Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-09
OVER TIE WEBER BILL
DECIDED LOCKING OF HORNS BY
TWO LOCAL FORCES.

The contest between the forces of pro-
hibitlon and those of anti-prohibition in
the District have locked horns in earnest
over the Webber bill it appears, and from
this time until St. Valentines day. when
the matter will have hearing before the
House committee on the District, the adj
vocates on both sides will work strenu-
bitlon will be held in the Belasco Theater
tomorrow afternoon. The mass meeting in
opposition to prohibition will be held in
Masonic Temple tomorrow evening" Begin
nlng at O'CLOCK Final arrangements for
both events were made today.
Mr.. simon Wolf will preside at the anti
prohloltlon gathering at Masonic Temple,
representing the Personal Liberty League.
Inc statement was made today that the
meeting at the Belasco Theater will be un-
der the auspices of the federation of tenn
perance and moral forces of the District.
under the leadership of Mr. William F.
Downey and not by the temperance cru
saders as has been stated. 1t was also
said that Representative Weber, who in
PRODUCED the prohibition bill in the House,
will be among the speakers. Representative
Littlefield will also be there. Other speak,
ers will be Rev. Donald Macleod of the
Doyle of the Catholic University; Carl G.
Doney, president of the Anti-Saloon League,
and others. Several hundred seats for the
ministry of the city will be arranged on
the stage.
The opening address at the anti-prohibi-
ton meeting will be delivered by the chair
man, Mr.. Simon Wolf Other speakers, 1t
is said, will be Rev. Dr. Abram Simon, Mr.
Virginia, Miss Phoebe Couzins, Mr. John
Waterman, Mr.. r. L. Montague, Rev.
Alexander Kent and Mr.. George W. Spier
There will also be a program of music.
To Visit Capitol in Force.
It is announced that those favoring pro-
hibition in the District will visit the Capitol
in force February ii to impress Congress
with their strength in Washington. Ar
rangements have been made for certain
Representatives of the crusaders to appear
before the House District committee in adj
vocacy of the Weber bill. The members
who appear before the committee will rep
resent the different religious denomina tons
and the temperance associations.
A petition is being circulated, gathering
thousands of names of those who are OPP
posed to prohibition. This petition will be
forwarded to Congress in the shape of a
memorial 1t reciteS that "the undersigned
wish to enter respectful but positive pro-
test against the enactment of any prohibit
ton law in the District of Columbia. 1t is
needless to assure members of Congress
who are honestly awake to the situation
that where prohibition has been attempted
1t has been a practical failure. The sale
of Intoxicating liquors may be considered
an evil, but practical men know that If it
is an evil 1t Is one that may be regulated
In some degree, out one tnat cannot De en-
tirely wiped out.
I'm Washington especially, with its cos
mopolitan population, white and colored.
prohibition would be the most pitiful sort
of a farce. You who know the situation
know that such a law would not only cause
Illicit groggeries to flourish in every section
of the city, but would convert half of the
low-class population into walking speak
easies, supplying the worst sort of liquor
at the highest possible prices to the other
half of the lower classes.
"Of the taxes paid in Washington, 81. $780,
OO9 comes from the element that does not
desire the farce of prohibition foisted on
the city. Two-thirds of the citizens are
'unalterabiy opposed to any experiments in
prohibition at the expense of the city. They
have seen such experiments tried elsewhere
and seen them fail utterly. And their fall
ure is always Of a sort to leave the moral
condition Of the population as well as the
material welfare of the city at q much
lower ebb than before such legislation was
tgaed."