The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-04-02

and women of Washington who OPP
pose the passage of the prohibition
bills pending in Congress, or any
change in the present license system
of the District of Columbia, attended
a mass meeting and rally at Masonic
Temple last evening. The gathering
was under the auspices of the Dis
trict branch of the Personal Liberty
League, and the auditorium was filled
to it's capacity. 1t is estimated that
at least 5000 others were massed in
+ street, unable to gain admittance.
So great was the crush on the street
and in the corridors of the building
that it became necessary for Sergt.
r e. Lee of the first precinct to
bring to his assistance the reserve
policemen from the 18th street sta
ton house.
In the audience we're representative
men and women of this city, while
seated on the stage we're Rev. Father
Valentine F. Schmitt and Rev. F. Fea-
ly, representing the ministry; P. T.
Moran and Anselm Neuberger, repre-
senting the business world; Gen. An
drew S. Burt, U. S. A., and Capt. John
j. Strain. representing the military
and patriotic societies; Charles w.
Darr of the legal fraternity, DR.. T. E.
Lee of the medical profession, Sam
De Nedrey, representing organized la
Dor, and the officers of the Women's
Army Canteen Club.
DISPLAY OF PETITION.
Suspended from the front of the
stage was a long petition to Congress
opposing any prohibition legislation.
1t was signed by 1000 men of voting
age, and Chairman De Nedrey said
it was the work of one anti-prohibi-
zionist. The resolution to the Senate
and House against any change in the
license system of the District was
unanimously adopted by a rising vote.
Music was furnished by Pistorio's
band and by several soloists.
In calling the assemblage to order
Mr. De Nedrey said he esteemed it a
great honor to be president OF the
Personal Liberty League, which or
ganization stands for the fullest lib
erty of the citizens in everything that
is lawful and right. Speaking of the
prohibitionists, he said if some OF
them had been present at the creation
Of the world they would have, no
doubt, informed the Creator how He
could have made a better job of 1t.
He added that fanaticism and bigotry
are two of the greatest evils known to
mankind, and suggested as a cure
for 1.-The prohibition habit education
and a series of heart-to-heart talks
with the misled ones.
Mr.. De Nedrey emphasized the
statement that prohibition does not
prohibit, and said in his state, Iowa
the prohibition laws are a delusion
and snare, and made many persons
perjurers and criminals who would
not otherwise be so.
SPEAKEASY RAID IN KANSAS.
while the prohibitionists were
raising a hubbub here last week,
Mr.. De Nedrey said, the police
raided a speak easy in the state
capital of prohibition Kansas-Tope
ka. The difference between whisky in
Maine and the District is 20 cents. II
costs rs cents a pint in the prohibi
ton state and so cents here. The
empty jug trade of Representative
Sims state-Tennessee make
any man rich in a short while II he
had a monopoly of it. The express
companies that enter Tennessee have
had to increase their force of employ
es in order to handle the jug trade
that has sprung up there under pro
hibition laws"
Rev. Father Schmitt, pastor of st
Joseph's Church, began his address by
declaring that experience had shown
prohibition does not prohibit. $50
called prohibition is a snare, fraud
and injustice.
81 have been in the priesthood forty
years and have had experience witt
all classes of people," Father Schmit
continued. Before l became a min
lister l served as a soldier in the UnioI
army in the civil war and was a par
ticipant in some of the severe fight
ing. A man has the natural right tC
eat and drink what he pleases. While
in the mining region l was the leader
of temperance society, and uset
big stick to make the members OBJ
serve the rules. So l employed the
big stick before Teddy Roosevelt did
Temperance is a virtue and is not
| therefore, a subject for legislation
More people die from overeating thar
from overdrinling. The Lord ha'
wine at His last supper, and it wal
not unfermented wine, as certain fan
atics claim, either. The Lord pei
formed a miracle and turned waite
into wine when the people wanted ii
or, as the poet has so prettily said
When the water saw it's Lord it blush
ed"
DEATH TO BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
In conclusion Father Schmitt sal
that while Cardinal Gibbons is mos
abstemious man, he is not a "ten
perance crank" He added that whel
ever prohibition has been adopte
there has come over that place
blight and death to business activ
| ties