Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-04-28
Raised For Anti.
Saloon League.
Workers Of the Organi-
zation Were Here.
A Mass Meeting Addressed by
Hon. Joseph H. Clark.

Representatives Of the Anti-Snloon
League, quietly visited Akron, sunday
and services for the benefit of the
League were held in many of the Ar
ron churches, addresses being made
by Mr.. Thomas IT. CLARK, author Of
the Clark Local Option bill; Rev. =.
A. Baker, state superintendent OF the
Anti-Saloon League; Rev. &. II. Ray
nor. assistant superintendent OF the
League; Messrs. L. a. Baker, w. i.
Long, Il. II. Cheering, Rev. ". w.
Hare and lion Theodore Alvord, all
representa- tivcs of tlic League. A mass
meeting was held III Trinity Lutheran
church, Sunday afternoon. which was
addressed by Mr.. Clark. Said he:
I'VE are not fighting mans Individual
right to take n drink OF whlskey If SO
inclined. We are fighting the insti-
tuition known as the American saloon.
We are fighting the saloon because
we are Christians and it Is not COM
patiblc with Christianity. but If were
II believer in any other religion which
has any conception of things divine,
should still be against the saloon for
IL Is against all divinity. We can't
afford that our people shall lose their
religious sense and the saloon is rob-
bing them of their sense of things
divine. The saloon does not respect
the Sabbath or anything else that Is
high and pure. We believe in honesty.
The saloon Is the enemy of this. The
saloon says you can get something for
nothing, by the slot machine, by this
and by that and Is breaking down
mans sense of honesty and making
him lose the fine distinction between
mine and thine.
The saloon is the destroyer of the
homo and is killing the virtue of our
mon. The saloon is responsible for
30 per cent Of all insanity and 81 per
cent Of the criminals in our country"
The speaker then briefly reviewed
the history of France and Spain, using
them as examples of how great
country degencrates and falls when
the people lose their sense of morality
and their high ideals.
''rhe greatest peril which threatens
our country Is the tyranny Of voting
majority without conscience and in
tclligencc. The saloon is destroying
| the intelligence of the mass of our
people and this is striking Il blow at
the greatest of American institutions.
A voting people who have a mass of
| muddled brains are not fit to solve
the twentieth century questions of our
republic,
"The aim of the Anti Saloon League
| first, last and always, Is TO make a
public conscience, and put it into the
politics of Ohio. The Beal law is
meant to make Il conscience, hut it
does other things. Let the people have
the responsibility of saying whether
the town shall be wet or dry. This
responsibility Is what makes conscience
and II 4 man uscs conscience on one
point he VIII use it for other things,
too
| Rev. l.. a. Baker then took the plat
| form and made an appeal for finan-
cial assistance. Among other things
he said; I'VE have been fighting eight
sivc II Is u hard job TO fight and
keep courage IN the army when con
stantly on the defensive The saloon
men are now on the defensive. They
are not asking for the repeal OF any
liquor laws or for any legislation ia
yorng the liquor question, but with
ontstretched hands are appealing TO
the Legislature 10 save them from
their enemies and asking for salvation
from tho church. 1t has been said
that We of the Anti-Snloon League
are Il set VI 2raftcrs, robbing little
children, silly women and weokmmd'
cd men. In order TO free ourselves
from such charge viii now ask all
such to leave the room before the col.
lection Is taken"
After this, cards with pencils at
tached We're passed through the ar-
dicncc aud all were requested TO sub
scribe something to the cause, all
such subscriptions continuing for one
year and emitting the doncr TO the
AntiSaloon League literature.
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