The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-07-17
UNION SERVICE

The intense heat of Sunday evening was
undoubtedly the cause OF the small attend
ance at the union temperance meeting held
at Trinity church in the interests Of the
Anti-Saloon league. Rev. W. j. Cloues
the Baptist pastor, assisted in the prelimin-
airy services and chorus OF ten young men
led the service OF song. III. ID. Hopkins
sang THE Way OF the Cross" in finished
style that az thoroughly enjoyed.
Rev. Howard III. Russell Of Ohio gave the
address Of the evening. Mr.. Russell was
one OF the organizers OF the Anti-Saloon
League in that State eight years ago, and
has ever since been engaged in the work.
The opening portions OF his address were
devoted to showing how the churches in
Ohio are allied in an aggressive warfare
against the licensed saloon.
He then went on to sho how, after eight
years active work in that State, the move
ment has spread to thirty.six States and
territories and to the Hawaiian Islands.
Iu speaking of the organization OF the
league in Ohio in 1893 he told of the diff
culties encountered at the outset. The first
thing in Ohio, as every where else, is TO get
the work on non-political and non secta-
| rian basis The work OF agitation has been
| most effectively pushed, not only in Ohio.
but elsewhere. The Thermometer OF public
sentiment rises when agitation begins and
without healthy public sentiment behind
| 1t, no good law will be enforced.
The speaker said, after close observation
and study OF the question as il applies to
Vermont, he was Of the firm opinion that
lawlessness, poverty and crime will surely
increase in this State, II II changes from a
prohibitory to license law. Mr.. Russell
related striking instances in Ohio, where
the Anti-Saloon forces had defeated repre-
| sentatives OF the liquor dealers in their
own strongholds. This work is gaining
year by year. The league is holding what
It has gained and is steadily adding to 1t.
In closing Mr.. Russell commended States
Attorney Hoar for the faithful performances
OF his duties in the enforcement OF the pro-
hibitory law and urged all temperance peo-
pie to stand behind him with healthy pub
lie sentiment. He said the State Anti-Sa-
loon league, at a meeting held on Saturday
at Burlington, decided to employ an expert
lawyer, whose first business will be to
give advice and assistance in the prosecu-
ton OF the work of the league, standing by
those who are right and defeating those
who are wrong. and who will go into any
county in the State, when 80 requested, to
| assist the States attorneys or other prose-
cutting officers, thus making the Anti Saloon
league In this State more and more terror
| to evil doors.
In Barre, the speaker said, where two
years ago there were fifty-fve applicants
| for government licenses for the sale OF in
| toxicating liquor, this year there were on ?.
sixteen. This happy state OF affairs was
credited to the active work OF the anti
| saloon league OF that city.
After giving a touching personal testi-
mony against the saloon, and telling the
peculiar circumstances that led him TO de-
| vote his life to the work, Mr.. Russell had
| cards distributed through the congregation
| on which sums OF money OF varying size
were promised for the prosecution OF the
work In Vermont.