Evening star., 1901-12-05
ITS CLOSING SESSION
ed
sGI
Adjournment of National Anti-Saloon
League This Afternoon.
EXHIBIT MADE Of; TEE FINANCES
e 81
Pledges Made Tor Nearly $4,000
to Meet Deficiency.
THE NEXT CONVENTION
THE NEXT CONVENTION

needs of the work and a declaration of the
leagues principles, the sixth annual con-
vention of the American Anti-Saloon
League came to an end late this afternoon.
Public meetings at different points through
out the city, held In conjunction with the
regular mid-week meetings Of various
churches, and workers conference at the
First Congregational Church, will be held
tonight. But the regular sessions of the
convention end with this afternoons meet
ing. Matters Of finance occupied nearly the
entire time of this morning and the dele
gates contributed about 5000 on a deficit
of $7,01517 accumulated during the past
two years.
Warren Choate submitted at the begin
ming of the days sessions a statement Of
the treasurers accounts, indicating deficit
November 80, 1885,, of s716.5O, present in
debtedness of $7,075.17 and cash receipts Of
$17 641.65
This led to an open and full discussion of
the finances of the league. Mr. Russell ex-
planned the deficit as a result of inadequate
financial organization and offered sugges-
tion for the immediate payment of the debt.
He and Mr.. Dnwiddie, the national super
intendent, contributed 81, ,275.15.
They then announced gifts aggregating
$1,000. made by personal friends on condf-
tion that the whole deficiency shall be
pledged by Christmas day. The whole mat
Ter TOOK on q Christmas SplTll ana MI
Russell wrote "a Merry Christmas over
the treasurer's statement on the black
board
Missouri started the ball rolling with an
offer of 500. New York's delegates pledged
$500. Arkansas and Maryland made
Christmas gifts of $500 each. Ohio gave
800. Washington states single delegate
gave 500. New Jersey and Colorado COM
pleted the 500 subscriptions by pledging
that sum for each state.
Ten subscriptions of $50 each We're soon
recorded. Various delegates came together
for purse Of $3.50. By noon the subscrip
tions to offset the deficiency incurred dur
ing the past two years had been reduced
by $4,775.17. On the announcement of this
result the convention broke into enthuSi-
astic applause. But that demonstration
was quite eclipsed when DR.. Russell, as
general superintendent announced that
whatever remained unpledged could surely
be met before Christmas day.
Nothing further was attempted during
the morning. The delegates were photo
graphed on the front steps of the First
Congregational Church, and were then en-
tertained at luncheon in the National
Rifles armory by the local w. c. T. U.
This afternoon a report Is expected on
the time and place of next years meeting
1t seemed to be generally accepted that
Washington will be chosen as the place and
that the convention will be called for some
time about the middle of next December
The committee on resolutions will also sub
NIT it's report during the afternoon meet
ing. These matters and an hour of miscel-
laneous business are expected to bring the
convention to it's close.
report was received by the convention
from Rev. Edwin c.. Dinwiddie, A. M, the
legislative superintendent, on the work ac-
complished in his department. 1t related
mainly to the enactment Of the anti-can-
teen law during the last session of Con-
gress. Mr.. Dinwiddie detailed the fight over
that measure, explained the attitude Of the
bar department., as he understood it, and
particularly mentioned Representatives Gil
lett, Grout, Dick, Hay, Talbert Littlefield
and McRae as faithful champions of the
bill. In the judgment Of the superintend-
ent, the canteen was dead institution
dead beyond all resurrection.
Committee on Expenditures.
Various questions of administration oc-
cupied the delegates yesterday afternoon.
On the initiative of Secretary Nicholson,
who spoke for the executive committee, the
convention agreed to the appointment by
the President Of a committee to supervise
the expenditures of the treasurer and other
officials. Hitherto, said Mr.. Nicholson, the
officers of the various departments had paid
out of their own pockets all the bills in
CURED for their work. 1t was proposed
that in lieu of such an unbusinesslike and
Improbable method Of conducting the af-
fairs Of the league the committee suggest
ed should supervise the financial affairs OF
all departments and direct the payment
of all bills from the funds of the league. In
this connection the convention also author
ized an auditing committee to cooperate
with the committee on finance. commit
tee Of ten to plan more complete union
of the various anti-saloon organizations
was provided for on motion of Rev. p A.
Baker Of Ohio.
The convention then undertook the selec-
tion Of place for the next annual meet
ing. Rev. c. H. Edwards D. D., of Vir-
ginia speaking for the board of direction
indicated among of ba
board Washington was regarded as the
only suitable place for a meeting in the
interest Of national temperance 1t was ac-
cordingly the intention Of the board to rec
ommend in it's annual report to the con-
vention that Washington be chosen as the
meeting place for the year 1902. That this
was also the choice Of the convention was
manifested by applause from all parts of
the hall.
The Army Canteem.
Army canteens and recent legislation
against them were the subjects discussed
at the public meeting last night, the speak
-ers being: Rev. David ]. Burrell. DID,
pastor of the Marble Collegiate Reformed
Church, New York city; Brig. Gen. s A.
Daggett, U. S. A., retired, who commanded
the 14th Infantry during the campaign in
China, and several delegates to the con-
vention.
Dr. Burrell admonished the convention
that the canteen was only scotched and not
current session of Congress to re-establish
the canteen, one would surely be made next
year. Anti-saloon forces must make fur
ther demands-that total abstinence
clause be inserted In the enlistment papers
Of the regular army; that the canteen be
converted into club of healthful atmos-
phere; that it be supervised by officers ad-
equately instructed in the management of
club devoted to the betterment Of the
men and not out ilof sympathy with the
spirit Of such an organization. Organize
tion was the watchword for success.
Gen. Daggett spoke from the soldiers
point of view. Calvin B. Titus, the first
man over the walls of aPekin, was total
abstainer. That seemed to the speaker to
be significant fact. The great objection
to the canteep in his judgment was that it
was a continuous temptation to lust such
men as Titus; that It offered an induce
ment to the moderate drinker to take more.
Most recruits came from the rural distr;cts
and had never tasted liquor before entering
the service a fact not generally known to
men outside the army, and they became
addicted to alcoholic drinks through the as
sociations found in the canteen. The real
canteen should not sell liquor. It should be
a library, reading room and gymnasium.