The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-18

Fourth Street NJ ", church last night
and the large congregation heard a
strong sermon by the pastor, Rev, ]. L.
sooy from his theme, THE Saloon in
Politics" He argued that the saloon
was an element In politics, hence It be-
hooved those wishing to wipe out the
liquor traffic to mass themselves for
their opinions at the polls,
His text was from Micah, chapter Z:
verse 81 That they may do evil with
both hands earnestly, the prince asketh,
and the judge asketh for a reward;
and the great man, he uttereth his mis-
chievous desire; so they wrap him up"
The transition Is easy and natural
from this paragraph, said Or. Sooy to
the liquor traffic. The general confer
ence had set yesterday aside as the
Sunday for temperance day, and he
had chosen as his theme, 1.-The Saloon
In Politics" The speaker wished to
know nothing OF any particular politi-
cal party IN discussing the question.
He agreed with many of his friends
that temperance should be moral, an
ethical question. But the saloon was
In politics, hence temperance must get
into politics.
The saloon power ruling Caucuses
and conventions, must be met polite
ally 1t has no definite partisan poll.
tics. neither Republican, Democratic,
Labor Populist, nor any of the other
parties The saloon power knows moth
ing Of tariff, education the money
questlon-knows nothing Out the sa-
loon, It Is like a chameleon, changing
Its color as II sees fit In New York 1t
is Democratic. in Boston 1t Is Democra-
tic: Connecticut, Republican; in south
ern cities. Democratic, but in many
northern cities 1t is Republican. In
Iowa for instance, 1t switched from
the Republican to the Democratic par
ty, then back TO the Republican, over
the question Of prohioitory law
Local interests have made cities like
Boston and New York Democratic. and
II has been said that the saloon inter-
ests are always Democratic, but the
speaker referred 10 Milwaukee ana
western cities to show the saloon pow
er was Republican, He cited election
statistics to prove that the saloon had
no politics. Continuing. he traced the
growth of a prohlbitory Law fist in
states. Then the beginning of this
temperance. sentiment frightened the
Iluuor men. so that they refused to vo-
lunteer assistance 10 the government
durinn the civil war unless the prohi-
hltory laws were repealed. The Nation
al Brewers Association, In session In
Milwaukee In 1862, offered to loan the
government money to carry on the war
providing the prohibitory laws we're re-
pealed Then and there the saloon
went into politics.
Since that day down to this both par
ties have had 10 do the bidding OF the
saloon. The political parties are afraid
to stand out independent. no candidate
for a public office dare speak against
the saloon. while the party press Is as
silent as the tomb regarding the saloon.
Further said the speaker, all temper
ance laws had been purposely hindered
by legislators, For buucombe, mere eff
feet only, some temperance legislation
in the shape of prohibitory clauses had
been passed. but amendments were
deftly Inserted killing the laws, Moth
ing can be expected from the parties
unless the saloon elemeIt Is crushed.
Quoting Abraham Lincoln, the saloon
eradicated from society
The saloon must he met at the bal
lot box, and good citizens should rise to
the supreme and refuse to Iote for a
man that refuses to vote right on the
temperance question There IS no de-
nyIna that the saloons are all powerful
why" said the speaker, IF Wheel
ing brewer can close all the saloons In
wheeling for one Sunday Just to draw
crowds 30 his park, who denies the
mower welded by the liquor element|'
The manifesto issued By the Oh. tngo
IIauor dealers regulating the opening
or closing OF saloons also came In for
the sneaker denunclation. Speaking OF
the revenue derived from saloon IL
censes, he said that the drunkards'
wives or families received no benefit
from this revenue. 1t was ridiculous 60
hear citizens talking of improving the
streets with the money from the reve-
nue from the saloons. II was very
much like the story told OF the juggler
who traded a dog off to the Indians.
The juggler made the Indians believe
the dog was a mint, he taking hve-dol.
lar bills out OF the dogs mouth at VIII.
Then the juggler left them, and the In
dams dlssected the dog and found that
when the jugsler left the money ac-
companled him 50 It was with the IL
aueF revenues, which was nothing more
than jugglery, pulling the wool over
The eyes Of the people.
DR.. Sooy then discussed the success
that would be gained II Christian vot-
ers would only stand side bF side.
There IL danger facing the Christian
people Of this country In the saloon;
the saloon must go. Men should leave
the old parties, as was done In the last
national campaign. when men left boy
parties on the monny question. We
saloon Is noe being regulated, the power
Is more evident now than ever before.
There IL danger ahead, and with tha
passing away OF Neal Dow there IN no
leader for the emergency
He hoped the American people would
open their eyes to the facts confronting
them. Once aroused the combined
forces Of good citizenship, with thclt
motto, "The Saloon Must Co. would
attain their objects, but 10 long Ms de-
pendeuce II put In tho political pnrllq'
with present conditions unchanged men
-, asaaL and t,VaanA la yait, tlto