Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-28
Tumultous Scenes at the State
Convention Of the League
It Des Moinss.
Fist Fights We're Narrowly
Averted and the Lie
Passed Frequently.

dates Tor state On1ceS. Later, aIter ex.
plantations had been made, Mr.. Abrams /
was placed at the head of the depart
ment Of law, and accepted the position.
Three sessions were held, two Of them
tempestuous. and the third. in the even
ing, threatening at times.
The morning session, at which 1t waE
expected reports Of the committees on
credentials, nominations and resolutions
would be submitted, was diverted by
delay by the committee in getting their
work completed. After number OF
speeches, the committee on credentials
was prompted to fill the gap by making
q partial report. Immediately the as
semblage became greatly agitated, and
even before he had finished reading the
report I. e. Pierson realized the necessi-
ty of pausing until quiet could be re-
stored by the chair. It was suspected
the report limited at an intention to adj
NIT only limited few to participation
in the proceedings, and for a moment
the church was vocal with objections.
Then, when 1t was explained by Mr..
Pierson that the committee had only
partially concluded its labors and would
present a supplemental report, another
element thought 1t detected DISPOSE
ton to permit an undesired representa-
ton to sneak in under the tent and
cause trouble. The rulings Of the chair
we're so decisive and fair that order was
invoked and threatened storm averted.
The afternoon meeting was ushered in
under the stress Of storm, and was one
of the most turbulent and disorderly
witnessed in any convention ever held.
in the city.
Another incident of more than passing
interest was the declaration by H. II.
Abrams, state superintendent of the
league, that 1t had remained for himself
to be trapped by member of his own
church, at Fairfield, while. engaged in
prosecuting druggists for violating the
law. Mr.. Abrams, during the recital of
this portion Of his story, was greatly
agitated. He stated that the Judas who
sought to betray him into the hands OF
the whisky power had at one time rep
resented Jefferson county In the legisla-
ture. However, he declined to make
public the name Of the man. as also did
Mr.. White, a citizen of Jefferson county.
who followed him with an address re-
viewing the field work of the league in
! Fairfield. Mr.. White corroborated the
statement, but excused himself from
naming the recreant legislator on tho
ground that it would serve no good pur-
pose to pillory him before the people of
| the state.
| At the forenoon session the nearest
thing to an outbreak occurred when Mr..
Acres, of DEBORAH, had the floor and
was speaking of his work for the Anti
| Saloon League. He said:
IT desire, perhaps at the rick of in
curing the opposition OF some of the
good people here assembled, to state
that, in my opinion, the mulct law in
this state comes nearer making for tenn
Eerance than any measure of it's kind
ever enacted and incorporated in the
laws Of any state. An examination of
the law makes 1t clear that its object is
to reach out and levy a heavy license
upon the liquor business In those COM
munities where. by reason of hostile
public sentiment, it is impossible TO en-
force the prohibitory amendment. u"
No, MOI" cried out a number of dele
gates. The excitement caused by this
tribute to the mulct law having in a
measure subsidized Mr.. Acres, not in the
least disturbed by the interruption, re-
sumed. 1.-THE other day certain politi-
cal party with which once affiliated
met in this city and declared for free
whisky. Five years ago when the ma
tional party made the endorsement Of
free silver condition of party fealty I
refused to support 1t and cast my vote
for Mckinley. Now that the same party
In Iowa has made a virtual declaration
for free whisky. will decline to sup
\ port 1t and will cast my vote for A. b..
Cummins."
Instantly the confusion, that had pre-
vailed only a moment before. was re-
vived and the room was vibrant with
protesting nos from half score of dele
gates. several of them rising to their
feet in order to give their disapprovaI
emphasis. Before they could make their
opposition effective, there protests were
almost silenced by returning wave Of
noisy approval that all but over
whelmed it.
Let Mr.. Acres proceed with his re-
| marks" exclaimed one delegate.
Are we to understand interrupted
another, shat this is a Cummins meet
ing?"
Mr.. Orwig desired permission to ask
the speaker question relating to Mr..
4 Cummins' attitude toward the mulct
law, but as the query took the form OF
an extended dissertation and threatned
to assume the phase OF a historical re-
view Of temperance legislat ton in Iowa
since the early sos. the chairman re-
quested Mr.. Orwig to subside until a
more favorable time. He subsidized.
Don't interrupt the speaker" said
Mr.. Abrams. Let him 60 on with his
address. We have invited him to speak
and am sorry to see a few disposed to
become discourteous.
Mr.. Acres. who had waited good ma
turedly turnout the squabble, resumed
the discussion OF his subject with few
pungent sentences. which at one time
threatened to start the eruption anew.
but was happily averted BY an adroit
ruling OF the chairman.
H. H. Abrams then detailed the inci-
dent of his betrayal by member of his
church during the trial Of seven drug
glsfs at Fairfield. following which 1. q.
Pierson. chairman Of the ccmmittee on
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