Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-14
HISS BISHOP P0TTER'S NAME
UNUSUAL SCENE PRESENTED
Advocates Of Temperance March
Through Building-Wear White
Ribbons-Webber in Charge.

Several lively tits between speakers and
members of Congress marked the course OF
the hearing on the Weber bill, which pro-
poses prohibition Of the manufacture and
sale OF intoxicating liquor in the District
of Columbia. The hearing was held De-
fore the House committee on the District
of Columbia. beginning at 1890 O'Clock
this morning. 1t was nearly 1 O'Clock
this afternoon before the matter was con-
cluded the original time of two hours nav
Ing been extended by consent of the COM
mttee.
When Bishop Potter was mentioned as
being against prohibition his name was
Kissed and jeered by the. prehibitionlsts
that crowded the committee room. ms
action called forth a rebuke from Chairman
Babcock, and Miss Phoebe Couzins. VINO
appeared against the Weber bill, made
This remark:
II agree with the late Gen. Benjamin
Butler that only two kinds of animals hiss
1.-THE goose and the snake.
This sally caused an outburst of laughter.
Preceding the hearing an unusual scene
was presented In Inc halls and corridors
of the Capitol. Prohibition advocates
men women and children-about one thou
sand strong. marched through the building
to emphasize their support OF the bill IN
troduced by Representative Weber OF
Ohio to rid the District of Columbia OF the
liauor traffic. They represented score OF
total abstinence orders and the Leading
churches of the District, and the process
SION moved through the Capitol for more
than two hours. while Representative
webber and other prohibition advocates
and the opponents of the measure were
speaking before the House committee on
the District of Columbia in an effort to
secure a favorable report on the BILL
But Few Admitted.
Only about fifty of the temperance ad-
yocates were able to get into the small
committee room. but the army of prohibi-
tionists 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 lead
ers of the movement remained, were
moving just as around the walls of Jericho
and the barriers of the demon rum VIII
fall
Surrender" was the watchword of the
reformers and many of them pointed to
the great oil painting in the rotunda repre-
senting the surrender of CORVALLIS and
Burgoyne
White ribbons were worn by the temper
fourths of the army" Practically all OF
them wore the white badge. There were
plainly dressed women. of all ages, ana
women dressed in the height of fashion
walked with those wearing the plain uni
form of the Methodist deaconess. Many
mothers carried children in their arms and
led their families. Among the men in the
procession clergymen seemed to largely pre-
vail Rev Carl G. Doney and the Rev. E.
e. Dinwiddie of the Anti-Saloon League
were among the prominent leaders in the
movement. Mrs. Clinton Smith. president
of the District Womens Christian Temper
ance Union. headed a column composed of
prominent members of the Rechabites, the
independent Order of Good Templars, the
Prohibition Crusaders, the Catholic Total
Abstinence Union. the Christian Endeav-
Orers and other reform organizations.
Representative Weber in Charge.
Representative Weber was in charge Of
the prohibition speakers before the House
committee. and Robert Crane led the argu-
ment against the Weber bill. In his
opening speech Mr.. Weber stated that
liquor is responsible for the condition of
90 per cent of the persons in the Jail,
workhouse and insane hospital of the Dis
trict, and after reviewing the income from
liquor licenses explained that it falls more
than $4,000 short every year of main
tanning the institutions which he said liquor
makes necessary.
Mr. Webber quoted statistics literally,
and claimed they showed that crime. pau
perism and other evils were largely charge
able to the saloon. He said the drink bill
of the District was about $2,5OOOOO per
annum.
He also spoke of the number of churches
and temperance organizations that were
in the District.
Asked to Report Bill.
I'VE came here to ask you to do your
ANTI he I'D xIa
men. IF you cannot report the bill favor
ably to the House. then report 1t without
recommendation and let US fight 1t out on
the floor of the House"
Mr. John III. Brinkman. president of the
Central Labor Union, here arose and an
nounced that in accordance with the desire
OF that large body, and by its unanimous
vote he was there to oppose the passage of
the Weber bill, or any other prohibitory
measure. He said he represented more than
0.OO organized workingmen. and about
one-third of the population Of the District
of Columbia.
Rev Carl G. Doney spoke in favor Of the
Weber bill He said he appeared for the
societies and churches represented in the
Anti-Saloon League. and urged the COM
mlttee to report the bill favorably.
Rev Donald Mcleod appeared for the
1OuO Presbyterians In the District He
said his church had asserted Its eternal OPP
position to the traffic in strong drink He
criticised the letter of Mr.. Simon Wolf
which had been sent to the committee in
opposition to the passage of the Weber
bill. and which was submitted to the COM
mittee by Chairman Babcock.
In conclusion Rev. Mcleod said he be-
heved the time is not far distant when this
paramount evil will be destroyed"
Representing 1000 Baptists.
Rev. Weston Bruner. the next speaker.
said he appeared in the interest of the
Weber bill, representing the 1000 Baptists
in the District.
Rev. Geo. w. King appeared. he said, for
the 100000 Methodists and /, 500 pastors
In the United States. and urged the pas
sage OF the bill
Rev. Fred D. Power said he appeared for
the membership of the Christian Church.
and urged the Passage Of the Weber bill
He described the liquor traffic as "a cancer
eating out the vitals Of the nation"
Mrs. Clinton Smith. appeared for the W.
G. 4. u, and said her constituency was
NOW pacing the halls Of the Capitol" and
asked that the committee report this bill
favorably to the House today
w. c. Van Matre said he had been d.
rected by the high chief ruler Of the Recha-
abites to appear for that organization in
favor OF the bill
Rev. c. F. Winbigler spoke for the bill on
behalf of the Prohibition Crusaders who
he declared numbered 900. He described
the liquor business as a parasite.