Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-03
An Address Issued to the People
Of Washington.
BY TEE ,ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE
Property Owners Asked Not to
Sign for Applicants.
AN EARN EST PEAL

The Anti-SaloOn League has prepared
| and is now distributing copies of an adj
dress to the people of the District of Co.
lumbia. as follows:
This address is intended to attract the
attention of all good citizens to the great
magnitude of the saloon interest in the
District Of Columbia, and to briefly state
few pertinent facts worthy of most care
full consideration by all those who are in
terested in the material welfare of the
nations capital. The sympathy and CO.
operation of all are most earnestly So
licted in this effort of the league to make
Washington better and purer city. Con-
certed action by the opponents of the sa-
Icon Will largely decrease If not destroy
this enormous evil in our city-the fairest
| in the land. Washington ought to be the
pride of our nation and an honor to the
republic. Each property owner and each
householder has a very great if not a
vital interest in the suppression of the sa-
loon, because all are affected by it. Aside
from the overpowering arguments against
the saloon from purely religious and moral
points of view the Anti-Saoon League ap-
peals to the business interests of the prop
erty owners and residents of the District
of Columbia.
The Saloon and Property.
1.-THE effect of the saloon upon property
Is to depreciate it's value, not only in the
immediate neighborhcod of the saloon, but
Throughout the whole of the District of
Columbia. The preserce OF the saloon
makes the city less desirable as place of
residence. Criminal acts are much more
| numerous, and consequently the safety
and well-being of those who do not fire.
quent saloons are endangered and all prop
erty rights are less secure.
THE gilded palaces of iniquity ensnare the
unwary and the weak by providing and
fostering temptation in scores of ways I'M
| heard of and unknown apart from them
and places of like character. Thus many
hundreds, If not thousands of intelligent
and promising young men who should be
an honor to the city and her pride are
steadily sinking lower in the depths of
degradation. Doubtless besides losing the
Vlgor and assistance of Such many who
would add much to our moral and material
wealth do not purchase homes here. The
moral tone of the entire city is thereby
diminished, her growth retarded and values
decreased. The existence of the very large
number of drinking places not only at
tracts the worst elements of our own city
and develops them. but is also an incentive
to lawbreakers from other cities to make
this their home or their field of operations.
The saloon is barrier only to the desira-
BILE classes.
The city Is likewise less attractive as
place of business. The very large amount
of money annually expended for intoXi-
cants ought to flow in the channels of
legitimate trade where it naturally belongs.
Money so expended is a curse rather than
blessing. The necessities and comforts of
the victims of drink, and the volume of de-
sirable business is thereby decreased. With
habits of sobriety many, yes, almost all,
cf this large class would be wealth produc
crs and valuable to the city. The credit of
the community is impaired because of the
decreased earning power of the liquor US
ers, as well as by the lower standard of
morality and inferior intelligence resulting
from the use Of intoXicants.
The Saloon and Taxes.
THE burdens of taxation are made neav-
Ter. Public expenditures are necessarily
increased to cope with the larger class of
criminals and to adequately protect the
lives ard property of the law-abiding citi-
zens. The number of persons able to own
taxable property is reduced and the burden
of taxation is correspondingly greater upon
those who bear it, The license fees do not
nearly equal the saloons just share of the
cost of maintaining the police force, the
courts, the Jail, the almshouse, the orphan
asylums and the hospitals of the city. The
District of Columbia has a local option law.
majority Of the owners of real estate
and resident householders within certain
limits decide whether or not the excise
board may grant or renew a license for. -he
sale of Intoxicating drinks in any given
bar room in the District of Columbia. Each
one has direct interest In this matter
Good citizenship of the highest type and
character demands assistance from all who
are Interested in the welfare of the city.
The social moral and material we'll being
of the capital appeals to each and to all for
most earnest support and cooperation in
the effort to drive the curse from her bor-
ders.
Washington us u Model City.
washington ought to be model city,
for her influence is great beyond measure.
Washington is the nations city. and the
eyes of the American people are more often
turned toward the capital than to any
other city in the land. Because Of this fact
Washington should be a worthy exemplar
CT the highest and truest municipal govern
ment, and should be the freest of cities
from all forms of vice and immortality. The
moraiities and immoIalities of the republic
are mirrored here, and here more than
elsewhere the representative OF foreign
peoples measure the strength or weakness
of our government. Unfortunately, the
tendency is strong to let matters drift as
they may, and to condone by inaction, If
not by express acts, many of our evils.
Unconsciously, many of the brave, gener-
Gus, noble-hearted men and women of the
city are a paSSive-conSequently negative
force in the struggle against the saloon,
though calm and dispassionate considera-
ton must convince each and all that the
saloon is the most powerful foe of religion
and moral progress existing today. 1t Is
the arch enemy of the home undermining
and destroying its happiness and purity,
and sowing disSension, corruption and vice
Inc Wltherl1lS curse OF tnS nome, 1t 49, Jay
by day, eating at the vitals of the nation
and the nations capital. 1t is the subtle
enemy of the state, gradually poisoning
the soul and body of those who righifully
should be it's strongest and noblest support
ers. The action of the officials of cur ma
tional government is accepted throughout
the empire of civilization as representing
the opinions, principles and morals Of cur
entire people. The eyes Of the world are
upon our city. In the interest of the city
row and for all future time the saloon
should be suppressed. Our youth ought to
have higher development of character
and of culture. One aid to this end would
be the suppression of the school If iniquity
called the saloon.
Breweries Owned by BritOns.
ut should not be forgotten that one Of
the great supports Of the saloon is the
brewery; and attention is called to the own
ership of breweres in the states by the
purchase of the same with British gold,
and the turning over to foreign avarice the
business-which has proven so disastrous
to the best interests Of America-to those
who are in;mical to American institutions
and prosperity.
"a higher moral standard is demanded
by the true interests of all. To the citi-
zens Of this city, it is given to make it
attractive by virtue not vice, by refine
ment, not brutality, by purity. not i'm
morality; thereby making 1t helpful to the
| r,I1 Il hall