Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-02-15
White RIbbONERS
STORM THE CAPITOL
ARMY OF TEMPERANCE WORK.
ERS AT WASHINGTON TO SUP
PORT ANTI-LlQUoR BILL.
WOULD STOP SALE IN
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Many Women Among the Crusaders
Congressman Webber, in Urging
Measure Before Committee, Points
to Crowded JaiIs as Lesson.

Washington, Feb. 15.-Temperance
advocates, 1000 strong marched
through the national capitol Thursday
in support of the bill introduced by
Representative Webber of Ohio, to rid
the District of Columbia of the liquor
traffic. Men, women and children,
representing a score of total abSti-
nence orders and the leading churches
Of the district, formed the procession,
which moved through the capitol for
more than two hours, while Mr.. Web
Der and other prohibition advocates
were speaking before the house COM
mittee on the District of Columbia in
an effort to secure a favorable report
on the bill
"Like the Walls of Jericho"
Only so temperance advocates were
able to get into the small committee
room, but the army of prohibitionists
moved constantly past the open doors
of the room and lent their support to
the arguments against the sale of
liquor. Repeatedly the crusaders
moved about the rotunda under the
great dome of the capitol and again
and again the leaders of the move
ment remarked: Were moving Just
as the Israelites did around the walls
of Jericho and the barriers of the de-
mon rum will fall"
Surrender was the watchword of
the reformers. Many of them point
ed to thes great oil painting in the ro-
tunda representing the surrender of
Cornwallis and Burgoyne, announced
confidently that right and justice al
ways triumphed and declared that
perseverance will inevitably bring tri-
umph to the temperance army.
Women in the Majority.
The white ribbons of the Woman's
Christian Temperance union predom-
mated in the long line of crusaders.
Women made up three-fourths of the
army and practically all wore the
white badge. There were plainly
dressed women of all ages and wom-
en- dressed in the height of fashion
walked with those wearing the plain
uniform of the Methodist deacon
eSSeS.
Many mothers carried children in
their arms and led their families.
Among the men in the procession cler-
gymen seemed to prevail. Rev. Carl
G. Doney and Rev. E. c. Dinwiddy of
the Anti-Saloon league were among
the prominent leaders Of the move
ment. Mrs. Clinton Smith, presi-
dent of the District Woman's Chris
tian Temperance union, headed a col
umn composed Of prominent members
of the Recha bites, the Independent Or
der of Good Templars the prohibition
crusaders, the Catholic Total Absti-
nence union, the Christian Endeavor-
ers and other reform organizations.
Says Liquor Fills Jails.
Representative Webber was in
charge of the prohibition speakers be
fore the house committee and Robert
Grain led the argument against the
Weber bill. In his opening speech
Mr. Weber stated that liquor is re-
sponsible for the condition of 80 per
: cent of the persons in the jail, work
| houses and insane hospitals of the dis
| trict. After reviewing the income
| from liquor licenses he explained that
it falls more than $S00,0O0 short every
year of maintaining the institutions
which he said liquor makes neces-