The herald., 1897-11-14
A LOVE FEAST.
PrOhibitiOnistS Meet in
Temperance Temple
VARIED VIEWS EXPRESSED
UNITY OF THE WINGS OF THE
PARTY ADVOCATED
Conventions to Be Held in Fresno in
June-Activity in Temper
ance Work Predicted

A large assembly of members of the
Prohibition party and friends Of the blue
ribbon movement met in Temperance
temple yesterday morning for a general
love feast and an exchange Of views and
sentiments on the question. One of the
objects of the meeting was to promote
spirit of harmony between the two
wings of the party, one of which stands
simply for prohibition and woman SUI
frage and the other styled the Liberal
PrOhibitiOnistS, stands also for these
principles, but claims that all other
moral issues should be included in the
party platform. This was the rock
upon which the party split in the last
campaign. Thomas Wentworth Hig-
ginson once wrote that refOrmers were
like Eskimo dogs, each one must be
hitched to the sledge by a separate
thong or they would turn and chew each
other up. There was no doubt of the
sincerity and earnestness of each speak,
er, but the views expressed were almost
as varied as the faces differed in feature.
except as to the main point-the prohibi-
tion of the liquor traffic.
The meeting was organized with the
election of Hon. ]. M. McComas chair
man and M. H. Culver secretary. Sem
ator McComas made few Introductory
remarks, advising the union Of the two
wings of the party and holding the two
conventions on the same day in June in
Fresno.
Rev. F. E. Coulter, state chairman,
followed, and said that all reform work
to be effective must hinge upon the earn
estness and spirit of sacrifice of the re-
formed. The reason that the prohibi-
tion agitation does not develop faster
is the fact that Prohibitionists do not
apprehend their own cause.
The license system acts as bribe and
has not only corrupted all the citizens
cf this country, but Prohibitionists
themselves. The taint is in all hearts.
The board of equalization, in making
the tax levy, credits everybody with
their pro rata of the blood money Of
saloon license. Before we shall ever.
comprehend the magnitude of the work
it will be necessary for Prohibitionists
and Christians to refuse to accept that,
by restoring the money credited to them
in this way. Let every man who pays
taxes pay also his pro rata to the tax
collector, whether that officer receives
it or not, the effect being the same as
the restoration made by Judas when
the Sanhedsm refused to receive it.
DR.. Widney followed in brief talk.
advising sincerity in the cause. I'VE
must do what we think is right" he said,
regardless of consequences. The evils
of the saloon are so self-evident it is
useless to talk OF them, but when it
comes to political action there is but one
thing to do, and that to vote right"
Rev. Mr.. Webb of Fresno spoke briefly,
advising more charity among Prohibi-
tionists in dealing with each other, more
uniformity of sentiment and more agi-
tation, as that was one of the means
to forward the cause in which they were
all interested.
T. d. Kanouse spoke briefly also, fol-
lowing in the same line of thought as.
the preceding speakers.
The resolution committee, composed
of DR.. Bowers, DR.. Widney, Rev. Mr.
Webb and Mr.. Kanouse, reported
through the chairman. recommending
increasing warfare on the drink traffic;
accepting the challenge of the liquor
party to meet them at the ballot box:
rejoicing in the forward movement of
the cause in the late election in the east
and the large vote for prohibition; ex.
tending to the w. C. r. U. hearty greet
ings and trusting that the day is not
far distant when they can meet the Pro-
hibitionists at the polls, and warmly
endorsing the California Voice.
The meeting then resolved itself into
what the chairman called general love
feast. Jesse Yarnell leading in the short
speeches There We're gray-haired
women and men and good springlng
of white neckties in the audience and
among the speakers. The ideas were
varied as to the shortest and quickest
way to success in bringing about prot-
bition, but each speaker was earnest
and honest in the views expressed.
The meeting adjourned sine die at
1880