Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-14
FOES OF VICE HEARD
FRATERNAL SONS OF JoNADAB
DEPLoRE LOCAL EVILS.

The recent publication in The Star re-
garding an alleged gambling house boat on
the Potomac river in the vicinity of Alex
andria, Va, and the rumor prevalent re-
garding the sale of intoxicating liquors to
minors on the barge was the subject Of an
animated discussion at a meeting held last
night by Washington Council. No. 1. Fra
ternal Sons Of Jonadab. A resolution thank
ing The Star for it's expose of this evil was
unanimously passed on motion of Mr.. A. B.
Scrivener.
THE sale Of liquor on this house boat Is
not the only place where the Jaw is being
violated" said Mr.. Scrivener. I'VE have
it right here in Washington, in our So
called social clubs, which are in full blast
each Sunday. These clubs are operating
under liquor license issued by the excise
board. How often are these places investi-
gated by the authorities.
1t seems that the recent statement made
by Attorney Crandall Mackey of Alexandria
county, Va, and published in The Star a
rev days ago that membership in these So
called social clubs can be obtained upon
the payment of very small sum, which
gives the applicant membership card to
drink booze all day Sunday should be
taken cognizance Of by our police depart
ment," said Grand Chief R. E. O'Brien.
Mr.. Mackey goes a little farther in his
statement, saying there are fully fifty
'speak-easies' in our city. This statement
should also be investigated.
Another thing which was brought to my
attention during the past few days." said
Mr.. O'Brien lis the statement made by sew
erai men that in place of amusement mi
nors can obtain drinks at the bar or have
them served to them by walters. If this be
true the authorities should see that the
Dractice he StnDpp6 I hone tn the daV
when our good citizens will protest against
allowing boys under seventeen years of age
to be admitted in these places, and If the
question is ever agitated the Fraternal Sons
Of Jonadab will be among those signing
a petition to Congress asking such iegisla-
ton
while we are discussing this whisky
traffic. said Mr.. John r. Davis, we
should not lose sight of the fact that the
'growler-rushing' custom should be stopped.
In some neighborhoods in this city this
business is becoming a great evil. 1t Is
getting that certain classes stop on the
streets and drink this stuff from cans and
pitchers, and it is a common sight to see
such people lettering about cheap grog
shops
Conversion Of Drunkards.
Mr.. William A. Hickey read a paper writ
ten by Judge William Jefferson Pollard, po-
lice magistrate Of the second district of st.
Louis, Mo-. entitled "A New Method of Con-
verting Chronic Drunkards," part of which
is as follows:
AS long as the germ Of good is not dead,
believe it is the duty of the court to save
drunkards from themselves and for their
families. I would rather make my court
tribunal Of reformation than Of punish
ment A judge on the bench must exer-
else common sense and good judg-
ment 1 try to do the best can
for the defendant and the city. Back
Of the man is his family, whose interests
must be taken into consideration in fixing
his punishment. To send a man to the
workhouse to work out fine. breaking
rock at 30 cents day. while his family
faces starvation is pretty serious thing
to do. I would rather send the man back
to his family and keep him sober than to
send him to prison. 1t is better for the city,
better for society, better for the individual
and thousand times better for his family
to say to the drinking man. The court will
forgive you for your past conduct, but you
must pledge yourself to behave in the fu-
ture:' Virtually the man is enjoined from
getting drunk
I'm giving the defendant an opportunity
to sign the pledge I always impose a suit
able fine for his offense I let him off on
his promise of good behavior. with the dis
tinct understanding that If he drinks again
he will have to go to the workhouse. The
man who knows he is going to be sent to
the rock pile for getting drunk will keep out
of the reach of temptat ton. l have learned
by observation that after they have kept
sober for a month they have very little
trouble. 1t is during the first month after
giving them the pledge that ! have to keep
a sharp lookout over them. They must re-
port to me regularly every week either at
the. court or my home. If a man Is work.
ing and cannot get away without losing
time l give him the privilege of reporting
to me at night at my home. If he is a mar
ried man I require him to bring his wife
with him.
Waste Of Time.
at is useless waste of time to give the
old topper chance to reform. He has be-
come confirmed drunkard. and I know
that he is better off when he is breaking
rock. 1 can tell the old offender, no mat
ter whether he has ever been in my court
before. But there are many good-hearted,
honest men when they are sober who lose
their heads when they are drunk They
have an appetite for drink which they seem
unable to control. They meet their friends
in bar rooms, and the first thing they know
they are drunk and in trouble. They are
arrested and sent to my court. charged with
disturbance of the peace or some othei
trivial offense. 1t would do such men more
harm than good to put the stain Of the
workhouse upon them. What they need is
a good, strong moral stimulant. l produce
the pledge and give them chance to work
out their own reformation. Then back
I'D that pledge with the law created by 7O0,-
600 people. The chances are that the man
who knows the eye of the court Is upon
him wherever he goes will stay at nrIGe
evenings instead of lounging around ss-
looms"
II was announced that all arrangements
are complete for the beginning Of the fall
and winter temperance, campaign to be
waged by the Fraternal Sons, commencing
with an illustrated lecture Thursday, Ocio-
Der %, to which all people interested In
the temperance movement will be welcomed.
The following committees were appointed:
Executive-Martin Mcnamara, r. L.
O'Brien, A. w. Bradt.
Entertainment-Wm. A.. Hickey, G. j..
Beller r. E. Major, Joseph Molloy, Thomas
Gedney.
Reception-Clifford ]. Gaskins, ]. r. Da-
Wis, A. B. Scrivener. ]. F. McCabe, A. J.
Jones.