The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-11
AwNTI-LIQUOR MEN
State Temperance Union Meets
in Topeka.
President f. d. COburn Makes
His Annual Address.
DISCUSSES QUESTION.
Calls Attention to Demand for
Total Abstainers.
Chancellor Strong Of State
University Speaks.

AAI NsAHtH
continue through this evening.
The feature of the session was the ad-
dress of President f. D. Coburn at last
evenings meeting.
The opening number on the pro-
gramme was THE Mission of the Faith
fuI Few. by Rev. c. S. Nusbaum of
Ottawa. Frank Stahl also spoke brief
ly on the subject.
THE Educational Value Of Temper
ance Work was discussed by Rev. j.
u. Countermine Of Topeka, Mrs. F. A.
Cody of Marion and A. D. Wilcox.
What Young Peoples Societies Can
do for Temperance" was discussed by
Miss Addie Mains. Dr.. G. a. Crise ana
l.. r.. Simon.
Following the presidents address in
the evening. Chancellor Frank Strong OF
the state university read a paper on
The Child and His inheritance" His
sentiment on the liquor question was
embodied in the following.
II it were possible to centralize all
the Christian organizations and direct
them as a unit there would not be q
single joint or saloon in the state It is
not you and 1 who are to blame, but the
He said that the child bears the bur-
den Ok the evil Of the times. and he
named intemDerance as one Of them
He said that it was the duty of the
churches to stamp cut the liquor evil.
PRESIDENT CCBURN'S ADDRESS.
Following is the address of President
COburn in FULL:
We are surely entitled to congratulate
one another as we assemble again in
annual convention, for the past year
has been fruitful in our work.
1t Is roper. likewise. and heartening
for is to remind ourselves anew of the
greatness Of the interests for which this
organization stands.
The cause We champion stands for the
material interests of the land and of
mankind. 1t is a protest against the
most constituencies waste that saps the
wealth of the nation. 1t stands for the
interests OF labor and the labOrer. No
business pays to labor so small a per
cent of the value Of its products as the
distillery and brewery. And intemper-
ance, more h any other influence,
lowers the level and impairs the efHci-
ency of the laborer. The saloon is the
arch rObber of the Wage-earner n
the chief obstacle in his upward path to
independence.
This union, with all kindred organiza-
lions, stand for the home, and all the
sanctities which gather about that
word. And the home is at the founda-
ton Of civilized society. Corrupt the do
mestic life of a people and their down
fail is certain. Our union is the ally of
the church. We do not profess to at
tempt all that the church attempts, but
the motives which govern US, and the
ends at which we aim, are Christian
motives and ends.
We stand for public order and good
government. The saloon is the most
prolific source of crime. 1t is the most
balefui influence in politics: it is the
perpetual ~corruDter of courts, legisIa-
lures, and public officers, and constant
ly seeking by bribery to debauch the
public conscience. We stand for jails
unOccupied for a lack Of convicts: dock
cts reduced by two-thirds because of
the absence of rum-incited crimes: for
legislatures set free from the corrupting
influences having their seat in the still
room and brew house. for courts which
VIII deal impartially with all criminals:
for MAYORS of cities who viii not enter
into cOmpac with law-breakers; and,
as including all these things and insur-
Ang them all, a citizenship whose ballots
are in~corruDtible, and who viii carry
with them INTO their political life deep
moral convictions and the spirit of en-
ughtened and courageous patriotism.
1 bid you welcome, trusting that the
result of your cOunsels and delibera-
tions may be to give a new impulse to
our work in every part of the state.
signs of the times Will clearly show
that the temperance reform is not los
ing ground nor standing still. Today
the sacred desk. the scientific labora-
tory, the business Office, the farmers
nreside. the school room and the social
NLA opposed w
the reign of whisky In a word. the es-
sential and enduring elements of orr
civilization are coming to recognize in
intoxicants an enemy to human we'll
being. Civilization is at this moment
in the act of writing a declaration of
war against alcohol, if indeed h docu-
ment may not be said already to be
penned, signed and sealed.
A century ago the pulpit was moder-
ately averse to drunkenness; now, al
most as a unit, it sturdily and unceas-
ingly combats not only drunkenness, but
drinking. To day the ministry goes al
most to the extreme limit of asserting
that to be a Christian one must be a
total abstainer from alcoholic drinks.
Time was when a clergyman might be
drunk without exciting now,
If n of the cloth shoul by chance be
come inebriated and rumOr should catch
the news, the unfortunate man would
ever after be almost too deeply ashamed
of himself to walk the streets in day
light A preacher would be more of a
hereto nowadays to drink a glass of
beer in a barroom han to repudiate the
most cherished dogma of his creed.
All over n land ministers are preach
ing total abstinence, n are calling
on the people to enforce existing anti
liquor laws. and to enact stronger ones.
where needed, and upon the Whole the
churches stand with their leaders The
church is today itself a mighty temper
ance reformer and reforming force
EZ--4 -+-EL LAA
embrace" the one accepting the invita-
ton realizes that he is virtually pledg-
ing himself then and there to keep en-
tirely from liquor.
TEMPERANCE MEANS ABSTI-
NENCE.
SO, too. the chool of today is an in
huentaI teacher of temperance.
Throughout the union. state laws prO-
vide that the public school shall give in
Etruction upon the physical effects of
alcohol. They who are to be the faith
ers and mothers twenty and forty years
from now are thus taught in their child
hood the wicked folly Of using fntoxi-
cants. The leading citizens Of a quarter
century hence are being well instructed
as to the dire calamities that overhow-
from the flowing bowl. The candidates
for office who shall take the places OF
the ambitious politicians of the present
can hardly fail, in view Of the temper
ance teaching Of their school days. to
support temperance laws.
The Influence Of fHfe 4ar,norar ~e