The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

BY declaring it his opinion that the
people Of Washington can have prohibit
tion If a majority of citizens appeal TO
Congress, Senator Tillman, of South Caro-
lima, last night. enthused his audience at
the mass temperance rally in the First
Congregational Church Tenth and G
streets northwest
You know what you wapt." he said
but the trouble with YOU is you don [
know how TO get IT,"
The mass meeting was called for the
purpose cf bringing together ali asso-
ciauons in the District of Columbia in
favor Of prohibition, that means might
be adopted whereby these societies could
cooperate TO accomplish the ultimate
purpose.
Speakers Are Cheered.
Every temperance organization in the
city was represented. A crowd, which
taxed ne capacity Of the edidce, enthu-
siastically encouraged each speaker, and
the many references made by them to the
future dry Washington, were greeted
with cheers
Following prayer led by Rev Weston
Bruner. pastor of the Fifth Baptist
Church Rev. Zed II. Copp introduced
Senator Alexander 5. Clay. of Georgia,
who presided over the meeting.
Senator Tillman began his address by
saying he was not a proHbitionist. in
the strict sense of the word, and that
the statement recently published in
Washington paper TO that effect was IN
correct
IL take a drink when I want one.
he said, but / rarely ever want one.
am in Congress with the rest of my col
leagues 10 do the bidding OF the people,
as their representative. and if they de-
sire prohibition, then ! am, as a matter
OF course, going a. do what I can 60 give
them what they Want"
He-told of the peculiar position in
which the residents of the city OF Wash
ington We're placed. He said it was of
little use for him to tell 10 people here
what their position was relative to the
conduct of affairs in the District
You haven't got a vote, he declared,
and. therefore. must rely upon the fell
lows on the hilP 10 see that you get
what you want. How many of you real
~ want prohibition? It's q question that
needs considerable thought / believe YOU
should have a representative in Congress
TO watch out for your interests-a man
elected by you for that purpose. The Ter
rtories have them; some Of our new pos
sessions have them. / guess the PHlip-
pines VIII soon have them-Wny not the
District Of Columbia? If you DO want
prohibition, as many Of YOU here tonight
have demonstrated, then you must or
ganize, You must request # of Congress
as a majority. 1t must be public opinion
If this was the state of affairs, believe
Congress would grant the request. j
Tells His Experiences.
Senator Tillman told OF his experiences
in his own State. when he was running
for governor. and after he had been
elected. with regard TO the liquor ques-
tion. He advocated the "dispensary sys-
TEN" for this city, as a beginning. He
said this system, which had been inau-
gurated in his State, was a conservative
beginning FOR the ultimate accomplish
ment Of the total elimination Of what he
termed the devils best friend"
There are many reasons, he declared.
why / advocate this method in the first
place, II does away with the most pro-
nounced evil Of all. the profit That ap-
peals 10 me as the basis of many Of the
evils caused by the sale Of LIQUOR"
Senator Tillman then explained the dis
pensary system. He said that IN this city
there would be from thirty to fftv dis
pensarles, TO be arranged in number as
the demand required. These are under
government supervision, he said. and the
liquor sold is bonded by the govern
ment Any one desiring to purchase
whisky, or other kind OF liquor. must
sign his name in book Of record: state
his age, residence, and occupation. The
liquor must be taken from the premises.
No drinking can be done there.
I'm my state" he continued. these dis I
pensaries may open at sunrise and must
close at sunset"
Rev. Frederick ID. Power, pastor Of the /
Vermont Avenue Christian Church. made