The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-26
KEEP UP FIGHT
AGAINST S0DINI
LEAGUE READY TO
BATTLE THREE YEARS.
State Convention Opens To-day with
Large Attendance-WOrk of Minne-
apollo Home Protection League Is
Commended by the Speakers from
Outside.

The name most frequently on the
lips of the speakers at the convention
of the Anti-Saloon league at st. Paul
this morning was that of ]. G. Sodini,
the Minneapolis saloon-keeper who
drew the first fire of the Minneapolis
Home Protection league. The secre-
tary of the Minneapolis committee, s.
S. Cook, was unable to be present to
give his report in person, because
there was hearing this morning of
the Sodini case. Rev. HI. H. Holmes,
who was in the chair, said This fight
cannot be stopped to hold conven-
tons"
The report Of the new Minneapolis
league, whose active work is carried
on by an executive committee of bust
ness men, announced that it would
stay in the fight against licensing the
Sodini theaters as long as he did.
Rev. H. H. Holmes supplemented
the official report by the statement
that Sodini only escaped the peniten-
John. Real force is. given to the
plans of the Minneapolis committee by
it's assurance that the Sodini fight is
not a three months spasmod ic effort,
but if need be a three years struggle.
The intention, as expressed in the
speeches is ito keep at him until he
is tied down so tight he can't Wiggle."
Minneapolis League Commended.
President Koeneke of st. Paul. in
his annual address, commended the
Minneapolis plan to st. Paul. AS an
evidence of the needs there. he said
it was probable that within two weeks
st. Paul would have to deal with So
DIM, as the latter was planning to
open a theater within two blocks. of
the state capitol.
The report. Of State superintendent
w. c.. H. Crawford expressed the be-
lief that the Minneapolis Home Pro-
lection league was second to none IN
the country in effectiveness, having
the least machinery and making the
least demands on the time of it's ex-
ecutive committee. He noted splendid
law enforcement, work thru the state,
on local initiative, with encourage
ment and advice from state head
quarters. Attention was called to the
danger of forgetting the paramount
value of organization. Christian cit1-
zens and their sympathizers are ma
iority in nearly all parts of the coun-
try and even in the large cities. In
this there is tremendous advantage
over the saloons, whose power to pre-
vent temperance legislation and to OBJ
.struct law enforcement rests on the
| fact that the saloon element is care
fully organized balance Of power, not
| a, majority.
The campaign plans proposed are
organization upon practically the
same basis as political parties, the
| building up Of a righteous machine to
accomplish the desires of Christian
citizenship. This does not require
mass meetings or large organizations
always at work, but a canvass of the
| people that shall enroll all temper
| ance sympathizers, and the enlistment
of capable and reliable leaders, who
| will bring the Christian forces into
| line whenever a struggle needing pop
ular support arises. This idea was I'M
folded in the discussions by Rev. P.
A. Baker, superintendent of the
| American Anti-Saloon league; Rev
II. N. McCash, superintendent of the
Iowa league, President Koeneke and
others. President Koeneke said that
the need was not Of arousing senti-
ment for temperance; that had been
| largely done already; but the senti-
ment must be directed and organized
| and, until it was, there would be g
| lack of results. He emphasized the
! idea that the league is not political
party but method of work for max
| ing righteousness predominant in al
parties, and for regenerating them.
The closing address of the morning
by w. G.. Calderwood, was, on .The
Money and the Morals of the Great
4. Problem The afternoon addresse.
were by DR.. S. D. Hutsinpiller or
| Tendencies to Anarchy and Theil
/ Prevention and by Judge c. A. Pol.
| lock of North Dakota on THE En-
forcement of Law" The convention
/ will close tonight, addresses being
given by Rev. J. M. Cleary on "The
/ Pitfalls for the Young" and by Rev
! p. A. Baker on "The New Confiic
! Against the Saloon"