The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-30

glass of Webster's water and drained
it. Tt ehoked him. and he sputtered and
gasped so that the business of the senate
was suspended. Mr.. Walkers discomfi-
ture brought a roar Of laughter from the
other senators, IN which Webster Joined
heartily
Consumption of ApoIIinaris.
In the old days not only the commit
tee rooms. but the cloakrOoms were well
supplied with liquor. Now the strongest
beverage you can find in a eloakroom is
apollinaris, and Of that the senators con
sumo many gallons q day all through
the warm months.
Not only Webster, but Clay drank
regularly, and one of the most interest
ing places in Washington is Hancook's
curiosity shop" on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., where Clay used to stop every day,
if tradition is true. to get a glass Of
whisky Webster was SO particular about
having his liquor that he left the house
of friend whom he was to have visited
for week as soon as he learned that
his friend did not serve wine or liquor
at table.
It was in Webster's day. believe,
that funeral party, travelling by stage,
had wine and whisky and brandy at
taverns and charged it up as part of the
expenses Of the trip. A few years ago,
when Senator Hearst's body was taken
to California for burial. the temperance
people made a great cutlery because the
members of the committee of congress
had wines and liquors in the dining car
of the special train and used them free
ly on the return trip.
Public sentiment, as I said, had IN
dergone a change IN the meantime. The
great temperance movement which has
enlisted hundreds of thousands of fol
lowers had swept over the world, and
the liquor question had become a great
political issue. The people of the Unit
ed States who drink have been learning
to use the wines of France and Califor-
MIA in place of the whisky and gin
which were common table companions
90 years ago.
The crusade against liquor at the cap
ital has been going on for more than 80
years. Senator Henry Wilson, after
ward vice president of the United
States, was the author of the first pro
hibition resolution passed in congress.
He offered it in the senate April II,
1866. Reverdy johnson asked if the
prohibition was intended to extend to
liquor in the committee rooms. Mr..
Wilson said he would like to have it do
SO, but he saw no way of accomplishing
that.
Bible Authority.
Then Senator McDougall made a very
entertaining speech against the res0lu-
ton. He described an argument he had
had with a reverend gentleman on the
subject of drinking. He quoted the BIZ
BILE in it's defense. The first miracle, he
caf1 7c17a at Cana II, Calico " han
Christ converted water into wine. The
first thing Noah did when he left the
ark was to plant a vine. All the phi
losophers and the poets exalted wine.
Wine, he said, raised men above the
level of the brutes.
But only one other senator had the
courage of these convictions-Garret
Davis-and only two votes were cast
against the resolution of Mr.. Wilson.
So it was in the house the other day
when the vote on the Morse resolution
was taken. Only seven men had the
courage to vote against it, and seven is
not the limit of the drinking men in
the house.
Senator EdmuDds always kept the
sideboard in the room Of the judiciary
committee well stocked, and when he
was ia too great a hurry to go down
stairs he would steer for Secretary An
son G. McCook's Office, where there
were a bottle and glasses in a cupboard
on the wall.
Most of the senators drink in modera-
ton.
The Senate Restaurant.
The senate restaurant does far more
business in wine than in whisky. In
fact, what profit there is in the restau-
rant is made in the sale of champagne.
Caterer Page, who has been running the
place for nearly dozen years, offered
not long ago TO show me by his books
that he had not made dollar there in
four or five years, and if he has to stop
selling wine, beer and whisky he will
give up the contract. The senators Will
have reason for regret if he does, for
there never has been so satisfactory a
restaurant service as his at the capitol.
In the senate restaurant and in the
restaurant Of the house it was the Gus
tom for some years after the adoption Of
prohibitive measures to serve liquor in
teaeups and to sell it under the name Of
''cold tea A man who asked for
whisky met with a polite refusal, but d
cup of ''coid tea could be had for Is
cents by any one. Public interest in the
subject of liquor selling at the capitol
waned, and presently the teacups were /
put away. OF late, whisky has been |
served in the two restaurants as lt |
would be served in any barroom, and SO |
have beer and wine and mixed drinks. !
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