The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-12
DEUTSCHE HESINC.
Chicago's Postmaster Talks Sa
loon in Willard Hall
Which is Dedicated to Frances
Willard
HEAD OF THE w. G.. T. U.
Mortified Christian Temperance
Audience With His Remarks.
Says We Must Have Saloons Be-
cause We Must.
HEAD OF THE W. C. T. q.

and dressmakers' accounts and the
greed of wives than it has from the eff
fects of the saloons"
And the busts Of Frances Willard
and Matilda Carse almost fell off their
pedestals in Willard hall a the words
of Washington Hesing, postmaster and
candidate for mayor. 1t is probable
that Some of the slabbs with the names
of women who contributed to the build
ing of the temple were loosened also.
It was the first time voice for reg
ulated saloon ever was raised in the
hall.
Mr. Hesing was talking to the League
of Christian citizens. He will be fol-
lowed by all the other candidates-as
long as they last-and there are enough
of them to last until election week..
Mr.. Resing did not try to dodge any
thing. He faced a mixed audience,
which filled Willard hall, and talked as
ne might have talked in any hal not
dedicated prohibition. He tOOOk the
position that the saloon is a vice which
is a neceSSity-a vice in some people
eyes-and he promised in the introduce
tory speech not to try to do the impOS-
sible and abolish all vice, but to do the
best he could to regulate vice-such vice
as is inherent in the nature of the av-
erage man.
This sentiment caused a storm. Mr..
Hesing expected it, but he is hoping to
be mayor only on promises that can be
fulfilled. He would not promise TO
abolish the saloon. This brought the
women into the controversy, and Mr.
Hesing was the target
Mr.. Hesing, it is claimed that the
people of this city pay $67 900, 900 into
the hands of the saloon men each year,
and the people get back So, GEO 600 in rev
enue each year from the saloons" said
Mrs. Helen M Barker. DO you think
this is good political economy"
"A man is always at a disadvantage
when arguing with a woman. He can't
say in strong English what he thinks,
said Mr. HeSing. mid the din which
followed Mrs Bankers poser.
Il do not ask it as woman, but as
politician" said Mrs. Barker.
We'll, under that agreement, I can
say that your figures are not facts,
neither are they truthful. There are
only $500 saloons in the city, and
know it to be a fact that the average
income from a license is less than $4,000.
You have made it more than $4,000. You
will see that with the truth a a basis
the economy of the thing is not so bad
1t is claimed by a judge in Cincin-
natl that so per cent of the crime of the
city is due to the saloon" continued
Mrs. Barker. DO you not see that the
suppression of the saloon is economy
and an aid to public safety?'
1T is possible for me to quote figures
this time. The keeper of the Joliet pen
itentiary tells me that 81 per cent of the
inmates are there because of the greed
of their wives
There was not a woman in the hall
who did not object to this, and one out
of the lot of muttering DIRECTORS went
to the steps of the platform and made a
speech.
This is foolishness,'' she said st am
working woman, and there are many
OF US who go poorly clad and wear our
old hats-and / have one on my head
this minute, and 1 am ashamed of it
that we may help the wives and chill
dren of men who have spent their mon
ey in the saloons. 1 want to tell Mr.
Hesing at this time unless he will agree
20 help us in the battle with the saloon
and bring the message from on high
that he will never have the support of
the women of Chica go"
The applause made the clock ston and
wave its hands.
A man with gray hair got up.
Mr.. Heslng, do you understand that
closed doors on Sunday means locked
doors, from Saturday night to Monday
morning.
Il rely on the dictionary for defni-
tons, said the candidate 1T is not
impossible to call closed doors locked
doors. 1 propose that the poor man
who wants his beer as a nOurishment
shall have as much right to go to the
saloon for it on Sunday the rich
man has to go to the Chicago club for
his The closed doors under my ad-
ministration shall mean that they shall
be closed as the law provides The
man who violates the law shall have
his license called in and shall never be
able to get one again.
All the Hesing people applauded, but
the clock went right along, with posi-
Oily d look OF disgust on its face.
will you enforce the Sunday law?''
asked another, and he started to sit
down. Mr.. Hesing begged him to stand
up and tell what the Sunday law was
The man did not know, and so Mr.
Hesing pulled out the old Hesine ordi-
nance and read it,
The saloon-keeper shall obey the
law as shall all other men," he said.
Vices that have always existed and
always will exist. vices that have never
yet been suppressed and never can be
suppressed, vices that have everywhere
been controlled and should be controlled
will be controlled and will be regulated
L make no promises to do the impos-
sible.''
viii you enforce the state law gov
erning business on Sunday?" piped an
per
THE mayor is not to enforce state
laws. L am seeking to be mayor and
not governor" And the postmaster
smiled as far as his whiskers would
allow.
Would the appearance of man in
the streets with a can of beer be prina
facie evidence in your eye that the Sun
day closing act had been violated? ''
And the questioner sat back with the
air of man who had asked a poser.
NO, sir. am in favor of giving
the poor man the same rights as the
rich, and liberty il eating and drinking
is as much to the poor people as is the
liberty of talking and thinking-and
great many more people eat and drink
than talk and think
Are you in favor of a commission to
examine drink as well as food ?'' begged
a man, who thought he was joking.
Il most certainly am. 1 am opposed
to adulters tiOns in all things-drink as
well as foOd-or authorizations to de-
ceive in the promises candidates may
make to the public before election
You say some laws OF the extremists
cannot be enforced. Would you have
the right as mayor to say what laws
could be enforced and what laws could