The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-15
MRS. H0GE'S ADDRESS
She Addressed Audience Here on Prohi-
bition.

Mrs. Howard NJ. Hoge, president of
the Virginia Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union, spoke to an interested
audience Friday afternoon at the Meth
odist church. Mrs. Hoge was appro-
priately introduced by Rev. ]. II. Hen
derlite, who spoke of the patient work
done by the w. c. T. u. Mrs. Hoge
referred to the organization she repre-
sents and to its endeavor during the
the last thirty-four years to protect the
home and to provide scientific temper
ance instruction in the schools. But
the main subject of Mrs. Hoge's ad-
dress was the fight for Statewide pro-
hibition. She said she had been
asked whether she had been dis
Outraged because of the defeat of the
Strode-Myer bill and she had answered
mot bit. " The Temperatures forces,
she said, are not discouraged because
no ground has been lost. The local OPP
ton law remains unchanged, and the
Byrd law has been strengthened. More
over the very fact that the matter
came before the Legislature was an
advantage to the cause of temperance
in the creation and education Of public
sentiment. During the discussion in
both Houses large crowds were present
and the question at issue became IA
miliar TO many who had not previously
given the matter due thought
Then the vote in the House showed
that body to be in favor of the bill. As
they were voting to take il up out Of
time and a two-thirds vote was neces-
sary to do this, the measure was lost.
but the count of "a to 40 showed real
majority in its favor. But, Mrs. Hoge
said, the temperance workers can read
signs that are real encouragement to
their work. These are seen not only in
the petitions signed by 200 people
and letters that poured into Legislature
asking that the people be given the
right TO vote on this question, but in
the attitude of the liquor men them
selves. The arguments Of the latter and
their stubborn fight against giving the
people chance to vote on this question
showed that they believed the voters of
the State would decide for prohibition
If given a chance to show their prefer
ence. Furthermore, a genuine advance
IN temperance sentiment is shown by
the fact that the liquor men who were
lighting local option are now working
| for it. They see that the State will
never return TO its former condition,
and dreading the success of Statewide
prohibition, they are crying out to be
let alone, as local option is good enough
AoT tnefn. II, SAID Mrs. hOge, local
option is good enough for the liquor
men it is time for the temperance
forces to declare for something better. "
With all these facts the question
comes, what can we do? First, make
1t known that there is no cause for dis
enlargement. Second, get the real
facts before the people.
In this connection Mrs. Hoge spoke
of the two aims of the w. C. T. u, to
agitate and to educate. She empha-
sized the Importance of having temper
ance literature in the home. She stress
ed the power of home influence, not
only against liquor traffic, but also
against the drink habit and made a
stirring appeal to all to join in striving
to reach the ideal of total abstinence
for the individual and prohibition for
the State.
After informal discussion and the
singing of a hymn, Rev. r. A. VIII
liams pronounced the benediction. Mrs
Hoge's address was heard with the
closest attention by all present. Her
natural, unaffected manner and win
ming personality made friends for her
even in the short time she was here.