St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-06-04
THE TEMPERANCE RALLY.
Two Notable Addresses by Eloquent
Speakers.

Music Hall was crowded Sunday nigh
to listen to the addresses on the presen
prohibitory law by Rev. DR.. F. Z. Emricl
of South birmingham and Rev. Joshu;
NJ. Frost of Grace Methodist church
Elmcre T. Ide presided and about a scor
of business men occupied seats on tn
platform. Music was furnished by tn
ouartette choir of Grace Methods
church. Both speakers were given tn
closest attention and were frequently ap
plauded.
In opening the meeting Mr., Ide SPOKE
of the way the prohbitory law kept III
the valuation of property, citing a cast
that recently came under his notice in {
Massachusetts city where everyone HI
asked said the saloon was the cause O.
the depreciation of real estate and rent
able property. He then introduced the
first speaker of the evening,
DIR. EMRICH's ADDRESS.
1t is a good thing for the rising genera
ton to be taught the reason OF our laws.
And first want to speak of the right to
prohibit the sale of liquor, We want
personal liberty and the advocates OF
high license say that the prohibitory law
is a violation of our personal liberty.
But this law does not prohibit a man
from drinking; it prohibits the open sa-
loon. Long ago the United States su-
preme court said, in deciding a Kansas
case, "Such are the evil results OF the Ii
quor traffic that the state has right to
suppress or repress its traffic" The
speaker then cited the law against carry
ing firearms and the railroads right to
secure land under the right of eminent
domain to show that laws had to be
made prohibitory in their nature to pro-
tect the private citizen or the public cor.
poration.
Is there need for such law In the
German reichstag it was recently stated
that rs per cent. OF the crime and pauper-
ism of Germany was owing to the use OF
Intoxicating drinks. The speaker then
quoted from the rules of the New York
Central road prohibiting its employees
from taking liquor while on duty or be-
coming habitual drunkards, and said the
same rules were in force on the Rutland
road. The value of the prohibitory law
was its educating power. 1t is the ideal
which we hold up to the rising genera
ton.
Dr. Enrich then answered the argu-
ments presented by the highlicense advo-
Gates. License, they say, will encourage
the use OF beer and light wines and dis
courage the use of whiskey. The condi
ton abroad is pertinent here. The use Of
absinthe in France and distilled spirits in
Germany is on the increase and these are
the countries of light wine and beer.
They say there would be fewer drinking
places and the drug stores could sell it.
In my town we have II saloons, one tor
every 1000 people. Under local option
our drug store can get a license for a
dollar year and every drug store is a
saloon.
They say the traffic could be better con-
trolled under high license and illegal sell
ing would be done away with. My
brother, now living in South Framing
ham, said be had seen more drunkenness
since May under license than he had
seen in SO weeks there under no license.
Another argument is that you cannot
keep out the kitchen bars under no license.
Ny brother tells me that in the Massa-
chusetts town that he came from the liq-
uor sellers have a secret understanding
with the kitchen bars and that the latter
sell liquor just as freely under license a:
before. | never knew of a rumseller II
Massachusetts to keep the license laws
They sell to minors and habitual drunk
ards; they screen off their bars. they sci
on Sunday-all in violation OF the laws
Lastly, they urge license because Of tn
money it will bring to the place. In m,
town the II saloons pay $4,000 an
nually into the city treasury. But thes
same saloons take from $4,000 t.
100000 out Of the pockets and home
of the workingmen. When the licens
advocates said the business men of m
town wanted license because it woul
bring more money into the city, 80 {
our leading merchants Immediately signe
a statement that they wanted no lcens
as it would mean more trade for then
From a business standpoint you can
afford to have the open saloon,
1t is your duty to agitate this matt,
and to meet the arguments of the 9th
side. Tell them that even if the age
cy sells more liquor than
ought that this can be remedied. YC
can work earnestly and honestly al
vote for the men that will support t
present law. They say there are on
vestates that have prohibitions Man
New Hampshire, Vermont, Iowa al
Kansas. There are FIVE states we are n
ashamed Of
In closing he urged the citizens to G
together at the caucus, sink their diff
ences, and remember that there is il
one issue and that the preservation
the present law.
Mr.. Frost said in part AS a ne
conner, you have accorded me the g
cious privileges of speedy entrance il
your educational and historic life duri
the last week, and now into your CT
affairs, desire to express my appreC
IOn Ol THESE ldNOIsi anu 10 NOPE u
these may prove for our mutual adv;
tage. | do not desire to take the re
OF power into my hands, or presume
dictate in your affairs or to claim
bring you superior wisdom above
brothers, or anything of the sort.
come as a prospective citizen, as a
ginner and learner who wants to b
good and creditable citizen, a friend a
brother to every man whether he thin
as | do or not, tor brotherhood is
hundred times stronger tie than opin
whether in civil, political or ecclsiasti