The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-02-13
MRS. |. M. n. STEVENS
Replies to Miss Couzins and Appears at 4
Hearing in Washington.

| REPLIES to Miss C0uZlnS ana appears AZ 4
Hearing in Washington.
Mrs. L. m. Stevens of Portland,
national president of the W. c. T. u,
| has given out statement in reply to
that recently made by Miss Phoebe
| Couzins. formerly United States mar
shall and the first woman lawyer of the
country. in which she said that all of
| the women in the W. G. T. U. were a
narrow-minded lot. Miss Couzins was
for two wears an active temperance
agitator, Mrs. Stevens statement is
as follows:
"The Woman's Christian Temper
| ance Union needs no defense from the
attacks of Phoebe CouZins or any one
else who is defending the liquor trade.
| Miss Gordon and are to be in Wash
| ington, Feb. 6, at the hearing of the
Littlefeld bill, to speak in its favor.
We believe Congress will enact this or
a similar law. No wonder the liquor
fraternity is alarmed at the many pro-
hibition victories, and there are more
to speedily follow"
Miss Couzins' statement was as fol-
lows:
"All women in the w. G. T. U. are a
narrow minded lot.
'sThey are not brought in contact
with the world and do not know what
real temperance is.
''They can only see world of drunk
en- men if LIQUOR is sold. Russia itself
cannot duplicate such an abridgement
of personal privileges as these women
propose. The women and preachers
have gone mad over the whole thing.
They think the whole universe is going
to the 'demiwogs' just because little
LIQUOR is being sold in this country.
Then prohibition does not prohibit.
1t is not founded on common sense.
1t is fraud on the people. Prohibition
encourages secret vices, immortality,
fraud and perjury. 1t has honeycomb-
ed public morals in increasing ratio.
1t is utterly impossible to execute pro-
hibition laws in large cities. You can't
eliminate from mankind an appetite
current in man."
Elizabeth P. Anderson, recording
secretary of the W. G. 7. u, said in
reply to Phoebe Couzins' recent state
ment:
seThe W. c. 7. U. and the women
who represent it need no defense from
attacks made by sympathizers with the
liquor traffic The expert knowledge
acquired by years of study, the quail
ties of mind and heart not only of the
leaders but also of the rank and file,
make it the most influential organiza-
ton of women in the world today. The
people are registering their verdict in
favor of its principles and teachings by
the magnificent temperance victories
that are sweeping over the country.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6. Representa-
tives of various organizations appeared
today before the House committee on
the Judiciary to urge a favorable report
on one or more of the bills introduced
to protect dry local option districts
from receipt of interstate as well as
intra-state shipments of liquor; that is,
to bestow the right on border line con-
fiscation of liquors shipped to destin-
ations within prohibition districts.
The Rev. S. E. Nicholson of Harris
burg, Pa legislative superintendent of
the Anti-Saloon League of America,
spoke for that organization; Professor
Charles Scanlon of Pittsburg for the
Presbyterian church; Finley Hendrick-
son of Cumberland, Md, for the Pro-
hibition party and Mr.. Day of Penn
sylvania, for the United Presbyterian
church.
Present for the W. G. 7. U. were
the national president, Mrs. L. M. N.
Stevens of Portland, Maine, the ma
tional secretary, Miss Gordon, and the
national executive superintendent,
Miss Ellis.
Representative Bartholdt of Missou-
ri spoke against the proposed measure
in behalf of the national German
American Alliance.
Representative Clayton of Alabama,
member of the committee, whose at
titude supports Federal protection of
prohibition districts, questioned of the
prohibition speakers as to the legal
right of the States. to invoke Federal
excise protection in the face of the
voluntary surrender to the government
of the very rights now sought to be re-
obtained. 1t was agreed that briefs
should be submitted on this point.
In asserting the complete failure of
prohibition laws in Maine, Kansas and
Iowa, MI Bartholdt remarked: ''These
things we know; but we do not know
how prohibition laws are going to oper-
ate in the States of Alabama and Geor-
gia.'
Pardon me- Interrupted Chairman
jenkins, "but ] heard an answer to that
query, made by a Southerner only this
morning. He said: The Inauguration
of prohibition laws in Alabama and
Georgia will work like charm. They
will mean that white gentleman can
get drink whenever he wants it, but a
niger can't get drop"
Representatives Clayton of Alabama
and Brantley of Georgia laughingly
protested that this was not so.
''Surely, Mr. Chairman, your friend
did not speak that way of Alabama?"
questioned Mr.. Clayton.
81 am quite positive he was referring
to Georgia" added Mr.. Brantley.
''He said Alabama and he said Geor-
gia," replied Mr.. Jenkins. and even
some of the prohibition representatives.