Evening star., 1898-06-27
ENEMIES OF LIQUOR
Anti-Saloon League Celebrates Its
Fifth Anniversary.
REVIEW OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED
Address by Chaplain Couden of
House of Representatives.
7IEW OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED
THE REPORTS OF OFFICERS

The fifth anniversary of the Anti-Saloon
League of the District was celebrated by
the members and others interested in tenn
perance work at the First Congregational
Church last ght. Despite the heat good
sized audience attended and considerable
enthusiasm expressed during the ad-
dress of Rev. Henry N. Couden the blind
chaplain ot the House of Representatives,
which was the main feature of the event.
A banner bearing the legen1. The Saloon
Must Go" was suspended above the altar,
and accJss thc front of The graa. organ
pipes and underneath 1t was the choir Of
young women forming a pretty background
for the prominent officials of the league
on the platform. President Jas L. Ewin
presided and him sat Mrs. Clinton
Smith, second vice president; A. L. Swart-
wout, third vice president; Rev B. Alfred
DUNN, assistant pastor of First Congrega-
tional Church, and A f. Shoemaker. at
torney for the league. An organ voluntary,
played by Musical Director Bischoff. OPEN
ed the program, and it was followed by
The Battle Hymn of the Republic" sung
by the church choir. Rev Mr.. DUNN read
the Scriptures and delivered the opening
prayer, and the audience, standing sang
Work. for the Night is Coming
A brief review of the fifth years work of
the league was Interestingly made by Mr.
Shoemaker. The present enrolment num-
bers 100. there having been ten bodies affil-
lated during the year and only four drop
ped Federated with the Anti-Saloon
League in the American Anti-Saloon
League, June 23. 1897, We're ninety-five or
ganizations. but the same day thi, year
there We're 165.
Review of the Work.
The interest shown in the national work
was attested by the sending of delegates to
the Saratoga convention in August last, a
fraternal delegation to the Toronto conven-
ton of the Worlds W. c. T. L., the Buff
falo convention of the National W. c. 7. L.
and the Baltimore convention of the Mary
land State Temperance League.
MIR. A. E. Shoemaker SAID the printed
matter published by the league for free
distribution was increased to over I25WD
pages Two important publications. Does
1t Pay?" and THE Anti-Saloon League of
the District of Columbia" have been made
by Vice President Garfield in the interest
OF his work as chairman of the committee
on cooperation. THE Legal Status of the
Saloon, written by Andrew Wilson, D. c.
L., chairman of the committee on litera-
ture, also had been circulated. There had
been sixteen public meetings during the
year, in fifteen churches. of six denomina-
tons- The third Sunday in October last
was recommended as Temperance Sunday
TO the churches. and the suggestion had re-
ceived a he ndsome response.
Referring to the efforts to secure better
laws Mr.. Shoemaker mentioned the draft
ing and Introduction of the bills to improve
the prohibitory features of the local liuuor
law and to facilitate its enforcement. He
spoke in a complimentary way of the hear
Ing before the Commissioners upon these
bills, at which the leagues amendments, in
whole or in part. had been adopted and in
corporated by the Commissioners in their
substitute measures. He referred to the
new Ellis bill introduced in the House.
which had been strongly supported by a
delegation from the league at the hearing
before the House committee on alcoholic
liquor traffic in March last.
MiIe-Limit Law.
Additional encouragement, Mr.. Shoe
maker said. had been afforded by the deci-
sion of the Court of Appeals in the mile
hmit-law test case; by the work of the
Montgomery County Anti-Saloon League
In that county: the prohibition by Col
Harries of the carteen in the camp of the
District volunteers: the enforcement of
Cen Grahams prohibition of the sale of
liquor in Camp Alger; the prevention of
the sale of intoxicants in the National Lii
brary building, and the closing. finally, per-
haps, of an Objectionable club
An important work accomplished had
been In securing the reduction of licensed
places from I'D. at the end Of license year
of 1895. to 64 at the end of 1897. and to
657. as shown the 23d instant. Ihe speak
er very briefly mentioned his own service
to the league.
Chaplain COuden's Address.
Rev. Dr. Couden was happily introduced
Dy HreSlCent EWln- he SAID ne nd1 often
wished when a regular pastor he cuold
preach to a congregation of souls who had
never heard the glad tidings. for he be-
heved that God would inspire him 70 reach
every heart So. upon this occasion. he
wished he could Speak only 10 those who
are supporting. financially and morally, the
saloons. For then lie knew te would be in
spired to deliver a temperance address that
would be felt in every par o. the city.
The saloon,' said he, lis incubator
u-hi hat ont nj M frar nj oh
after week. year after year. veritable
swarm of insects that go about the city
pestering everybody and living off the life
blood of the community. 1t breeds viperS
of the most deadly sort and feeds poison
Gus reptiles which crush out the young
manhood of the city. You should rise up
in your might. in the strength of your
manhood, and stamp it out of existence.
1t Is a menace to the home, the state, the
church, to society. 1t robs the home OF
the father, the state of honest citizens,
the church of Christian gentlemen and So
ciety of its bulwarks."
Dr. Couden said he had never heard of
benevolent Christian saloonkeeper. and he
related a little story in which Satan made
such a statement to an inquiring parson
He said he had known several good-hearted
men who had engaged in the liquor traffic
but they had not remained long in the
business 1t was more than human nature
could stand. 1t has been said that the sa-
loon exists because Of public sentiment
but DIR. Couden claimed it lives in spite
without voice.
He said the Anti-Saloon League must go
down into the valley of dry bones and
shake them up 1t must thaw out the
hearts of the people and give them a voice
on this question All churches must meet
on the broad platform of temperance and
work to accomplish victory.
What Dewey Gained In Promotion,
To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
In Fridays issue of the Star in refer
ence to the reward which 1t is proposed to
give Constructor Hobson for his gallant
service. 1t is stated 1T is calculated that
II he is made naval commander he will
be given "A &? numbers. and will have
a gain of twenty years in time" Also that
Dewey only gained 10 numbers" The lat
ter statement / beg to correct Rear Ad-
mirai Dewey was advanced 2 numbers and
gained in time about four months. He
was promoted in May TO the grade which
In the ordinary course of promotion he
would have reached in September 1893.
JAS. A GREER,