The Washington times., 1902-06-23
Anniversary Celebration
of District Antl-Saloon
League.
ADDRESS BY Mr.. GIBSON
Says If the People of Washington
Would Demand 1t Congress Would
Prevent Local Sale of Intoxicants-
Work in Tennessee.


tional Church. A large number of tenn
perance workers were present. and Hon.
Henry r. Gibson. member of Congress
from Tennessee. made the principal ad-
dress. Mr. Herman C. Metcalf. a men,
Der of the league. gave brief review
of the ninth years work Of the league.
Mr. Gibson said in part:
lone of the grandest sights which can
be imagined. l think. will be the day
when the temperance people of Wash
ipgton. 100000 men, women and chill
dren, will band themselves together and
march in body to Capitol Hill and pc
tition the United States Congress to rid
the District OF Columbia of the liquor
traffic. That day, believe. will not be
far distant Some day In the near fu-
ture, and think we shall live to see it.,
the good people of Washington will en-
ter such protest to Congress against
the selling of liquor at the National
Capital that Congress will not dare do
otherwise than grant their request. It
would not take twenty-four hours for
a bill prohibiting the sale or manufac-
ture of liquor in the District Of Colum-
bia to pass both houses of Congress and
be on its way to the White House, il
such grand body of people were to go
before Congress in body
Work in Tennessee.
About fourteen years ago the people
of Tennessee had submitted to them a
proposed amendment to the constitution
Of the State to abolish the liquor traffic
in their State. was called upon to
champion the cause of the amendment.
1, with the temperance societies in my
district, worked and worked, and while
We failed to get the amendment through
the Legislature, We started the move
ment for temperance In the State. In
my district We voted for the amendment
and won by a majority Of over 5000
votes. Today there are sixty-four
out Of the ninety-four in the
State Of Tennessee which are prohibi-
tion counties. Ten years from today,
venture to say, there will not bc ten
counties in the State which win be IL
,ensiHg saloons or the manufacturers
If liquor"
Mr.. Herman C. Metcalf, who read q
orief summary of the work Of the Anti
saloon League in the District Of Colum-
oia, said in part:
Tho most striking difference between
he District and the States is that the
,itizens of the District are deprived of
he right Of suffrage. The petition is
the only way we have Of ex-
PRESSING their desires in regard to the
of local affairs. and while
signature is not generally as ef-
ective as vote at the polls, its value
S not to be disregarded or overlooked.
The law under which licenses for the
ale Of intoxicants are issued expressly
,rovides that the wishes of the people
hall be known in this manner
How Licenses Are Issued.
''The law requires that when a per.
on desires to engage in the liquor
BUSINESS he shall apply for a license.
ling with his application the written
onsent of the owners Of real estate
nd the resident housekeepers on both
ides of the street in the square in
shich his place of business is to be
ocated. II this is to be on a corner,
With an entrance on each street, such
onsent must be obtained on both
treets. But the law also provides that
hose who do not desire saloon to
e located in the square in which they
I've or own property. or who desire the
emoyal of saloon already located,
cay file petition in writing stating
hat such saloon is not necessary and
3 Objectionable This is known a=
rotest- The experience of the past
Inc years has proved that one of the
lost efectual methods of work adopted
y the league is along the line of or
anized effort to secure such protests.
he league endeavors to so mold public
pinion that the people may realize
hat protest is valuable and effective:
@ inform those who may be ignorant
s to the manner in which Ii shall be
ecured and presented; to encourage
hose inclined to engage in the work Of
ecuring protests. and to render other
elp in its power.
Work of the League.
81 do not oyerstep the bounds Of pro-
riety or distort the records of history
hen / say that the cases in which
1terpretations and applications Of the
aw have been made in the interest of
be liquor seller. not only before this
,ague was organized but since, have
OF been few"
THE league conducts mass meetings,
lectures, conferences. sends
to conduct meetings Of
oung peoples societies and to address
unday-schools. publishes literature for
zee distribution, prepares articles for
lie local press, and now is about to issue
paper of its own.
I'm 1898, the year the league was or
anized. there were granted 939 licenses
hUs far during the current year there
ave been granted 627. net reduction
312, about ope-third. This we coz
ider sufficient reason to be much en-
ouraged.
For this the league by no means
laims all the credit. The Excise Board
Kidding certain sections and certain
treets of saloons. and some few have
iscontiRued for various reasons. We
o claim. however. that no such reduc-
on could have been effected without
ne league. TTiie city is better not only
IT what the league has done, but for
hat it representa-
Besides the addresses an excellent
lusical program was rendered. DR.. ].
= Bischoff rendered organ voluntaries
nd Mr.. ]. Walter Humphrey sang .
,io