Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-06
THE FINAL HEARING
Concluding Arguments on the
Prohibition Question.
ALL OPPOSE ANY CHANGE
Rabbi Simon. Rev. Brodthage and
Phoebe Couzins.
THESE WERE AGAINST BILL
All Believed in Temperance, but Not
in Prohibition-The Argu-
ments Presented.

The concluding hearing on the prohlol-
ton question was held before the House
District committee from 10 to II TINS
morning. NJ. l. Weller. Rabbi Simon Oh
the Eighth Street Synagogue. Louis +.
Shoemaker, Rev. DR.. George Brcdthase'
pastor of ST. Johns Lutheran Church'
Miss Phoebe Couzins the we'll known
woman suffragist. and a number OF other
opponents of absolute prohibition were
heard by the committee.
Mr. Weller made the initial presenta-
ton. He said he took umbrage at the
position in which the District of Column
bla had been placed by several OF the
advocates of absolute prohibition VINO
had appeared before the committee al
| one time or another He held that these
persons-at least most of them-who had
been heard were not representative cltl-
zens of the National capital.
Il do not say it in a boaSting way,
said Mr.. Weller but | am probably the
largest taxpayer in East Washington,
and the fact that | am a member of
many associations and scientific societies.
and of the Chamber of Commerce and
the Board of Trade, gives me the right
to believe that l am more familiar with
local conditions than these ladies and
gentlemen who have appeared here, and
certainly more familiar with the subject
than any of these reverend birds of pas
sage. who come to Washington enticed
by higher salaries.
Mr.. Weller said that he was for tenn
perance. but considered that the advocacy
of prohibition was intemperance. He
sympathiZed with drunkards. reformed
and otherwise. who were unable to impose
personal prohibition on themselves and
wanted to oppose legal prohibition on
everybody else.
Il have lived in prohibition states" said
Mr.. Weller. and in fact l came to Wash
ington from Massachusetts. | was, in
those days. commercial traveller, and as
such / had ample opportunity for seeing
and noting the effects of prohibition lar
On communities in which they were in
force.
Favors Light Wines and Beer.
The sale of light wines and beer Mr..
Weller thought. should De encouraged as
beneficial and as a good thing for the
cause OF temperance. He thought that
if the good people who advocated prohi-
bition wanted to do something really prac-
teal and material for the benefit of So
ciety. they would do all they could to
advocate the use of beer and light wines
and to antagoniZe the consumption of
spirits.
was sometimes asked to sign applications
for liquor licenses. He always investigat-
ed any such application, and had fire.
quently antagonzed propositions of this
sort. especially when it was desired to
open saloon in residence neighborhood.
Mr.. Weller pointed out to the committee
that those who had heretofore been
heard by that body We're either for aosO-
lutte prohibition or were as much on the
other side and represented the liquor in
tereSts.
'Now-I am a consumer" said Mr. Wei
Ter. and believe in moderation in lam
guage as well as in the manner of drink
ing. He thought there were a number
| of other evils to which the good people who
favored absolute prohibition might better
| give their attention. They might look
after their own families, If they had any.
| He told the committee he had raised six
children. all of them a credit to him, and
he attributed part of this 20 the fact that
each and every one of them had been
made acquainted. while very young, with
the evils of overindulgence
| IF they are familiar with the fire.
suggested Mr.. Weller. and know that 1t
will burn them. they are not going to take
any chances
Mr.. Weller then quoted a remark of one
| of the eminent prohibitonists before the
committee the other day, to the effect
! that no man could take one drink and not
| want another. He branded this as not
! the fact, and then went on to say that
! the only thing he asked was that per-
sonai liberty be not intarfered with. He
| insisted that there was no right justice
| in interfering with the personal liberty
| of any man who was not a menace to So
| ciety. He claimed the right to do as he
| pleased
1T is piece of impertinence. said he,
for these people to come here and ap-
! peal to you. the members of the House
! District committee, to prevent us, the
people of the District of Columbia from
| taking a glass of wine or beer when we
! please.
probibi%ion nooc Mot DroI,;l,;<