Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-26

terests reaching from San Diego, Cal. on
the Pacific shore. to Portland Me-, on the
Atlantic; nay, 1t was international; 1t
reached across the seas; the worlds heart
throbbed with sympathy; Great Britain.
Canada, the Empress of China and the EN-
peror of Japan were among those VINO
wished to help. The terrible earthquake
brought with 1t a great lesson. the utter
helplessness of human strength to triumph
over natures upheavals. Mans weakness
was demonstrated and at the same time a
spectacle of sublime heroism was spread
before the world. The heroes were as
countless as the flames. and sympathy
opened wide a hundred million human
hearts. and they who gave were infinitely
blessed
There are those in our convention who
were residents or visitors in San Francisco,
when it was left desolate, without food.
water, lights, telephone or telegraph win
burning buildings, failing walls. disorder
and ruin on every side! Homes, business
places. manufactures, school houses ana
churches were swept away.
or the 5000 licensed saloons but rev
were left. The mayor issued emphatic or
ders forbidding the selling or giving away
of intoxicating drinks. There were thou
sands of people who were hungry ana
thirsty. The alcoholic drinks were not USED
to quench thirst or satisfy hunger, put were
destroyed; for in this severe testing time
it had to be acknowledged that alcoholic
liquor Is not food and not proper Dev-
= erage. but a dangerous article The mayor 8
order was supplemented and enforced py
the army-and prohibition prohibited in
San Francisco. We are told that some OF
the women of the better class forced TO
live In camps had lost homes of wealth that
were darkened by strong drink; ana tne e
days of enforced abstinence on the part OF
their husbands and sons were bright spots
In their lives despite the desolation that had
come to their homes.
LIQUOR Mems Avarice.
Surely these patriotic liquor men should
lie low and not criticise medical officers,
town clerks and corporations, In their eff
forts to check intemperance, and thereby
lessen the ratepayers' burdens. by reducing
the number of drink-caused paupers. luna
tics and other unemployable degenerates.
If the expenditure Is illegal, as Mr.. Boni-
face says it is-well, then, 1t must be made
legal The health and efficiency Of a great
nation cannot be jeopardiZed by technical
illegality. and as Mr.. Bung's exception to
these posters seems to be that of protecting
the ratepayers from what is very queS-
tionable "lyyegality." would it not be more
patriotic of him If he were to help forward
the movement and leave 1t for the rate
payers themselves to do the fighting and
protesting? No! The liquor men cannot
be sincere in their anxiety to relieve rates
or they would take up the more serious
questions of drink-cauSed pauperiSm and
-lunacy. Then they would have the whole
hearted support of the ratepayers them
selves. and their efforts would be appre-
ciated by the whole of his majesty's sub
Ject5. In short, there would be no opposi-
ton, and the problem would be solved.
Let us be as alert as are France Eng
land, Scotland and Denmark in using this
telling way of enlghteneing the people.
The liquor trade Is a mighty monopoly
compared with which every other monop-
oily pales into insignifcance; but the bull
warks of this trade are constantly being
weakened. A widespread call for a new
sort of morality in public officials has been
heard in many states, and in the nation at
large the idea has been emphasized that
large corporations and men Of greatest
wealth are not exempt from the require
ments of the peoples laws in the people s
courts. The liquor trade is not only sus-
tained by avarice, but by an appetite more
insatiate than that of the miser-an appe-
title which unconsciously sways or controls
the action of the man who Is counted
among those never known to drink to ex-
cess. Notwithstanding all this. the saloon
more than ever before is regarded with
disfavor by respectable people.
At the conclusion of the address miscel-
laneous matters of business were taken
up after which an adjournment was taken
until O'Clock.