Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-01-27

liquors In the capitol, public sentiment
caused remarkable procedure on the
part of the sergeant-at-arms of the sem
ate. Although not himself temper
ance man, the sergeant-at-arms, realiz-
ing the strength OF the temperance
spirit of the people, assumed police
jurisdiction over the capitol building,
as government reservation, and he
took 1t upon himself to order the keep
ers of the senate and house restaurants
to discontinue the sale Of alcoholic
liquors. Some people said it was a
high-handed procedure, but the SER
geant-at-arms was generally applaud
ed for his action.
Since congress reassembled liquors
have been handled quietly, but not
openly as formerly. The restaurant
keepers do not want to provoke public
comments, and the statesmen them
selves are not DESTROYS of counting no
toriety. AS yet there is no law forbid
ding the use Of liquors in the capitol,
but the temperance people of the land
may be informed that the law Of public
sentiment is strong enough to begin
the Punishment Of the drink evil.
Only a couple of years ago anybody
who wanted a drink of whisky, beer or
other alcoholic compound could walk
UP 10 the counter of either Of the two
capitol restaurants, and call for his
drink, and it would be served.
Things are different now. Men may
take seats at tables, order lunches, and
have their little glasses served al the
tables, but they cannot stand up before
everybody, raise their glasses to their
lips, throw back their heads, and swal-
low their potions publicly and fragrant
ly, regardless Of public opinion. This
is a straw which shows how the wind is
blowing.
Temperance leaders intend to revive
that joint resolution, and they will in
sist upon its passage by the senate, as
we'll as by the house Of representatives.,
The people will watch congressional ac-
ton on this point, and they will note
how their congressman vote on the
subject. Many a congressman will vote
for the resolution solely because he
fears the temperance people at home,
and not because he is a temperance man
himself or in favor of aboishing the
use of liquor in the capitol.
One thing at time, and that done
well, should satisfy the temperance
workers of the country. They should
not try to do too much at once. Let
them first abolish the use of liquor in
the capitol, and then they will have an
other work to perform-and harder
work than they have yet attempted.
Statesmen cannot be kept sober, anG
enirely free from alcoholic influences
by abolishing the use of alcohol in the
capitol building There must be g
crusade, in the future, covering the en-
tire District of Columbia. There are
too many saloons here, We must moi
expect to abolish all of the saloons al
once. Those who come after us viii
still have work to perform. But the
temperance workers must understand
that there are at least ten times a!
many saloons in the national capital a'
should be tolerated, even by the mos
liberal temperance workers. How ar,
we to go about this new reform for thu
national capital?
First, you must understand that this
district is governed by three commits
sioners appointed by the president. i
should be the duty of temperance work
ers to demand of the president that hi
appoint only sympathetic men to thos'
places. Next, the president should APP
point a chief of police who is sym
pathetic man. Then our policemeI
should be temperate men, instead of
as at present, men in uniforms who 81
TO the side doors of saloons, get thei,
whisky for nothing, and then go abou
their beats, permitting all manner o
violations of the law.
Finally, ten years in the future, tenn
perance workers must take cognizanc'