Evening journal., 1907-09-26
MRS. LAKE TO
CATHOLICS
Addressed a Large Meeting
atSt. PauI'S Church, Father
Temple Presided
TOTAL ABSTINENCE
( SOCIETY IN POLITICS

Many women active in church and
other work have spoken in Delaware,
but it is certain that as an orator to
address a crowd, none has surpassed
Mrs. Leonora Lake Of St. Louis. for
many years a vice-president of the
Catholic Total Abstinence Society who
is taking part in the option campaign
In this city Last evening Mrs. Lake
addressed a large gathering in the
basement Of st. Paul's Roman Catho-
lie Church where a prohibition rally
was held and there displayed her un-
doubted abilities. She is a large, ear
nest looking, well-built Irish woman, of
middle age with the wit and gift Of
tongue characteristic of her race. She
is a master of pathos, skilled in all
the arts of the stump speaker, the
hand-to-hand talker and could take
care Of herself with the best of them
in debate The eyes of the large audi
ence were riveted upon her from the
time she started to speak until she had
finished. and once or twice a man
called out, That's right"
Mrs. Lakes remarks were addressed,
however, particularly to the members
of her own faith. At times she had
them laughing at her wit which was
added to by a rich Irish brogue when
she elected to. use it, and again she had
them applauding loudly, and again she
had many of them ready to cry. Mrs.
Lake gave the reason for her being
present as due to two facts. She told
how twenty odd years ago she had been
left a widow and at the open grave of
her husband she had pledged herself to
work for God and humanity. She had
a long career in labor circles and in
work among the laboring classes, try
ing to protect the child laborers from
the neglectful and dlssolute parents on
the one hand and the varaicous en-
ployers on the other, and it was in this
experience that she saw the evils Of
the license saloon and took up tenn
perance work.
Catholic War on Saloon.
Before closing Mrs. Lake declared
that at the recent national convention
of the Catholic Total Abstinence So
ciety that society in response to wishes
of even its most conservative mem
bers decided to enter politics TO fight
the licensed saloon and to put it out
of business if possible.
"And that is the reason why I am
here tonight she said Mrs. Lake S
address was a scorching arraignment
of the licensed saloon.
Mrs. Lake told of how she was asked
everywhere she went by priests and
ministers and others why the young
people were not marrying. She had
noticed bachelor girls apartments and
stag hotels I'm New York After re-
lating the various excuses she said IL
was due to the selhshness and degen-
eracy, the desire for self-indulgence OF
many young men who spend their
nights in saloons and the scarlet end OF
the district. The young women are
sharp enough to see it. They get
wise" They would rather bear the
stigma of being an old maid than suf-
fer the humiliation of being a drunk
ards wife The saloon strikes a blow
at the virtuous home. Il hate 1 hate
the licensed saloon" she exclaimed.
Rev DR.. William Temple. assistant
pastor of the church in introducing
Mrs. Lake also strongly condemned
the licensed saloon system He de-
clared he was not influenced by stat
istics but with him it was a question OF
hot flesh, suffering humanity, dying
souls and he was compelled to speak
out
On the platform back of the speak
ers was an American flag and a small
army of children sang temperance
songs at intervals.
Bishop Monaghan was present at
the meeting.