The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-11-18
A TEMPERANCE SUNDAY

Pulpits Were Opened to Speakers
Representing the Anti-saloon
League Of the State.
In the Methodist, Presbyterian,
Congregational and Baptists churches
Sunday morning and evening the
cause Of the Anti-Saloon League was
presented by able representatives of
the organization.
Superintendent w. NJ. Grafton
spoke at the Methodist church in the
morning and at the Presbyterian
church in the evening. He devoted
his time to presenting the work of
the League throughout the state and
discussed the county option PROPOSE
tion behind which the League is
standing, and on which a vote will
be taken next fall. Superintendent
Grafton spoke with much optimism
on the success of the county option
campaign, believing that when the
farmers have a chance to express
themselves on the saloon question
that they will be able to defeat it.
DR.. John L. Seaton, of the Uni
versity faculty, gave two addresses,
n at the Congregational church in
the morning and the other at the
Baptist church in the evening. DR..
Seaton treated the saloon from an
educational point of view, as it re-
lates to the educational institutions
of the country. He held that "the
saloon was a direct menace to the
educational interests, and that where
saloons were prevalent in a town
it is noticeable that they have a de-
terent effect on schools" DR.. Seaton.
handled the subject on basis that is
appealing to the people of the coun-
try with greater force than ever.
The Mass Meeting.
In the afternoon at the city hall
Dr.. j. s.. Hoagland, pastor of the
Methodist church, addressed a mass
meeting on "The Legal Aspect of the
Saloon" Owing to the Indictment
weather the attendance was not as
large as it otherwise would have been
The meeting was presided over by
Rev. A. Craig Bowdish and Rev. b..
M. LETTERS offered the invocation.
DR.. Hoagland quoted an English
speaker as to what he thought of the
saloon, who characterized it as the
murderer of his majesy's subjects
by the Wholesale; sent them to hell
like sheep; the curse Of God isfupon
us. DR.. Hoagland believed that the
same sentiment held good in South
Dakota. DR.. Hoagland gave his es-
innate of the saloon by saying that
1T is the arch enemy of all that is
good and of all the great reform
movements which have been started
against it. The business is so forth
fed that it cannot be moved. l be-
lieve that it means war to the end in
South Dakota and Mitchell ought to
be one of the superb leaders in the
war which will end in the state be-
coming dry. Other towns in this
state are looking toward Mitchell for
an inspiration along moral lines. The
war will not end until the last legal
lied saloon is closed forever. Men
in this city lament the annual fight
which m up at the spring election
for it's tearing asunder ties of bust
ness and creates turmoil. They feel
that as long as the town is wet it is
best to avoid a fight. Those men
may be and undoubtedly are con
scientious, but the question will not
be settled until it is settled right, and
it will not be settled until the brand
of Illegally is put upon the saloon.
1t will be a fight to the finish.
The saloon is a legalized outlaw
said DR.. Hoagland, land it has no
more right to exist on the streets
of Mitchell, than a mad dog. No
Legislature has any more right to
protect the former than it has the
latter. The law of public necessity
demands its destruction. There is no
argument necessary to show that the
American saloon is a benefit to man
kind. One of the fundamental pur-
poses of the government in a Chris
tian civilization is to promote NOR.
ality through the state constitutions.
immortality mace the life of the
state and she must enact laws to
perpetuate her own existence.
DR.. Hoagland gave a number of IL
Illustrations to bear out his statements
and referred to a number of instances
that have come within his knowledge
to make it impossible Of refutation
His presentation Of the saloon situa-