St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
TEMPERANCE RALLY.
A Strong Address by Mrs. CaIIie Howe

A Strong Address by Mrs. Callie Howe
Music Hall was fairly we'll filled Sun
day night at the temperance rally hell
under the auspices of the local W. c. 7. U
The clergymen occupied seats on thu
platform and a cornet solo, with piano
accompaniment, was given by Herbert E
Dean. The scriptures were read by Rev
DR.. Charles W. Pickels and prayer was
offered by Rev. F. Barrows Makepeact
of New York.
In introducing the speaker, Rev. DR.
Edward T. Fairbanks said this was a
prohibition rally, but not in any sense a
party rally. He believed that all good
citizens were prohibitionists or restric'
tionists to greater or less degree. The
liquor problem was a knotty problem
and the end was not in sight; it was
also a naughty problem. All wanted to
hear the question freely and fairly dis
cussed, and he then introduced the
speaker of the evening, Mrs. Callie Howe
of St. Joseph, Mo.
Mrs. Howe proved to be a pleasing
and eloquent speaker, often spicing her
logical conclusions with quick wit, and is
the only speaker in this campaign who
has clearly presented the issue as repre-
sented in the referendum. She has quite
a dramatic manner, was occasionally
applauded, and held the undivided atteu-
ton of her audience until the close of her
address.
She said she should speak on prohibit
ton VS.. license and take her text from
passages in the fifth chapter of the
prophet Jeremiah, "a wonderful and
horrible thing is committed in the land.
And nv people love to have it So" AT er
paying a warm tribute to the W. c. T.. u,
the largest organization of women in
the world, she said among other things,
To-day the people of this state are
wonderfully divided and there are condi-
tons that would be amusing if it were
not so serious. One reason for this con-
dition is that tie friends of temperance
have slept the sleep OF security while the
enemy has been sowing tates. We find
on one side today those that stand tor
prohibition and on the other side the
liquor traffic calling for license or some
kind of regulation OF the traffic. With |
the latter is a class of people, possibly
Just as good and just as honest as those
on the other side, who believe that the
prohbitory law should be repealed.
These people say because the law is vio-
lated in Vermont therefore the law
should be repealed. Those who advo-
cate this ought to be consistent and take
the same stand in regard to the other
laws OF the state that are violated. Then
we find ourselves drifting towards an
archy.
THE representatives of the liquor trat-
fc and the advocates OF license always
hold up the license law as panacea for
all the evils of the drink traffic. II you
change from your present law to Ii
cense law you are jumping from the fry
ing pan into the fire. A license law does
not do away with the violation of the
law. Wherever there is license law |
can show you constant violations Of the
law in selling to minors, to habltual
drunkards and selling on Sunday.
THE license system takes into partner
IL = ,o ~ taf a
or community where license is estab-
lished. You give your consent to license
and you become silent partner in the
business with all the costs and none of
the profits. That's business, isn't it?
THE advocates of license say that it is
a step towards temperance. 1t would
be really amusing if it were not SO pititul
that so many men are caught by this
bait. If this is true why have the liquor
dealers association sent 100000 into
Vermont to carry the state tor license.
Information comes to me from a source
that satisfies me that this amount of
money has come into this state for the
coming campaign. Do you think they
would take such an interest in the cam
paign if they thought they could sell
more liquor under prohibition than un.
der license. Are they in the business for
their health?
This money is contributed to the
campaign to buy votes. And to buy
votes of what class of men The respec-
table and law-abiding class No! the
bum element of the state
Another stand taken by the liquor
traffic is to submit the whole question to
the people. This reminds me OF the man
who had brought into his presence just
man and all the people cried "Cruciy
him" The Judge said he could find no fault
with him, but decided to have referen
dun and so he turned his prisoner over
to the people-nOt to his friends, but tC
his enemies. I'll defy any man in the
house to prove that PLATE did not have
referendum before the crucihxion O
our Lord. Now today the strongest
advocates do not propose to turn thi,
problem over to the people. Aren't
women people? If not, I'd like to have
some OF you men who have been marry
ing tie women speak up. Let every
woman speak on the referendum and WI
will bury it so deep it will take 20 years
to dig it up. Just watch and see il | an
not right"
Mrs. Howe here paid a compliment tc
Judge Ross position on the matter and
in closing urged every man to stand face
to face with this question and decide the
matter with himself and not with any
party or body of men.
A collection was taken for the local w
c. r. T., alter which the audience sang
one verse of america" and were dis
t1aissed With the henedictinn nrnnnnucnD