Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-24
THE PROHIBITION FIGHT.
Societies in the District of Columbia
 See COngreSSmen.

Washington, D. C., Oct 24.-The fight for and against prohibition in the District of Columbia, which will rage from now until congress has de- cided whether this big city shall go without saloons, has begun with an earnestness that indicates great feel ing and excitement before it is over. The prohibitionists, for once, find the opposition making the attack and not waiting simply to defend them selves. German and Irish societies of all kinds have united to bring all their weight upon congress to ignore the request of the prohibition | ists that the national capital shall become a 'dry" city. While it is | the purpose of these societies and the other clements operating with them to try to have the prohibition propositions smothered in commit tee and not permit them to come be- fore the two houses of congress, they are prepared for fight on the floors of congress. There is strong belief I that the president will veto any pro- hibition measure, and for that req son the prohibitionists will seek to carry their aims through an amend ment to some large appropriation bill. which they think the president would hesitate to veto
 The anti-prohibition leaders have succeeded in securing the support of a number of prominent ministers of the city, a deep disappointment to the cold water peoGie. Half a dozen prominent ministers have expressed themselves against prohibition. Two of the latest are Rabbi Loeb. head of great Jewish congregation here. and Rev Dr George Brodthage, pas tor of St Johns Lutheran church. Rabbi Loeb declares that the Jews are among the most sober and tenn perate people of the world. exercis- ing great moderation in drinking, and yet they are opposed to prohibi- tion. 'I am emphatically opposed to any kind of prohibitive legisla- tion," he asserts, and my. reasons are of biblical and religious char acter."
 Rabbi Loeb quotes many passages of the Bible approving of drink un- der proper circumstances. The way to reform" he asserts. ''is not to prevent but to teach the proper use of things, and to prevent their abuse
 Dr Brodthage is not much in favor of saloons, but he thinks that peo- ple should be allowed to buy what they want in the way of drink and take it to their homes. He thinks that if there were no places where women could go with men to enjoy a social hour or so there would be little of intemperance in this eOun- try. Tn fact. he believes that if the women of the country would direct their energies toward a system of liauor. selling that would enable them to accompany their husbands on nearly all occasions great good would result in the way of temper ance. T believe in reform that will accomplish something" Dr BrOd- thage said. mot in the impossible. You cannot abridge the rights of men to eat or drink what they please and expect compliance with the law.
 Christ himself spoke of himself as a wine bibbeT-' In St Luke vii, s4. it is written. The Son of Man is come eating and drinking; and ye say. Behold a gIuttonous man, and a wine bibber. a friend of publiczns and sinners The argument that the Bible is against the use of strong drink is positively erTo1eous; it is neither for nor against; it oOunsels the sane. middle way