Evening star., 1896-12-08
ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE
First Anniversary Meeting Of the General
Body.
Vigorous Attack ON the Saloon In
This City and Elsewhere-Com.
mittees Appointed.


Rev. DIR. 8. H. Greene, pastor sth street
near Fl street northwest.
President Hiram Price presided, and Mr.
James L. Ewin was secretary. After the
singing by the large audience. composed Of
delegates to the convention, of America"
Rev. DR.. Walter H. Brooks offered the in
vocation.
The annual address of President Price
was in part as follows: Tariff laws, coin
age laws, and all laws affecting our COM
merce. both foreign and domestic, have en-
gagged the attention of our wisest legisla-
tors and most profound. all of which with
IN their legitimate limits are of much inn
portance. But the great question of how
10 increase the virtue and, consequently,
the real happiness, of the people has from
some cause not received the attention
which its Importance demands.
according to carefully prepared state
ment by one who has had ample oppol tu-
nifty for thoroughly correct knowledge OIL
this subject. we expend in one year for in
toxicating liquors in the United States the
enormous sum of 81 200, 600, 900 WHILE ac-
cord1ng to the official report of the acting
director of the United States mint the en-
tire coin money of this nation was only
six hundred and four millions of gold and
six hundred and fourteen millions of sill
YER. SO 1t Is made to appear from the Off
ciai figures that the American people spend
gold and silver coin money of the nation
All Christendom was recently aroused
alert, willing and anxious to spend time
and money to prevent the oppression and
slaughter of the Armenians. But while
We have thus been willing to compass sea
and land and to encounter danger In for
eiSn lands and among semi-barbarous
people 10 protect the lives and property
OF strangers, we have not only allowed
but have also supported and encouraged by
cur laws and customs a system and a
business which results every month in the
slaughter Of hundreds of our own people
"A New Jersey newspaper of a recent
date contained the following item, which
is worthy of note in this connection: 1t
says that lots of people can develop untold
holy horror over the Armenian atrocities
oysters regarding atrocities just around the
corner from their own doors. Distance
lends horror to the horrible as we'll as en-
chantment to the view
The responsibility of the professedly
Christian people for this soul and body y-de-
stroying business is emphasized when the
fact Is considered that by the united ac-
ton of all the churches the rum traffic
could De quickly and completely destroyed.
When 1t becomes necessary for pro-
fessional politicians to trim their sails to
catch the vote of the churches, as they
now DO to catch the saloon vote, the occu-
patton OF the grog seller will take rank
with that of Othello.
The history of the world in all the ages
Is full of incontestible evidence to prove
that divided attack never did and by no
possiblhty ever can succeed against
united defense. What we need and what
We must have If we hope for success is
unity of purpose and concert of action.
The grog shop force and influence is
always and under all circumstances unit.
II never fails to present an ltnbroken front
to its enemies. Whatever differences of
opinion may exist among liquor men on
other questions they are never divided
when their business is in danger. All dis
tinctions Of race, color, nationality or DO
liticai nan es are subordina ted to this one
question. and they present a solid front to
their opponents.
The rum power is fully organized and
well drilled, every man at his post, and al
ways at it. 1t moves with closed ranks
shouider to shoulder, front face, solid COL
umn. with one purpose. one object in view
Ana this Is the secret of its power and Sic
cess.
From the official records of the city of
W ashington for the year. ending June 30,
1888. 1t appears that there were III places
In said city where the sale of Intoxicating
liquors vas authorized by law. and for the
year ending June 30. 1896. only 722 such
places. which is a reduction Of ffty-tiye
places during the year: and for this chang
ca ana better condition we are largely in
debtcd to the officers of the local temper
aEce organizations of the city But even
with this change for tho better, we have
stu IN the city 10 places authorized by
" AidhuldCtuIe ana turn loose
the community every year scores of nan
pers and criminals, and are now paving
millions OF dollars annually for the support
of these places
Inc war IN which this anti-saloon or
ganization Is engaged is not a personal war
upon any man, but is against the organizer
and legalized saloon
Committees Appointed.
The chair announced the appoin tment OF
the following committees:
Credentias-James L. Ewin of the Dis
trict, Rev. s. M. EdwardsA Mrs. Rebecca
Fairbanks, Rev. E. C. Dinwiddie
Resolutions-A. E. Carhart, Rev. DR.. A.
J: kynett. Mrs. E. ]. Phinney, Rev. T. l..
Poulson. A. N. Garfield, Nelson Dingley.
j. F. Brant.
Auditing-R. R. Bane, Sidney Perham. $.
NJ. Yeatman.
The report of Rev. Howard H. Russell
o! columbus, OHIO, general superintendent
of the National American Anti-Saloon
League. was very lengthy and referred in
detail to the work done by him during the
year just ended. He rec ecommended that the
work OF the Anti-Saloon League be taken
up by all the churches throughout the
country. and that legislative committee
be appointed to further legislation, both
OF a national and state character.
Secretary's Report.
Secretary Ewin in his report congra;u-
ldleu TIC 1oTly-Gl5Ht DOu1eS OF Clt1ZenS OF
our great country who nave constituted the
of the league on the steady
practical work and tangible progress which
have characterized the first year of its
notwithstanding the fact that this
year has been a time of the greatest de-
preston the country has ever known, and
of national political campaign second,
perhaps, to none other in intense excite
ment, as well as in vital Importance to the
nation.
Among a great mary matters referred to
in the report was one stating that the sal
ary of the superintendent. Rev. Howard H.
Russell, was by the executive committee
fixed at ten dollars day and expenses for
the time actually employed. Mr.. Rus
sell was engaged about one year ago.
Other Business.
The report Of Treasurer F. w. Walsh. jr..
showed that the receipts for the year
to $537.47 and disbursements to
s541. 81.
Secretary Ewin announced that mass
meeting in the interest OF the anti-saloon
cause will be held this evening at 7:3O
o'clc ok in Mount Vernon Place M. f.
Church South, Rev. DR.. Canter, at which
an attractive program will be presented.
On motion of Rev. DR.. kynett of Penn
sylvania the privileges of the floor were