The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-03-08

OS Wednesday evening OF last week
at the opera house In this city Rev.
Joseph Meeker pastor Of a Congrega-
tionai church in ST. Louis, delivered a
speech Of over two hours in length in
favor Of ''open saloons.
Mr.. Meezer is an employee Of the Ma
tional Model License League. This is a
league supported by the allied liquor
interests Of America. Think Of IL. A
minister Of the Gospel, a servant Of the
Devil A messenger Of Peace on
Earth, Good Win to Men, a paid hire
ling Of an organization Of whiskey men.
Mr.. Meeker spoke under the guise Of
How to Regulate the Liquor Traffic,
and many times during his speech he
said he was here TO tell us how to regu-
late the traffic in liquor nhe ever told
how 10 regulate 1t, OF anything near IL,
no one in his audience ever heard L. In
fact il was a speech out and out, from
beginning to end. in favor Of open sa-
looms.
he is a fine speaker and man Of
brains and held his audience for over
two hours.
His speech was cut and dried and in
geniously gotten up, and was adroit in
the extreme. His chief argument was
Personal Liberty Of man and il was
so artfully put before his hearers as 70
impress the casual listener with the
fact that he was honestly stating both
sides Of the question. He played large
ly upon the ignorance Of his audience as
10 statistics. On the face Of b his argu-
ment was plausible, but 70 The thinking
man. the man that reads between the
lines, the argument was poor and his
conclusions absolutely absurd and RI
diculous.
We charge him. too. with being un-
fair in his statements. He garbled the
records and statistics He read and
quoted only those that answered his
purpose and suppressed those that were
against him. Especially was this true
Of his statements as 10 Maine and Kan
sas, the two states that have tried pro
hibition longer than any other states,
and are still satisfied with the results.
Now. was this Rev. Meeker ignorant
or was be dishonest; ignorant Of The
facts or too dishonest 10 state them
Perhaps just at this time in his speech
he heard the jingle OF the money bags
OF the Model Saloon League or perhaps
he saw a vision Of the thirty pieces Of
silver" and 50 betrayed his Lord.
Mr.. Meeker spoke in general terms
and Of circumstances and conditions far
away. Not only did he never tell how
20 regulate the liquor traffic but he new
er once touched upon the conditions in
Richmond and Madison county. The
excuse has been made that he was not
acquainted with these conditions. How
then could he consistently advise our
voters how 10 cast their ballotsl IgnOr-
ant Of conditions, how could he, as an
honest man. attempt 10 influence our
votes, Oh the jingle Of the money
bags and the vision Of Thirty Pieces Of
Silver"
Mr.. Meeker had no right 10 be ignOr-
ant Of conditions in Richmond. be ar
rived in Richmond five or six hours or
more before he began his speech. This
was ample time for him 10 have in-
formed himself as 10 the local situation.
Thirty minutes would have given him
all the time be needed No excuse for
Mr. Meel1er's ignorance. Now honest
", did he want 10 know the true condi-
tons confronting our citizensf Would
he-this hired servant Of the liquor in
terests-have nd the audacity to stand
before an intelligent Richmond audience
and attempt 70 overthrow the accumu-
lated arguments in favor Of no saloon.
arguments supported by the facts as our
people well know them,
We enjoyed Mr.. Meeker's speech. We
always enjoy hearing brilliant man
talk even though be be not honest in ar
eument We feel sure that the Kew.
Mr. Meeler has some good points, bui
also many. yea, very many faults We
viii Try 70 remember his good points
and forget his faults.
After Mr. Meeker had finished. a Mr..
Meyer. Of Covinglon, politician, we
are Informed. and also an attorney for
f.r.r.r.rlr.r hrorrnrr TrIiunro1 an hor-