The morning times., 1896-12-09
Mr.. TRUESDELL AS A.
TEMPERANCE LECTURER
Tells Anti-Saloon Leaguers Why
He Cannot Stop Liquor Selling.
SAYS 1t Is the Law and Can Only
Be In Measure Controlled by
the commissioners.

L
night. 1t was an occasion Of much inter
est, inasmuch as the speakers We're pei
sons of wide reputation as orators and
publicists, and presented their facts In
particularly striking manner.
The meeting was presided over by Hon.
Hiram I.rIce, the president OF the League.
Rev. l.. B. Wilson, ID. d., took charge or
the devotional services with WHICH the
meeting was opened.
President Price introduced the speakers
of the evening, the firsc Of whom was
District Commissioner Truesdelf, who de-
llvered an address OF welcome to the dele
gates to the convention. In his talk he
TOOK occasion To remind the league tnat IL
must consider itself especially at home In
Washington, not only because Of its orig
inal organization here, but because the
natfonai character OF the league rendered
highly appropriate the holding of its con-
ventions i'll the National Capital.
The people of the District OF Columbia
are not, he said, responsible for any Of
the la WIS in force here. Under the peculiar
features OF the Federal jurisdiction in
force, this rs the only section OF the United
states in which representation is not made
the basis of taxation. ana WnIcn the citl-
zens are governed by laws in which they
have no part in making This being fact,
he desired to make plain the position OF
the Commissioners on the license system
working within the District.
BY VIRTUE OF LAW,
''The saloon was,' Mr. Truesdell said,''
an esta blished institution in the city, by
virtue OF Federal statute. When the con-
dittons provided for by law had been COM
piled with the authorities had no option
in renewing licenses, and but little in
granting them.
''All that the excise board could do
was TO exercise the limited discretion pro-
vided for. They had, in doing this, re-
duced the number of saloons In the city
to a large extent within recent years.
Within two years the reduction had been
seventy five, forty-three of which were cut
off last year only one bew saloon had
been licensed within that period, ana that
place had formerly been a saloon In clos
ing Mr.. Trues.lell said:
The crime, suffering and misery flow
ing from the saloon is so generally recOg-
nized that the problem is no longer
how to show that fact, but how to get
rid of it..
Your cause is worthy of the assistance
OF every citizen who loves his country,
whether he be a total abstainer or not;
it is an effort To check the growing power
of evil to abolish crime and poverty: to
elevate the moral, and improve the physical
condition OF the people
Til l. ECHURCH-THE SALOON-
Rev Howard Russell, the national super
intendent of the league, whose headquart-
ers are at Columbus, Ohio, was the next
speaker. Mr. Russell made Il very eloquent
speech, ana earned the frequent and hearty
applause OF the audience. He announced as
his subject. The Church, versus the
Saloon and il was the relation of these
two great forces that he considered
The s,gns OF the times, the speaker said,
show greater activity on the part OF
the church in its crusade against the
saloon. The efforts which have been
made in the past have too often been
without that tact a nd common sense which
must be the groundwork of every success.
The Church OF Christ, If it sta nds for
anything, stands for less suffering
among humanity. All the misery that
is in existence is Il sncer and disc-pdit
to Christianity BY assuming the posi-
the panJcea OF all ills, the Church took
the obligation upon itself to remove evils
from societies professedly Christian.
Mr.. Russell read extracts from the re-
port OF the Massachusetts commission
upon the connection of the liqour traffic
4 nd crime. OF 3 900 paupers whose eases
We're examined, : 5 per cent became pauper
iZed because of drink.
He closed his speech with an eloquent
appeal for more and better work on the
part Of the church, and asked especial
activity IN Sunday schools in instiiling
| the facts of ChrIstia n temperance into the
minds of the youth of the land.
Following Mr. Russell James l.. Ewin
made announcements of future meetings
| of the convention. This mornings session
will be held at 8 80 at the Calvary Bap-
tist SGnday-school house, adjoining that
church. This will he purely a business
session. A public meeting will be held at
the First Presbyterian Church at 7:30 this
evening.
AS A GOOD TEMPLAR
After a talk by Rev. DR.. Wilson appeal
ing for contributions of those present to
the cause OF the local league, DR.. d. II.
Mann of Brooklyn was introduced. DR..
Mann is the highest officer OF the Good
TempIar order o the world and spoke on
The Lodge and the Saloon"
His address was a severe arraigninent
of the license system. He denounced the
saloon as the evil of the age and the legal
lied saloon as the sole menace OF modern
civilization
! Very littleprogress was made at the after
noon session, nearly the whole time of the
meeting being consumed in the discussion
OF the adoption of the reports of the COM
mfttees on credentials and amendments to
| the constitution.
Chairman Ewin OF the committee on Gre
dentials reported that the claims Of dele
gates from ninety-one affiliated organiza-
| tions had been examined and the delegates
i seated 1t was developed. however that
| there was some misunderstanding concern
! ing the instructions OF the national secre-
| tary as to the representation to which all
| State organizations were entitled. The
| representation and power of the delegates
F, hinged on the accepted meaning of Estate
! organization" After nearly an hour s
| discussion the matter was referred back to
| the committee % report in definite terms.
Several minor and unimportant changes
| in the constitution were made. The most
| important, that in reference to the object
| OF the league. was recommitted to the
| legislative Committee. The point at issue
| was to what extent the organization should
maintain a strict neutrality upon all ques-
tions of public policy not directly con-
nected with the traffic OF strong drink.
| All were agreed that the league should
have no political affiliation under any
circumstances, but the best way of eX
| pressing this opinion, so as not to hamper
| organizations in municipal and State af
| fairs could not be agreed on.
A resolution was adopted inStructing
| the secretary to cornmu nicate with Presi
| dent and Mrs. Clevela nd. and request that
| day be appointed when the delegates
| and visitors TO the conve ntion might cal
| and pay their respects.
On motion OF Mr.. Nicholson of Indiana
| a committee was appointed 10 draft {
circular letter, calling attention of the
| friends of the temperance movement tt
the fact that a vigorous campaign woult
be carried on ever rywhere during the com