Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-07-23
M. G. z. u. Column

, teIHeu allhmeleSSly open condition OF
municipal iniquity and appealing to
the people of this city to cast off
the yoke and demand the closing of
saloons, gambling houses and the
brothel, Rev. u. l.. Tufts, recently
appointed superintendent of the Ore.
gon Anti Saloon League, opened,
his campaign in Portland last night
He took his text from the fifth chap
ter of Isaiah, Esd verse, and read
"Woe unto them which justify the
wicked for reward. "
This he interpreted to mean "Woe
unto those who justify the saloonkeep-
er for license fee. " The speaker,
who occupied the regular pulpit hour
at the First Christian church, struck
straight from the shoulder at the evil
existing in this city. and said
There are 3l2 saloons in Port
land. A large majority of them, at
least run seven days Of the week in
open defiance of the laws OF the state.
"These saloons are crowded with
young men from Eastern homes who
have come across the continent to help
build up here great commonwealth
We owe debt TO those homes that
have parted with sons, to remove from
these sons as far as possible, these
pitfalls.
"Not only are these young men
tempted to drink, but gambling and |
the social evil are being carried on
in lawless and most brazen manner
- In company with Christian mis-
sionary of this city | visited num-
Der Of these drinking establishments
Should ! relate what my own eyes !
saw Of the awful condition OF affairs
II would startle you and arouse your
Indignation. While there are large
proportion Of young men before me
than is found, perhaps in most of the
churches, yet they are few in com
parison with those who are gathered
in the gambling and drinking rooms
in the city.
But | wish to deal chiefly with
the remedies for these stupendous
evils. "The Anti.Saloon League Is
only another name for the federated
church, fighting the saloon in defense
Of its own rights and to overthrow
kindred evils. The churches heretofore
have been working within their own
denominational lines, Now it is
proposed TO unite all the religious
and temperance forces of the state
into one grand army against the foe
Of our commonwealth.
IT is thus nterdenominational
and also interpartisan. The object is
to build up temperance constituency
rather than distinct party; to unite
all men who are willing to join issue ,
upon the one proposition. the sa- {
loon must 90, " and judging from the ,
success Of this movement in the states
where well-ostablished, we see no
reason why it should not succeed in
Oregon.
at is the duty Of the churches to
oppose the un-American saloon be.
cause:
"First-It is the great foe of the
church. There is, probably, no other
institution that does more to with
stand the work Of pastors and people .
than the organized liquor traffic.
Many young men who are brought
within the pale of the church are 9
decoyed into the saloons and dragged
down TO ruin. Destroy the saloon and T
you will remove remove the great q
to the building up of Christ's g
kingdom ON earth. OF the 5000, 600 /
young men In the United States only Y
about per cent o. them are members
Of any religious denomination; 10 per Il
cent of them never enter the walls I
of the sacred sanctuary. Where are /
these young meny One hundred h
Thousand Of them are in the jails n
and prisons 100, 600 others have been d
incarcoratod. Sevrn.eighths of the q
crimes which brought these young d
men to penal institutions are trace. T.
able to the drink habit n
Second-The saloon is the great
Zoe Of the government We hear much
Of the corruption of politics. This .
corruption is largely due to saloon
influences. The states for the par.
lies are often prepared at the saloons. :,
The men elected to office, largely by
means of the money and influence of
his traffic, are expected to be its
servants and protectors The welfare o
If our country depends upon pure u
ballot Thus the saloon, u Corruptcr y
'f pure politics, the opponent of good u
egislRtion and the enforcement Of ~
avs antagonistic to its interests, be.
ZONES the foe of u government ostab-
ishod for the protection of the best "
interests of society, u u
W, believe IN the supremacy Of nj
aw one form Of re- bellion was put fl
Iown in the bloody war Of the SOS II
nd It becomes the duty of evory loyal !.
itizcn to rank himself against this nj
ebcllious spirit which can be found OF
ampant within our own city" ;
Rev Tufts came here three weeks
go from Indianapolis. lie rcprcs, nts 81
he Anti-Saloon League OF America, VI
ia 80 states and maintain. r,
ug agb workers IN the field. -,
We aim to fight the evil through :
he law hc said today There are -
,ood laws ON the Oregon statute books
ND We mean to see them enforced aud
o close saloons ON Sunday. We will
make the douAuds upon the officers
hat they enforce the law aud If they