnabas Bryan then
took the platform and after speaking of
the value Of local option he referred to
the difficulty OF enforcing the law on ac-
count Of the present jury system.
II. A. Griswold of the Anacostia railway
was the next speaker. He referred to the
gratitcation of seeing AnacoStia build up,
but he said in all mis- twenty-five years ex-
perience nothing caused HIM greater joy
than the action Of the Anacostia Citizens
Association of Friday night (Applause)
He felt that there was nothing which could
increase more the value of property, and
Va a ,lif..b bnn fir fIar,
the closing of the saloons i'll AnacOstia. J.
II. Williams, another business man. spoke
of his experience in Baltimore regarding
the saloon, and, in closing, said he recog-
element present at this meeting, but
thought they were there to turn over
new leaf and side with he opponents of the
liquor traffic. He wanGed to see the law
enforced against RETAIL wholesale, speak
easies and gambling. Messrs George H.
Thomas and ]. T. Simpson spoke against
the saloon. Rev. w. G. Davenport said it
had been his intention to let the laymen
do the talking, but he desired to emphasize
what had been brought out by other speak
ers regarding the depreciation of value of
property where the saloon was, whereas
their closing would mean a corresponding
increase. Concluding the next speech of
Rev. j. 3. North, which was strongly an
tagonistic to the liquor element in any
phase, a resolution similar to the one at
the Citizens Association was offered. Mr..
Alpheus Hopes moved that the resolution
be made to. protest against wholesale as
well as retail dealers. David Shanks sec
onded the motion, which was unanimously
carried.
The resolution was as follows: I've, the
citizens Of Anacostia, assembled at mass
meeting in the Anacostia Baptist Church,
being desirous of promoting the prosperity
and Improvement of Anacostia in every
manner. and. whereas we believe bar rooms
and wholesale liquor stores are not neces-
sary and are Questionable to us, there
fore, be 1T resolved. that the excise board
be notified that we protest against the
granting of any bar room or wholesale
liuuor license in Anacostia now pending be-
fore them. and request that they refuse to
grant same or any hereafter in Anacostia."