Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-04
Interesting Speeches at First
Presbyterian Church.
SMALL CROWD TURNS OUT
DR.. Walter A. Picker Says Alcohol
is Not a Stmulant and That Its
Use In Most Moderate Form Is
Harmful.

l Hardly one hundred people attend
led the temperance rally last night ~
the Sunday school room OF the First
PRESBYTERIAN church under the aus
pices Of the Westminster Bible class
OF the church. Several interesting
addressed were made and the audience
lproved an enthusiastic one.
Rev. Il. Il. Wexford, pastor Of the
church and member OF the execu-
tive committee OF the State Anti
saloon League. presided and introduc
ed the speakers. DIR. Waiter A
Picker, OF Hampton. was first pre-
scented and his address was closely
followed by his bearers. lie discuss
ed the temperance question from the
physicians view point. telling of ths
effect of alcohol on the human
system.
Alcohol Not a Stimulant.
Dr. Picker began by saying that
years ago physicians thought that
Iliquor was st!mulant and it was
widely used as such by the profession
Recent Investigations, however, have
proven that this was mistake. said
The speaker Alcohol paralyzes the
nerves controlling the heart and al
lows that organ to run wild. this be-
ing the cahse of the rapid pulse after
n person has drunk liquor. In con
! Guiding this phase of his speech. Or.
Picker said that the medical probes
sion could dispense with the use OF
alcohol almost entirely.
The speaker said that alcohol has
a tendency to shriyel up the cor
pushes of the blood and that per
son who drinks continually is more
susceptible to diseases than per
son who abstans from the use of
alcohol and takes care of himself.
Tests Mace In Germany.
| Continuing, the physician told of
recent tests made in Germany u es-
tablish the effect of alcohol on the
mind and upon the children of people
who drink regularly. He gave fig
ures to show that students who drank
one or two drinks a day were unable
| to rank with students who abstalned
from liquor. Likewise, he gave figures
! to show that the tests in Germany
| had proven that much larger per
cent of the children of total aDstainers
are sound and healthy than are the
children Of parents who drink even
moderately.
In conclusion. DR.. Picker said that
he was ready and willing TO back the
stand of the sSAAi-saloon League IN
', us hs,.t 10 drive i!dd0r ous 81 vfr-
sinia and that he thought il was in
cumhent upon everyone to back the
Organization and fight against the
liquor traffic.
When DR. Picker took his seat, Mr..
Wexford laughingly stated that DR..
Plecker had told how the use OF al
cohoi shriyels up the mind of a per
sen and that now he understood why
the members of the Virginia legisla-
ture will not act upon the Strobe
enabling" act
A working Mans View Point
W !. Hughes. teacher OF the West
minister Bible class. and a foreman
iemployed at the shipyard. was the
lrext speaker Mr. Hughes said that
ne believed the working men suffer
ed more from drink than any other
class Ter the very good reason that
they could not AFFORD the money with
which to buy liquor. He also said
that the great proportion Of the men
who pay fines in the police court here
sre working men.
The speaker went On to say that
many Of the working men want to
give up liquor, but they cannot. They
drink because they can help II. he
believed in taking the temptation
laway from these men by means OF
State wide prohibition. He also said
THAT the wives and children at home
lare the ones who suffer when the
working man drinks. the children
sometimes going without food and
iclothing That their fathers may salts
,fy their craving for liquors
In Accord With Movement
Superintendent OF terminals Z. /.
Ford was slated to discuss the Ques-
ton of temperance from a business
mans view point. but he wrote Mr.
Wexford that he would be unable 20
attend the meeting on account Of a
Ipressing business engagement. Mr..
Wexford read Mr. Ford's letter % the
audience. The writer stated that h.
was behind Mr.. Wexford in his fight
against liquor in this city and that he
regretted his inability to be present
land state his views.
Mr.. Wexford made a very interest
ing talk on the liquor question re-
hearsing seine Of the scenes before
the committee which held the public
harinx on the Strobe bin lie sad
that the liquor interests had one
imam present % eight against the
hHi who was introduced as mach.n-
list and who declared that he repre-.
seated tea working men On the cues
ten. In the next breath the -machln-
1T stated that be represented an tn
brewers in the Unlted States
Several musical selections Werr
rendered during the meeting. a solo
BY Mrs. +. NJ Ran being olr % fhe
| 49,. u -. -. u u