The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-12-14
REV. DR.. MANN TAlsS
TO WHITE RIBBON HOSTS
Says enforcement of Prohi.
bitIon is ImpossiSle-Cites
Case of Kansas

Maine New Age: Facing an audi
ence OF temperance reformers "a Ire
mont Temple, Boston. the Rev. DR..
. Alexander Mann, the rector of Trinity
church. sympatnetically. and yet
{ firmly challenged the attitude and con
eress OF the w. c. Il. U. on the sub
3ect of Prohibition The criticism
was not altogether unexpected but
the prominence. 0f the speaker and the
diroctness of his language made the
occasion remarkable one. Mrs r.
h. Briiten. president of the Boston
w. c. n. IT,, Immediately took issue
with the rector of Trinity, who had
quilted the hail at the close of his ad-
dress. and her reply was vigorously
applanded
The meeting was Thanksgiving
ralsy by the w. c. T. u. the other
speakeis being the Rev DR.. Henson,
Mrs inez Smith OF Scotland aud Mrs.
Catherine Stevens. president of the
Massachusetts, w. c. r. u.
n have come here" said DR. Mann,
mot 10 criticise. but to sympathize,
because this whole subject Of tein-
perance IS. ] trust. as close to me as
Il should be to every minister of the
gospel Of Jesus Christ. In tne most
earnest way being Interested In the
cause, ! wish you godspeed. This
doesn't mean that there Is nothing to
cfIiicise in the w. G. 7. u. There is
no question about the great inport-
ance OF your work and the magnitude
of the evil you are trying TO abatei
as TO that ! am IN most perfect and
hearty accord with you. asa SO is the
hplsc0pal church throughout the Uni.
ted etates.
u know how prohibition appeals to
those who. IN their own families. and
IN the persons near and dear to them,
realize the terrible misery that comes
from the intemperate use OF intoxi
eating drink Eut when we take that
proposition we must bear IN mind that
we are trying 10 demand of mankind
as history shows, Is an ideal and not
n practical attitude. With all respect
for those who differ from me. / frank
" say that / do not believe that IN
the present condition of things in the
as a whole an attitude which. SO far
United States absolute prohibition of
the manufacture. sale or use of in
foxicating liquors Is possible
What do you find today to be the
attitude Of the great majority OF the
pennle OF the United States? DO you
find that the number of states that are
declaring for prohibition is increasing
or decreasing? | think / am quite
within the limits OF truth Nhen say
that there are fewer states today
which have adopted a pfohibltiory
amendment to their constitutions than
there were Is. 20 or 25 years ago
remember that when six or seven
years ago ! spent q summer In the In.
terror OF Maine, at a little summer no
tel Is miles from IN capital a bust
ness man who made a trip 10 Augusta
70 see how prohibition worked came
back with the news that he had been
IN l3 saloons, each Of which was do.
ing business openly. the Officers com.
ing around once or twice a year ia
fine the saloons. the fine being TO all
intents and purposes a license.
We must not push this matter OF
state prohibition too far IN advance
OF the public sentiment OF the state.
Iou may put a law on the statute
book you make 1t a part of the con.
stitutional law OF the state: but If you
have not behind Il stong and con
siderable majority of the public opin
ion of the state. YOU have made IL
something worse than a dead letter
10 my mind. the difficulty OF forcing
a law like that on the statute book
and Of trying to keep Il there
amounts to this--that you are doing
great damage unsconsciously 10 the
citizens OF that state. because you
are teaching disregard for solemn con
stitutional law. II you take the posi-
tion that the manufacture or the
temperate use OF intoxicating liquor is
IN itself sin. that ] can understand the
lOgic of the position which would put
a prohibitor law on the statute book
and keep II there: but II You say that
the abuse and intemperate use of
Intoxicating LIQUOR is a sin. then
nust say that II seems not the part of
wisdom 70 Try to anticipate public
sentiment by putting a law on the
statute book which a great many ciu-
sens, believing IL to be an interference
with their private rights are going TO
disregard and break When you can
not say that YOU are forbihhing the
citizen TO do what Is sinful-when you
are dealing with sumptuary legisla-
tion-and when YOU bear In mind the
different kinds of people In this cOun-
try-the enormous German and Ital-
ian immigration. FOR example--it Is