The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-06-05
WILL ORGANIZE
THE COUNTIES
In This Section of the State
From Canton.
BRANCH OFFICE ESTABLISHED
In This City BY the Anti-saloon League
Abuse For Some Legislators And
Other Prominent

Other Prominent
Men.
Sunday was Anti-Saloon day in Can
ton. The orators of the Anti-Saloon
League occupied the local pulpits and
the issue of local option was given a
thorough going over. The league has
pinned its faith to local option and Is go
ing in for another campaign.
The speakers here were Superlnten-
dent p. A. Baker, and Assistant Super
intendent Gilbert Raynor, of Columbus;
Attorney Wheeler, Of Cleveland; Editor
Jackson of the American Issue, of Co
lumbus, and Representative Clark. At
all of the meetings pledges were taken
for money to boom the league.
Superintendent Baker reported that
within the next few weeks 1t was the
intention to put man in Canton per-
manently and establish another branch
of the league here.
The star event of the day was the
meeting in the tabernacle at o'clock in
the afternoon. The speaker was Hon.
Thomas Clark, of the house of repre-
sentatives, the man who introduced and
fought for the local option bill in the
last legislature. Mr.. Clark Is young
man, hardly past thirty and is full of
eloquence. He prefaced his speech with
the statement that although the Clark
bill was defeated, that 1t was not kill
ed. His idea was that it embodied a
truth, and that no truth was ever lost.
He said that the bill was simply an ex-
tension Of the principle of democracy.
Even IL the saloon were not banished,
he held that the constant meeting of
the question by the people would be
good for them and would develop
character in them. Upon this idea Of
the development of manhood by the
exercise of responsibility in the solution
of great moral problems Mr.. Clark was
wonderfully eloquent.
He showed how the spirit of
Democracy was planted on the rocky
shores of New England, how 1t spread
and developed and as 1t developed made
better manhood. He showed also how
the spirit Of aristocracy was planted on
the shores of Virginia and how that
spread and covered the whole south
land. Even after the union had been
formed this spirit in both sections was
still alive and he saw In the great con-
test Of the civil war more than simply
q battle for the abolition of slavery;
more than a contest for the preserva-
tion of the union. 1t was a struggle for
the supremacy Of democracy itself.
And the principle Of local option as
applied to the saloon he argued was
simply extending that principle. He
said that the Clark bill or another like
1t would come up in the next legislature
and he wanted the christian people to
organize and go into politics. He did
not want any spasmodic effort but a
combined, organized, determined move
ment, that would impress legislators.
He declared that the legislator was
ready to act If he knew the people de-
manded that he should. The people
could have what they want If they only
say what they want and stand by what
they say.
Mr.. Clark said that he believed that
the only solution to the saloon problem
was no saloon at all, but for the present
as temporary expedient and starter
in the final overthrow, he believed that
local option was the proper thing.
Following the address of Mr.. Clark,
State Superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League, Rev. p. A. Baker, con-
Quoted a question box and answered in
terrogatories for the audience.
The first thing sprung at him, was
a question asking how he knew that
Senator Foraker worked against the
Clark bill. He said he knew 1t be-
cause one Of the senators had told him
that the night before the vote Foraker
had telephoned to him and to another
senator urging them to vote against the
bill. He also gave other proof that
was satisfactory.
Ibid the national administration have
anything to do with the defeat?" was
asked. Mr.. Baker said they haI no
knowledge that the president himself
had taken part in the contest
''In view of the notification Of the
anti-canteen law passed by congress
and the refusal of the president to stop
the sale Of liquor to American soldiers
what should temperance workers do
in the coming campaign" This was a
practical question and was getting on
dangerous ground for Brother McKin-
ley so the speaker lodged and said the
league was sorry the anti-canteen law
had been set aside and hoped another
would be passed. He said nothing
about McKinley's alleged acts, but
evaded the question and tried to
shoulder the thing onto Griggs.
Ibid ex-Secretary Day, of Canton,
sign the petition against the Clark bill,
that came from Canton?" He said
he found the name Day on the petition
but could not say it was William r.
Day He thought the same hand that
had written the name had written at
least dozen more on the paper.
"How did Stark county representa-
tives voter" said someone "Metzgar
stood straight" said Baker, "but the
other two worked against the Clark bill
and then did not vote at ALL"
"How about Wilhelm?" queried a
spectator.
"Oh, say" said Baker, what In the
world do YOU people mean? The idea