Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-16
TEMPERANCE HOSTS
ARE ENTHUSIASTIC

Bonde Hall Friday Night Do
Honor to Faithful Exec.
utive Officers.
The citizens temperance social al
the Bonde Hall last Friday night was
An suspicious event in the history o.
the suppression OF the liquor traffic al
Willmar and the light for good city
government Hundreds of the citizens
met In social Intercourse, sang patri
otic songs, feasted Oh the good things
provided for the inner man, listened
to stirring addresses and united IL
doing honor to faithful city officials
who have born the brunt of the en-.
forcement OF the laws during the pas,
year. The magnificent success of this
gathering proves that at no previous
time In the history OF the city have
the temperance forces entered city
campaign with such vim and enthu.
siasm, such courage to stand up and
be counted, 30 prepared to fight long
and hard for their priciples, as now
in the one approaching.
Less than two weeks ago the idea
was conceived OF having social
gathering OF the temperance forces
and providing suitable tokens OF
appreciation with which to surprise
the mayor as the head OF the city
government and the police officers. A
conference OF the officers OF the Civic
Federation and pastors OF the city re-
suited in the proper committees being
appointed, who did their work quietly
but effectively, meeting with the most
enthusiastic response from the citizens
approached. The ladies of the w. c..
T. U. were consulted and they volun-
teered to take the matter Of providing
refreshments into hand. They met
with the same generous feeling on the
part of the ladies of the city, their
only trouble being the feeling OF Ais
appointment on the part of those who
had not been approached.
At eight o'clock Friday evening
Bonde Hall was packed to the doors.
Every one present was handed slip
upon which was printed two national
hymns. Rev. A. N. Osterholm of the
Swedish Mission church, who is acting
president of the Civic Federation,
arrived with Q mysterious bundle un-
der his arm. Special Invitations had
been extended to members of tho city
council to be present with their wives,
as we'll as to Mayor Qvale and Messrs.
Bonde and Stephens and their wives.
Most of the members of the council
were on hand. Some of them we're out
OF town, and it was only narrowly
averted that the mayor had left on the
noon train to keep an appointment at
Graceville.
Rev. Osterholm opened the meeting.
The audience 1.-THE part of the same
that was fortunate enough to have
seats) aroee and Ill sang "America, u
Miss Emma Dahlheim presiding at the
piano. The chairman then called
upon DR.. Riches as the first speaker
of the evening. The doctor made q
ringing speech. He took occasion tc
explain the aims and purposes of tht
Civic Federation. He said that the
organization was being much mis-
represented by such as feared com
pact organic alton Of the Temperance
voters Of the city. He resented tht
charge that the organization favori
any one of the national political par
ties or any political faction. II sucf
we're tho case, he had failed to dis
cover the same. 1t Is composed O.
men of all parties and of all churches
the one common bond being the destr'
to maintain q clean city, free from
saloons and other contamin ating In
fuences. DR.. Riches spoke about thirt!
minutes. The next speaker was Rev
Gynild, Of the Lutheran Free church
H!s subject was announced as 9TH
Coming Campaign" His remark
we're clearly cut and very much to tn
point as usual. BE spoke of what tn
attitude of the churches ought to b
on the temperance issue. Being him
self q churchman, he thought he nigh
be privileged to speak without incur
ring the charge of being an enemy Q
the church. The speaker contende
that it was the foe within the churc
that was feared by the friends of TEN
perance. The open advocates G
saloon license and the lawless elemeu
that seeks to secure the legalizatio
of their business ore not to be feared q
much as the hypocrites who are men
bers of the church but are also secret
" the friends of the saloon traffic
There is no neutral ground on th
question. Those who are not with
are against US. He said he would ak
to build fence to divide the two stde'
and he would search for the brand