The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-13
Who IS GAL NORRIS?
A Whisky Drummer Says He De-
livered Temperance Leo
ture In Billings.
ALSO MARRIED HERE
Tells u Minneapolis Paper u Story
That Sounds Like u "Pipe
Dream

| -rz.s-a----.--
Minneapolis journal, Nov. 10. 1909 1:
Minneapolis Is pretty fair place in
which to spend Sunday remarked Cnl
Morris, travelling representative Of u
Kentucky whisky house, last evening
ns he snt in the lobby Of the West talk
ing with Il friend. 'rhere was time,
however, when All the travelling men
gave Minneapolis tho goby Sunday, but
now they try to arrange to ho here.
There uro good people Ia this city, aud
IL travelling man IL complete strang.
or ho need not worry, for no knows he
cnn always iind something to do here
"I've been travelling for u liquor house
for good many years, and IN all that
time have found just one town l like
better than ! like Minneapolis. nm
probably prejudioed IN favor OF that
place, however, and although it's only
little town, not over 5000 or 5000
people, / always manage to have an OK.
oellent time when ! 70 there. | am
known to all the leading families Of
the place, especially the temperance
people, and although travel for a
liquor house, as I've said, they always
invite mo to their homes.
"This condition Of affairs was
brought about through mistNke--and
u very fortunate mistake II has proved
for me. Several years ago I vas trav.
cling III Montana, and when reached
Billings one Saturday night l found u
big delegation OF the leading citizens at
the depot to meet me. / asked II u
mistake had not been made, aud was
assured that there was no mistake any.
where.
lyon are Mr.. Norris, IRE you notY"
asked one Of the party.
On my replying that was. he took
me by tho arm and escorted mo to a
carriage aud we were driven to his
home. All the time he kept asking me
how the work was progressing, and a
whole lot Of other questions ] did not
understand. Determined to explain, I
began to tell him there was q mistake
somewhere, but every time was cut
short, 80 ! determined to see the game
through.
"When Sunday morning came was
escorted to one Of the largest churches
In the city, where ! found the oongre.
cation made up OF the incest persons IN
the place, who, afterwards learned,
hnd mistaken me for a Mr.. Norris, at
that time noted temperance lecturer.
who had been secured to address tho
people Of Billings Oh the temperance
question. :.
"Well. / was introduced from the
pulpit as "our dear Brother Morris,
whose work III tho cause Of temperance
had attracted 40 much attention all
over the country" The situation was
decidedly embarrassing, but aa II was
too late to explain made up my mind
TO give them the best temperance leot.
ure was capable Of, and explain later,
by lettor after I had loft the city.
'TlIe tnlk / made must have been
wholly satisfactory, for / was applaud.
Cd several times, and ut tho conclusion
OF my address the sisters gathered
around me aud told mo how GLAD they
we're l was devoting my energies 10 the
suppression OF tho curse OF rum--me
suppressing tho liquor traffic, when my
business was to soil whisky.
| During tho day made myself Ns
agreeable ns possible to the persons ut
wh0ao home was being entertained,
and just before church time when I
was billed for another speech Oh tenn.
peranoe, I explained Tint I was not
Mr.. Morris, the temperance lecturer,
but Mr.. Morris, tho liquor salesman.
For a short time th0ro was very
funny scene, but common sense came
TO the rescue, and my host said he
would arrange matters NIL right,
"Attev tho sermon IN thu church he
arose and told ot the mistake TINT had
been made, and Ieintroduoed me under
proper name aud business. For
moment there were many h0rsified per.
soaR In the house; then someone began
to laugh, and tho Ice was broken, For
tho second time during the day | made
a speech. Ia which ] did my best 10 ore.
ate a favorable impYession aud demon.
strata that AMPLY because q man was 4
travelling salesman Tor liquor house
no could still ha a gentleman.
"F0r some reason or other nearly
every person IN tha congregation toek
n proper view 0t tho matter, and wa
had a very pleasant visit, One woman
"a dear old soul whose kindness | will
oauau Nauoat-aan faaaaA that aha hod