Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-04-01
OPERA HOUSE MEETING
Messrs. BahIke. Holmes and!Sharp
Addressed Large Audience
Last Sunday Afternoon.
A.P. COOK WAS CHAIRMAN
Music Furnished by Male Chorus
Audience Composed Largely
of Men.

Last Sunday afternoon at the Opera
House was we'll filed with citizens
anxious to hear the opinions of the
speakers relative to local option. While
any one of the three speakers alone can
attract and hold the attention of their
audience yet there is little doubt but
the advertised address of w. A. Bahlke
undoubtedly was one of the strong
magnets that drew the crowd. After
prayer by Rev. Elder and music by
the chorus the chairman of the meet
ing introduced Mr.. Bahlke, who pre-.
faced his talk with the statement that
he was suffering from severe cold
and possibly might not be able to
continue his address. However, as
Mr.. Bahlke continued his voice re-
sumed its natural condition permit
ting the speaker to voice his opinion
in no uncertain manner. Time and
again he was interrupted by applause
from his audience who appreciated
the position Mr.. Bahlke took He
said in part::
Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow
Citizens: Six years ago this spring
was the last so-called Local Option
election had in this county. On the
27th day of March 1902 and when
president of this village, now a city.
delivered a discourse in this hall
against local option. That speech was
printed and very generally distributed
TO the electors of this county. / do
not think am egotisicsl when say
that it had some considerable influence
in defeating local option at that
election. This was carefully prepared
speech, and from the conditions then
prevailing. / believe it was opportune
and in the best interests of our people.
certainly had no other object in view
in devotiDg my time and attention in
that way to defeat local option in the
election OF the spring of 1902 l am
not here this afternoon to apologi,
for what / said then i may say,
however that never felt from that
day TO this that have been treated
entirely just by all of our people as
to the motive which induced me to
make that speech. l made il because
i believed it TO the best interests of
the cause of temperance Upon that
subject, l had the right to express my
views. Whether was right or wrong
was question which every individual
person possessed the right to commend
or condemn as ii might meet thier views
This is free speech in free country
/ was, however. charged by the liq
uor people with having taken a de-
cided position in their behalf On
the other hand was charged by some
of our Prohibition friends with having
done the work for money considera-
tion. Both positions are falsehoods.
did not intend to take position In
favor of the liquor interests and did
no accept any money for making the
speech. l wish to say now that
do not care to be classed with tie
saloon or liquor interest say further,
l have never taken dollar in life to
advocate the cause of the liquor in
terest and l never intend TO, although
many opportunities have been opened
TO me during the past six years so to
do.
If the cond itions in Gratiot County
were the same today as they were six
years ago, should be opposed now
as i was then to the adoption of pro-
hibition or so-called local option In
Gratiot County. IL is because l be-
leive the conditions are not the same
and the Tenderness of our people are
entirely in a different direction, that
i have consented TO come here this
afternoon and in common with others
of our citizens. express myself as
being favorable to the adoption of
prohibition or local opion at our en-
suing election which takes place the
first Monday in April
These and changed conditions which
have justly and righteously changed
the sentiment and attitude of our
people toward the licensed saloon and
liquor traffic as now conducted, and
particularly my individual opinion as
to the present advisability and ex-
pediency of adopting prohibition or
so-called local option for Gratiot County
may be briefly classed as follows:
First The very common and con-
stantiy increasing practice of con-
Quoting the saloon business in our
local cities and villages by the outside
brewers and Wholesale liquor dealers
These interests In our large cities like
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Toledo, Chit
cago, St. Louis and other large cities
have adopted the practice of Install
ing saloons in our local cities and
villages. first, by furnishing the fix
lures and furniture for the saloons