Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-04
TEMPERANCE CRUSADE
Alleged Gravity Of Drink Problem
Movement Moral Campaign
. American CRATER Mentioned.

large and interested audience last even
Ing at the Metropolitan NJ. z. Church evil
denced approval and sympathy by frequent
applause. as the temperance evangelist.
Mr.. Tennyson Smith, made fervent appeals
for temperance reform and scored the drink
evil and those who are responsible for 1t.
Introduced by W. III. Mcconnell, the
speaker emphasized the dif1ieuty the Eng
lish and American people seem to have In
realizing the gravity and the alleged grow
ing terror OF the drink problem. and the alb
solufe necessity that society shall protect
Itself by all moral and legal forces at its
command. He did not fear to be charac-
terized as an extremist In such a cause.
As well talk about moderate Chris
tiaia as moderate teetotaler. the speaker
said. The movement Is a moral campaign,
not temporary explosion of temperance
energy. He gave an amusing account of
an experience he had with Carrie Nation
IN Texas. and said the police and some of
the liquor interested town officials seem al
ways to be most attentive and effective on
the side of the saloonkeeper. He did not
accompany her when she smashed the big
mirrors In the Carrie Nation Saloon" be-
cause he feared that In his zeal he would
involve a scrimmage.
The manner in which English woman
throws stone, contrasted in effective PAN
tomime with the knock-down. drag out,
U n.
BILE for laughter.
Mr.. Smith said he would not suggest sa-
loon smashing as plan OF campaign. but
Ii the mothers of the District could realize
tho way of depreciation. moral and physical
ru that the saloons were opening for their
so'ls no man could wonder IL army of
Carrie Nations were developed. His life
had been threatened In New Zealand be-
cause of successful fight against saloons.
he said.
Attention was called to prevalent mis-
apprehension, 1t being asserted that the
greatest danger is not the low groggery,
but the bar in the frst-class hotels and re-
spectacle places America, in enc regard
at least, was far behind England, 1t was
declared, since neither in Boston nor this
city could he find more than one actual
temperance hotel. In England and Amer
lea we condemn the traffic and condone the
sin of the liquor seller. Information was
desired as to any public official who had to
do with the liquor traffic, and If guilt could
be established he proposed from the plat
form to denounce the outrage and ask the
good people to turn the rascal out. In that
pronouncement tho audience evidenced
great interest
Humor and Reform Sentiments.
The flow of the Speakers humor. mingled
with reform sentiments. eliminated in
story of speech delivered in Birmingham,
when he compared rich and philanthroplc
brewer and other liquor dealers to bur-
glars. and how when he was afterward
called upon to make public apology he had
promptly and earnestly apologized to the
burglars
Mr.. Smith roundly denounced those mem
bers Of the Christian churches and others
who claimed sympathy with the reform
movement. but who invested money and re-
celved dividends from the profits of brewer
les and LIQUOR establishments He tossed
from pulpit to aisle rolls of f1fty-feet-long
canvas, containing thousands of names of
persons In prominent position who held in
England the shares of liquor manufacturing
concerns, ard deprecated the absence in
America Of laws enabling free access to
the books of public corporations In Eng
land 129 members of parliament thirteen
officials in the government of Mr. Balfour
and eight members of the cabinet take
concerns.
The American CRATER received the speak,
ers attention in fervid denuncaitions He
declared his belief that the wave of real
ana honest reform In spiritual. social po-
Ntlcal and business life was gathering mo-
mentum each day and predicted brighter
and better possibilities throughout clvili-
cation.
A dramatic and effective close was given
the lecture by AZ representation of the tug
or war between the forces of the liquor evil
and temperance reform.
The crusade against the liquor traffic will
be continued this evening at Calvary Bap-
fist Church. Sth and H streets northwest.
At the Trial of Alcohol" for which prep
arations are being made and which is to be
held at Beiasco Theater next Saturday
evening at o'clock. Mr.. Joseph w Cox of
the District bar will act as judge, Tennyson
Smith, counsel for the prosecution; Col N
e. VowleS clerk of the court and John r
Mahoney, sheriff. The committee will de-
eide today upon proper person to act as
counsel for the defense.