Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-10-14
ANTI-SALOOk WAR
IN BADGER STATE
U. G. HUMPHREY TELLS or
LIQUOR MEMS PREP
ARATIoN.
DIR. j. 2. THOMAS DESCRIBES
GROWTH OF THE
BAPTISTS.

Prohibition in Wisconsin was the
keynote of last evenings addresses
before the Baptist state convention in
the auditorium of the First Baptist
church. L. G. Humphrey, superin-
tendent of the Wisconsin Anti-Saloon
League, was The LIST speaker and
took for his subject The War Against
Liquor in Wisconsin. Strict en-
Iorcement OF the statutes, i county
local option law and a vigorous man
agement Of the anti-liquor traffic fight
were the leading subjects Of his ad-
dress, which was in part as follows:
U. c. Humphreys Address.
There is war against the liquor
traffic in Wisconsin, and it has been
waged for a goodly number Of years
but 1t was never fought under as
great difficulties as it is today. In
my opinion we will have to contend
against a corruption fund in the next
legislature of at least 100000 The
strife goes back into the old terrltori-
al days, as early as 1887. Wisconsin
had her part in he mighty prohibi
ton movement of the ffties for in
1856 a law providing for that primer
ple was passed but was vetoed by the
governor. Then came the civil war
and while patriots were at the front
fighting for their country and against
the ubiquitous institution of slavery
the liauor men were at home en-
trenching themselves behind the II
cense system. And the higher IL
cense the more difficult it is to dis
lodge the liquor dealers The war
went on until in 1880 there were over
100000 signers of the prohibition pc
tition but the measure as a la"
failed because it lacked a two-thirds
majority in the assembly
Liquor Men Organize.
"Just now we can see the begin
ming of the most terrific fight that
Wisconsin has ever seen. Formerly
the liquor people felt so secure that
they had no official organ but no"
they are printing and publishing ut
eratnre by the ton and spending more
money in one week than we do in
whole year. The brewers OF the
state are managing the campaign but
are drawing a large share of their
support from the dealers.
Laws will do their part in the anti
saloon campaign if you get back OF
them but they will not enforce them
selves. We have accomplished all
we have done so far because there
was no opposition. The saloon men
are fighting as they never fought be
fore. The pest is already voted from
more than half Of the state: over 800
cities. towns and villages have gone
dry. At the presen time there are
almost 500 municipalities preparing
for a no-license carpaign. One dry
district has seemed especially provi-
dental and that is the Indian reser-
va,!ons. There liquor has been drig-
er cut not by a few long haired TEN
perance oranks but by the vote Of the
people.
County Local Option.
Although the excise laws are bel
ter enforced than ever before there
are some public officials lax in their
duty. When we find one of these
We ought to have enough common
sense to GUST him from his position,
take him out in the back yard and
bury him politically. We need now
q county local option law 1t will
he nut before the next Legislature and
before the people until we get it. ]
am not in favor of immea4ate state
prohibition. Personal observations
which have made in Maine and Kan
sas leads me to believe that prohibit.
ion there came too soon Local on
lion laws do more for the good cause
than anything else In Ohio a week
ago there was such a county vote an:
Is our OF 26 counties went dry"
MIR. Humphrey concluded With de
scribing conditions in Indiana, and
enlogizing Governor Hanley OF the
booster state. When he had finished
he was vigorously applauded and the
audience sang with energy and fervor
a song appropriate to war in Wis
consin. the old church slogan Onward
CHRISTIAN Soldiers.
]. 3. Thomas Speaks.
FOLLOWING the address OF Mr.
Humphrey, Judson B. Thomas d. D.
chicago. spoke on The New Epoch IL
our Denominatioual Life as follows:
Baptist history has been unique
and unparalleled. Our forefathers
endured persecution and suffered
death for principles which to-day are
The common property OF christendom-
Today our principles are being adopt.
Cd bv other seets. Vest missionary
eoternrises and increased Nangeljs-
at fervor have giyei strength to our
organization.
THE waste in church work IS sim
ply enormous To gather I'D these
IN rs AL resources is the paramount
auts of the hour, Ny plea tonight is
non Tor state missions nor for homo
missions nor for foreign mis- sions bu'
j