The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-17
ANT SALOON CRUSADE
REV. HOWARD III. RUSSELL At THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
He Is Superintendent Of the American
A~nti-Sa1oon League-Services at
Other Churches.

The Anti-saloon League began an ag-
gressive campaign in this city yesterday.
The leagues most effective work is done
through the medium Of the federated
churches. Services were held yesterday in
the First Baptist, Trinity Congregational,
Central Christian, Methodist Protestant,
st. Paul Methodist, First Presbyterian,
Tabernacle Presbyterian and Fourth
Presbyterian churches of the city and in
the Methodist, Congregational and Bap-
fist churches OF Brightwood. The prin-
cipal meeting of the day was in the First
Baptist Church yesterday morning. The
address was delivered by Rev. Howard II.
Russell, Of Ohio, superintendent of the
American Anti-saloon League. DR.. Rus
sell is, in a sense, the foundei of the move
ment, and gives his entire time and at
tention to ii. As stated by him in his
address he first had his interest attracted
to the anti-saloon work very early in life
through seeing his uncle brought home
dead as the result of exposure while IN a
drunken debaIch in the winter time.
Later, said DR.. Russell, he had his feel
ing against the saloon intensified by being
compelled to assist his brother to wage
a protracted warfare against a hereditary
appetite for intoxicating liquor. The
speaker said he was impelleG to consecrate
his entire life to the anti-saloon move
ment by attendance at the funeral of a
woman whose death was brought about
through the drink habit.
WHERE 1T STARTED.
DR.. Russell said that the Anti-saloon
League was practically started in the
ILL., en-
OF 1893. When the work began the Ia
borers in it were confronted with the
discouraging fact that there were 2.34a
more saloons in the State at the time than
in the year 1888, five years before-a truly
astonishing increase. The first effort was
directed towards enlisting the sympathy
and cooperation of the churches. regard
less of creeds. Some of the most power
full allies the league has in Ohio, said DR..
Russell, are the bishops and priests of
the Catholic Church, who work in perfect
harmony side by side with ministers of all
other denominations. AT the outset of the
work, seven years ago, the league In Ohio
encountered the greatest apathy and
timidity among people of the better classes
towards the saloon evil. In that compare
lively brief space of time a strong public
sentiment has been built UP, so that now IL
Is considered more disgraceful for a man
TO be seen entering a saloon than 1t was
before the league began its active WORK.
Formerly, said DIR. Russell, a large per
cent. of patrons of saloons in that State
were young men and boys, While now the
boys are prevented from entering such
places by officers of the law. That the
league has accomplished tangible results
is demonstrated by the fact That there
are now LOO less places in Ohio where
liquor is sold at retail than were in exist
ence seven years ago. DR.. Russell said
that the Anti-saloon League movement
was presented and commended in 1000
churches in Ohio last year.
The speaker emphasized the absolutely
nonpartisan feature of the movement. He
said that the league had steadfastly ad-
hered TO this principle during the seven
litical beliefs are engaged in the move
ment. He stated that the Les que does
make a strenuous effort to persuade men
TO attend primaries and see that the best
possible men are placed on the respective
tickets Formerly he declared. the better
class Of voters remained away from the
ways on hand and the result was that
the tickets of both the great political
parties contained the names of men friend
l., towards the LIQUOR traffic and voters of
choice Of tickets made up by the law
defying element. Now, however. through
the insistence of the Anti-saloon League,
the church e0ple are attending primary
elections and endeavoring to arrange mat
tiers so that the saloon element will have
to take its choice of tickets containing the
names of men who are friendly towards
law and order and sobriety.
METHODS OF WORK.
DR.. Russell said that one of the most
effective methods of work pursued by the
league in Ohio is the giving Of entertain
ments, at which startling statistics bear
ing on the evil of the liquor traffic are
thrown upon large screens by stereopti-
cons. These statistics show the percent
age of inmates of jails and warehouses
which owe their presence in those places
to the drink curse. They also depict in
q graphic manner the tendency of the
drink habit towards poverty.
DIR. Russell said that the movement has
taken a firm hold in Indiana recently.
The State is divided into eight districts,
four of which are now provided with
active workers and the remainder are ex-
pected TO be equipped in the next few
months. He expressed the hope that it
would not be very long until the move
ment is on as firm a basis as il is in Ohio,
where at the present time twenty-eight
men are giving their entire time and at
tention to the Anti-saloon League. He
called attention to the published inten-
ton of the Saloon League TO make a bitter
fight on the Nicholson law during the
coming session of the Indiana Legislature,
and declared that the Anti-saloon League
will a men on the floor of both houses
who will keep a sharp lookout in behalf
OF the friends of law and decency.
In concluding his brief talk, which was
very clear, logical and eloquent. DIR. Rus
sell laid before the large congregation
present the plan OF the Anti-saloon League
for obtaining the financial support it re-
quires. Cards have been prepared, con-
tanning blank pledges to contribute to the
league various amounts each quarter for
one year. These were distributed through
the congregation and each one present
was requested TO place a cross (X) to the
left Of the amount he was willing to con-
tribute for the year 1901. A large amount
was subscribed.