The Washington herald., 1908-03-16

Characterizing the prohibition move
ment as illogical from a liberty as well
as an economic standpoint. speakers from
every walk Of life addressed the biggest
anti-prohibition meeting held for years
in the District, last night, in Masonic
Temple.
The ministry was represented among
the orators by Father Valentine +.
Schmidt. pastor Of St Joseph's Church:
the bar. by J. W. Darr; the business
world. by P. T Moran. and the military.
by Gen Andrew s Burt, Z. S. A. re-
tired.
In the big audience that filed the hall,
representative citizens were seen.
Although the hail seats but loo com
fortably. fully L5oO persons listened to the
speakers. At least 5000 more endeavored
TO enter the temple, but were prevented
by a platoon Of police from the First
precinct Several hundred persons lis
tened to the speaking from the stairways-
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolutions signed by 1000 citizens %
the District were adopted, calling upon
Congress 10 decide against prohibition in
the District.
sam De Nedrey, president Of the Wash
ington branch Of the Personal Liberty
League. under whose auspices the meet
ing was held. in introducing Father 2.
/ Schmidt said:
/ personal liberty means the fullest lib
erty 10 the citizens In everything lawful.
Fanaticism and bigotry are two Of the
/ biggest evils known. Our opponents ara
aihicted with these ills. The only treat.
ment Is heaTt-tO-heart talk.
In my own State-Iowa-the prohibi-
ton law IS violated by those who believe
prohibition is a good thing. While people
were making prohibition laws. speak
easles' were being raided in the capitol
in Topeka. Kans"
Touching on the conditions that exist in
the prohibition State OF Maine. AIr- De
Nedrey asserted that the only differences
between Maine and the District Of CoIup,-
Sia Is that in the former whisky costs =
cents pint, while here it can be pur-
chased for half dollar.
Father SchmIdt's Views.
! Father Schmidt the next speaker. N
I opening. replied to Dr. Granfield. the v,r-
gina minister. who is said to have r.
marked that Cardinal Gibbons should Law
aside the surplice and the crozier and
take 10 himself the apron and the Ice
+ pick, and then tend bar.
That is certainly a gross way to at
+ tack the cardinal said Father Schmidt.
He has always been most abstemious
and temperate"
Prohibition does not prohibit" said
Father Schmidt. II is a fact that moro
die Of overeating than from overdrink-
ing We might as well IegisIate against
oyereating as against drinking.
Temperance People Jealous.
Temperance people are jealous They
| cannot see people have a good time.
When they get held OF town. it dies.
! Look at the condition that now ex-
lists at Cabin John. What a nice place
it was in the old days, where the little
ones enjoyed their games while the hus-
band and his wife enjoyed their drink
quietly in the hotel. I. myself have
drank there. and saw nothing incor
rect. =
1t was lovely in those DAYS. But the
temperance people have become Jealous,
and they cannot see others enjoy them
selves
True temperance is one Of the cardinal
virtues. The state has the right TO pro
tect life and property. It has no right
TO teach virtue. In that case It can
prescribe what we must eat and drink.
I am true temperance man. and
am against drunkenness. but the license
should not be made too high and the
saloon keeper should not give drink to
the drunken man.
DO away with the treating custom. II
is not popular in Europe. Only in this
country does IL prevail
Voice for the Canteen.
Mrs Inez Seymour Mcconnell and Miss
Bessie V. Winchester. president and sec
retary Of the Army and Navy Canteen
Club. We're introduced On behalf OF Mrs.
Mcconnell. Miss Winchester read the fol-
lowing resolution:
"All ladies who are opposed to the
efforts that are now being made TO impose
unjust prohibition laws on the people Of
the District Of Columbia at the instlSa-
ton Of a minority OF men. women. and
children here are urged to visit the United
States Capitol on the dates OF the hear
ings before the House District Committee
on the proposed prohibition laws, and by
their presence lend a silent yet forcefuI
protest against such legislation
Wear on your bosoms a yellow badee-
the color Of the Canteen Club-and let II
bo seen By our lawmakers that not all
the women OF Washington are swayed by
sentiment against justice and fair play"
Mrs. Mcconnell who is a well-knOwr
soprano. sang several solos in her rich,
musical voice. She was forced 70 re-
SpOnd 70 an encore.
Economic Question, Says Darr.
Arguing that prohibition from an eco
nOmic standpoint is absurd, Charles ".
Darr. superintendent OF St PauFs Sun
day school. was the next speaker.
I want TO say right here" said Mr..
Darr. who is vice president Of the Per-
sonal Liberty League, that while Mr..
Shoemaker may represent $500 persons.
Continued on Page 4, Column g.