Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-20
WORKERS TO UNITE
CONFERENCE TO BE HELD OF AD-
vocATEs OF PROHIBITION.
Result of Meeting Last Night at Good
Samaritan Home-Central-
lied Effort.

The union of all temperance workers into
a central organization having for its pur-
pose an aggressive crusade against the evils
Of intemperance, was strongly advocated
b. Mr.. John c. Moore, former high chief
ruler of the Independent Order Of Recha-
bites of North America, at a meeting -
the Catholic Total Abstinence Union, held
last night at Good Samaritan Home, on L
near 18th street Mr.. Thomas Maloney,
president of the union, presided. COM
munication was read which showed that
during the past year the Catholic Total Abb
stinence Union of the United States had In
creased its membership to more than $4,000.
Mr.. Moore was introduced by the president
as one of the champions of temperance In
this city. and in opening his address he
said he felt flattered by the kind remarks
made about him by Mr.. Maloney:
1T is time for us to centralize our forces
In this great endeavor to uplift humanity
from the thraldom OF strong drink and the
influences of the drink shop he said.
There is room enough in this gr-,c.t crusade
for Catholics as well as for non Catholics.
What we need is united action" Turning
to Mr.. William F. Downey, who was seated
on the platform alongside the speaker, MT.
Moore said: This would be splendid au-
dtorium for a series of mass meetings in
the interests of temperance reform. to be
held this fall and winter. at which the gen.
eral public could attend.
THE hall is at the disposal of men en-
gagged In the temperance work., replied Mr..
Downey, regardless of their religious coil
victions and your suggestion meets with my
approval. We will at once make suitable
arrangements for these mass meetings"
Alcoholism a Disease.
resolution was>ofered by Mr. Henry
NJ Beadle Of St. Vincent de Paul Society
that the union declare for the better treat
ment of intoxicated men who are taken
in custody by the authorities, and suggest
ing that medical treatment be given them;
also that the union indorse the editorials of
The Evening Star on this question. which
were published last Monday and Tuesday.
The resolution caused much comment
favorable to the sentiment contained in
The Stars editorials and brought out ex-
pressions in favor of the establishment in
this city of an inebriate asylum where
drunkenness could be treated as a disease.
I'VE have institutions for the treatment
of those who are insane said Mr.. Downey.
''and to my mind drunkenness is a
disease. The law protects those en-
gagged in whisky selling; it legalizes the
saloon and in Gods name something hui
name should be done with the victims of
alcoholism. What we need is some sort
of an institution where those affected with
this unfortunate malady may receive medi-
cal attention.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted. Those who spoke briefly, touch
Ing upon the unity of the temperance
forces and favoring a series of meetings
during the winter with a view Of arousing
the temperance sentiment among the
young people Of Washington. in addition
to the speakers named, were: Henry M.
Beadle and James P. McGinness of st. Vim
cent de Paul Society; Mr.. Ed Hannah,
John A. Cole. William A. Hickey, Thomas
J. Clark. r. w. Soran, c. F. Craig, Thomas
]. Cryan, R. E. Major Of the Plate Prin-
ters' Union, Matthew Malloy. E. J. Dow
ney, John Harvey, Charles Downey and
Thomas Maloney.
1t was decided that representatives OF
the various organizations engaged in the
temperance work shall meet and arrange
for public mass meeting to be held each
Sunday night, and steps will Immediately
be taken to have a conference of the rep
resentatives of such organizations the
present week.