The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13
ANTI-sALOoS
Conference Hears ImpassiOned Adj
dresses ON More Vigorous Action.

There was singing and praying and hur-
raining in the cause of temperance at Me-
ridian-street Church yesterday afternoon.
The great Audience was stirred to the high
est pitch OF enthusiasm by the words OF
siiver-tongued orators. The sentiment that
pervaded the service was that the churches
must do the work If it is TO be done. and
that with one great organization of all the
RELIGIOUS bodies the liquor traffic can be
crushed.
The saloon must go" is one of the Meth
odist battle cries these days. This church
will be expected to do it's share of the work
in the organization of the Lincoln Legion
that Is TO be undertaken i'm a short time.
The Lincoln Legion will have for its mis-
sion the securing OF pledges all over the
country-pledges of total abstinence. 1t is
said that Abraham Lincoln, before his cleo
ton TO the presidency. labored in the cause
OF temperance and secured pledges for the
cause In Illinois.
The services yesterday afternoon opened
with the singing of the hymn. America
DR.. Stansfeld explained that the organist
was detained at home on account of sick
ness. But said he, I'VE have a brother
who can sing and who is better than any
organ" T. Il. Willis, of New Lebanon. led
the music with a deep bass voice that filed
the sanctuary.
FAIR ON SALOON EVIL.
The Rev. Morton A. Farr, of Evansville.
led in the temperance oratory of the after
non and discussed "Our Greatest Social
Problem" That the saloon is the great So
cial problem he believes there can be no
question. He deprecated the fact that Ev-
ansville has haan So u0fQrinuglv advarfiSpd
as an 'unruly and disorderly city but
thought that what is true OF Evansville is
true OF every other city I'm a measure. 1T
IS the question of misrule and misgoverned
cities he said. when we come to the
question of municipal government. there is
one question that rises above every other
the question OF enforcing the laws. Men
viii unite In enforcing the laws against
mix wagons and livery stables and other
when they know that the whole thing lies
in the damnable liquor traffic"
MI; rarr psheves this Is the most hope
1ul time IN the history OF this great ques-
ton. The most hopeful sign is the close
slifance OF all the righteous organizations.
lie declared that the only way to get at
the liquor evil Is TO first cut the tap root.
Back OF the saloon that hands out this
drink OF hell TO our boys and girls" he
said, are the brewery and distillery that
Will ultimately have to be dealt with i'm this
great question Back OF the low dive is the
brewery. We are becoming liberal and pa
tient and we are willing to wait. but we
must keep In front OF US the guiding star of
reform and must not forget that these
things have 10 be dealt with. We are com
ing to see very clearly that the only way
TO close the front door is 10 close the back
door: that the only way 10 keep the saloon
closed on Sunday l. to keep IL closed on
Monday and every other day OF the week.
Our aim Is not restriction. but elimination:
not simply TO hold IL down, but 10 obliter-
ate H."
In order TO bring this state of thinas
about the speaker said IL would be neces-