The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-04-01
FATHER WARD
ASSAILS SALOONS
HE CAN FIND NO REASON FOR
THEIR EXISTENCE AND TELLS
WHY HE HATES THEFT.

spoke to mass meeting at the A. ..
U. w. hall Wednesday night on the
no license movement. The hall could
not accommodate the large number
who desired to hear this eloquent and
earnest speaker. Many stood during
the whole evening that they might
hear his arguments against giving the
saloon license. He said that he had
been working against the liquor traffic
for 36 years and had come to the firm
conviction that the business should be
voted out of existence. He said that
he had no i'll feeling toward any man
but he hated the business.
Father Ward is tall and large. The
passing years have sprinkled his locks
with grey and left his long beard al
most a snowy white. His face bears
an earnest look, his voice is clear and
strong and at times his address was
very dramatic. His arguments were so
clinched with reasons and facts that
there was no escaping the truth.
Father Ward was born on a farm
near Fond du Lac and was the son of a
temperate father. He told how his par
ent impressed him with the wrong in
drinking and he always held that
word as sacred. He has been in the
ministry for long time and is tire
less worker against the saloon. He
cannot fill all of his engagements, ,hav-
ing many calls for each night.
Among the listeners were many tax
payers.
Why lie Hates the Business.
He said that 36 years ago he saw the
evils of the business and resolved to
fight to the end. He could find no pur-
pose and no reason to defend the busi-
ness. He said that the saloon prided it
self on its ability to break the law and
for that reason he hated the institution.
The unit of society is the father,
mother and the child-the home. The
father dies, the mother dies and the
child lives to perpetuate. The saloon
strikes at the family circle. It ruins
the father, mother and child if it can.
He spoke of the system in Mexico
and European countries where promis-
cuous treating is not allowed and
whe re the screens are removed. In
making the comparisons and discuss
ing the matter he reached a climax
and exclaimed, "Is there a meaner
business this side of help" The answer,
'No, no, no." came from all over the
room.
Years OF Fighting
Years ago, the speaker said, he
started out to get legislation to re-
gulate the traffic. In the first place a
law was wanted that would prevent
selling TO minors. The brewers and
saloon men fought it, for that reason
he hated the business.
Next he did not want them to sell
to drunkards. They fought that and
so he hates the business.
Then a law was wanted to close
them for certain hours. Still they
fought and so Father Ward hated the
business.
A law was asked to close the saloons
on Sunday. The interests lined up
against the proposition and the speak
er said he hates the institution for
that.
Then came the anti-treating law and
they fought that tooth and nall and
he continues to hate the business.
Saloon Owns Officers.
Hesaid that in many cities the saloon
owns the mayor, council, city attorney
and police. If an attempt is made to
enforce the law the liquor interests tell
the individual that they will see to
it at the next election that he will not
be returned. The saloons will own the
officers so long as we will let them
The saloon man puts up as an argu'
ment that you should regulate but he
is the one that does the regulating.
The personal liberty idea increases
criminals, paupers and the insane.
The paupers and the insane that come
as the result of the saloon must be
kept until they die.
The speaker then went on to show
how the arresting of drinking individ-
uals works. They get drunk, are ar
rested, locked up to sober, fined and
then sent to jail. There they often
have better food than they are ac-
customed to, smoke, play cards and
by the time they are liberated they are
ready for Ianother rip roaring drunk.
In case he be married man the public
is often called upon to feed the family.