The times., 1897-06-28
LIQUORS FOES REJOICE
Anti-SalOon Leaguers Celebrate
Their Fourth Anniversary.
REV. DIR. WILSON'S ADDRESS
Statistics Quoted to Show the Re-
suits Accomplished by the Lcagne
in the Observation-Disclosures of Saloons
Reduced aud a Decrease in AR
rests for Drunkenness.

Four years ago the Anti-Saloon League
of the District Of Columbia was organized
and last night an anniversary celebration
was held by the league in the First Con
gregatlonal Church to commemorate the
event. The meeting was presided over by
James L. Erwin, president or the league
and young women from the First Con-
gregational .'Y'' acted as ushers. An ex-
cellcnt musical program, which included
America sung standing, had been PIE
pared Ey the committee OF arrangements
and Rev. DIR. L. b. Wilson, presiding elder
in the Methodist Episcopal church and
first vice president of the American Anti
Saloon League, delivered the address.
On the platform, beside Mr.. Erwin and
Rev. Dr.. Wilson were Mr.. Andrew y. Can
field, first vice president of the league
and past grand chief templaT or the order
OF Good Templars; Rev. DR.. Little, pastor
of Assembly Presbyterian Church; hrs
Margaret Is. PIatt .presidentof the Wornan's
Christian Temperance Union OF the Dis
chairman of the committee of arrange
ments.
After an invocation by Rev. Dir. Little,
MT. a. N. Garfield gave review OF the
work that had been done by the league
in the District of Columbia, sa aying, Among
other things:
The league is a recent movement, for
il is only four years old. When IL was
organized it was thought TO be impossible
to bring all the Temperance societies to-
gethcr so as to work harmoniously, but
that diff Guilty was overcome. &c was
started in the belief that agi tation means
education, and the agitation has been
kept up. We had an anti-salOon revival
last November which lasted eight nights,
during which thirty-one meetings We're
held in twenty churches. 1t has pre-
pared q map showing the location Of
every licensed place in the District, and
has completed list of the names OF the
owners OF saloon property. Many owners
do not like to have it known that they
rent property for saloon purposes. The
league has caused changes to oe made
in the rules governing the obtaining Of
licenses. one OF which is that sn agent
must have special authority from Owa-
ers to sign applications for license.
1.-THE greatest force at our disposal is,
however, our attorney, Albert E. Shoe
InakeE who watches ali the proceedings,
learns the names OF all s;gners of applica-
tons and ascertains whether they are
church people and Christians The re-
suit OF our activity is shown by the in
crease of twenty-five societies that have
joined the League during the past year.
when the league was organized, IN
1893, according TO official reports there
were in the District of Columbia 939 IL
censed places. The number now is but
600, falling off OF 249 places since
the league began its work There are
80 places less now than in 1896, and
no new barIoons have been opened this
year, except in hotels.
In 1886 there were 1858 less arrests
for all causes than / n 1893, a falling off OF
II per cent, aud in 1896 the total number
of arrests for drunkenness was $50,
which is 1,l61 less than in 1898. The
total number Of arrests of habitlal drunk
ards in 1888 was "a, and ia 1886 1t
had dropped to so, falling off of IA.
The League is no longer experimental
II las demonstrated that the temperance
organizations can work together for the
common object that the saloon must go
Rev. DR.. Wilson delivered an eloquent
addIess, during which he was several times
applauded- He said, in part:
II want to speak first with respect TO
our creeds. Sometimes men assume to
decry creeds 1t is well to remember
that creed is the backbone OF moral organ
2 n. in
empty things, not sentimental things, but
are hsrd factors in the history of the race
1t was creed that threw overheard the
tea at Boston: it was creed that brought
out the flint lock, and that caused men to
bivouac on the field until the bells brought
out a new liberty. But when we have
creed we mnst be careful what that creed
is. What Is our creed concerning the
saloon? First, we believe that the traffic
In strong drink is the foe OF man: that the
great rum power is deceiver robber,
q murderer
''ff you do not believe that you did not
read the papers yesterday. If you read the
papers tomorrow you will believe it as
portrayed by the tireless, hard working and
never-sieeping reporters, who gather tie
truths for the benefit of the world. I was
interested in what my brother said few
minutes ago about the saloon map The
star is usually used to designate on a map
the saloon, and as he spoke my thoughts
turned to the brass star in the pavernentfn
the Baltimore and Potomac station which
marks the spot where President Garfield
stood when the bullet found him. and
when thought OF this map / remembered
stars that hot
represented an attack on manhood: that
there was the beginning of curse that
could not be clothed with love and that is
bound to run through the years blackening
all the eternal future
II believe that the saloon is mans
deadliest foe and the blacklist insult that
earth offers to heaven. This is O creed.
We all believe it,