The Opelousas courier., 1905-03-25
Anti Saloon League.

The following address of the Anti
Saloon League has been issued to the
people Of Louisiana:
'The Louisiana Anti. Saloon League
has been formed. 1t takes its place
with the forty-two other Leagues in
the States and Territories.
"The League is not SO much an Or
~ganization as the bringing together
OF organizations and individuals to
contend for an interest which they have
in common. The saloon business has
brought disaster and ruined to many
interests. These interests W it to
themselves to get together to resist
that evil and to seek the safety and
welfare of humanity.
"The League is not q political plan.
It pledges itself to avoid utilization
with any political party as such and to
maintain an attitude of neutrality
upon questions of public policy not
directly and Immediately concerned
with traffic in streng drink.
"The Leagues object is the repres-
Biuu and ultimate suppression of he
saloon. 1t attacks no individual as
such, desires no undue restrictions
placed upon personal rights, seeks no
enactment Of sumptuary laws, lnvades
no territory sacred to others. Its ole
purpose is to prevent the invasion upon
the community for gains sake OF a bust
ness which %interferes with the welfare
OF individuals and the security of homes
and society, which menaces the hap
piness of women and children, and
which entails upon the State great
burdens of taxation to maintain police.
jails and courts, besides producing Ig-
norance, penury, sorrow and despair.
1.-THE Leagues motives are the well
fare of mankind, the purity Of domestic,
social, commercial and civic life, the
conserving of the highest interest of
the community, the saving of the young
men from an evil which has already
made sufficient havoc among them.
"The Leagues method are three fold:
First to educate by the wise and per-
sistent agitation of the matter before
the public; second, to secure, by proper
and becoming processes, the enactment
of wholesome laws looking to the sup
preston of the saloon; and third, to
secure, as far as possible a vigorous en-
fOrcement of all laws which will assist
in the accomplishment of the object of
the League. To those ends it will cir
cnlate proper literature, it will seek
through the organizations connected
with it to arouse healthy public senti-
ment, it would get together those who
are similarly disposed, it will send out
q well equipped and competent agent
or superintendent and it will demand
Of those who present themselves for
Office that they declare themselves on
this vital issue.
s'The League means business rather
than theory. Its purpose is action as
well az healthy public sentiment. Ii
will put to work such agencies as will
bring together the forces and sentiment
that are in existence, but not exerted
in opposition to the saloon business.
It will advocate the principle that the
saloon traffic is such that no license is
high enough to warrant it's existence
and no community safe enough to tolerate
il. IL proposes to keep out of party
politics, but it proposes to demand of
those who desire Office that they do
what lie right toward this question.
"The League asks the cooperation
OF all who desire the accomplishment
of these ends. 1t earnestly seeks the
good will and aid, in sympathy, funds,
open churches and halls, of all organi-
cations, religious or secular, that agree
to its aims. Especially does it ask of
the ministers of religion, of all faiths,
and OF the churches with which they
are connected, an open door and help
to prosecute a work which is for the
accomplishment in part Of the same
high aim for which they sre SO faith
fully struggling.
"Without enmity toward any man,
with kindly feeling toward all, with a
keen desire to contribute something to
she uplifting of humanity, the League
takes mp its work and appeals to right
minded citizens Of every shade of polit-
ical faith to sustain it in the arduous
tack to which it addresses ITSELF"