The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-03-10
Distinguished Catholic Ora
tor Opens the Campaign
for No License
Former Pastor Of st. James Church
Declares That the Time is Ripe for
Open Warfare Against License in
Kenoshas

The Rev. J. M. Cleary Of Minnea-
polls gave q most logical and powerful
address on the no-license issue at the
First Baptist church, Thursday evening
to congregation that taxed the
church to its capacity. The associa-
ton made no mistake in calling upon
Father Clcary to fire the initial gun.
The subject was: Coincidence to Law
is Liberty" After giving an inter
ostiDg dissertation upon liberty and
the majesty Of the law he showed most
conclus' y that obedience to the law
would ne for the highest and truest
liberty, for liberty is the right to act
without interference within the limits
of the law. TO proceed upon any
other basis he declared we would find
ourselves interfering with the rights
of others, so that the only liberty
worth anything is liberty under the
law.
The latter half of the address was
the most powerful arraignment of the
Liquor business that the people of Ke
nosha have heard for many a day.
Reference was made to the experience
of other nations in dealing with what
is called the "American Bar 1t
was admitted by foreign people that
they liked to have the Americans visit
their countries but they did not like
the American Bar"
The speaker admitted that there was
time when he did not strongly advo-
cate the county option measure, but
that he had met with change of heart
and he now thoroughly believed that
the county was a good unit from which
to work. This unit had served many
a state to safeguard the interests Of
the people within its bounds
Reference was made to the success
of the no-license victories in counties
of Northern Michigan A justice of
the peace had resigned his commission
giving as a reason that since the coun-
ty went dry he had no business.
The speaker declared this was
strange situation as the advocates of
liquor selling were constantly making
statements that more liquor was sold
in dry territory than in wet. If that
statement were true, he said, "why
do they work so hard and spend so
much money to keep the counties from
going dry" The speaker also said
he had taken some part in the cam
paign in Ohio largely because a lawyer
working for the liquor interests had
made a statement at Springfield, Ohio,
that no Catholic would dare join in the
opposition and Father Cleary wanted
to fling this lie back into his teeth.
He declared he was proud to say that
a Catholic organization known as the
Knights of Columbus, an organization
composed of some of the cleanest,
brightest and best Of the Catholic
laity and many priests did not admit a
liquor dealer within its folds.
The following sentence contained
the sbarpest and Beenest rebuke in the
entire address: ''Not one word can be
said to show any good that the liquor
business has ever done, but you can
point to many things to show that it
is the most savage business on earth. y
Take it all in all Father Cleary made
a profound impression upon the audi
euce composed Of many men and no
doubt viii help many man to decide
to vote no-icense ticket
Father Cleary is a natural orator.
lie has a commanding presence, full
musical voice and a logic that is pow
e1fully persuasive, and this has made
him commanding figure on the Ameri-
can platform.