The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-05-07

| ldCE u NtSuldlGu OdIOtHS INlQuItN
With Ridiculc-The Liquor Traffic
Denounced in Vigorous Words
The Pros held a rally in the court
house Friday night. 1t was Joint meet
ing of the Caddo Parish Prohibition
League, the Young Mems Prohibition
League. the Women's Prohibition
League and the Railroad Mems Prohi-
bition Club. The seating capacity of
the court house had been increased by
additional benches and more than a
hundred chairs and every space for
standing was occupied The doors were
jammed and hundreds who came left
the building on realizing that they could
not be accommodated standing or seat
ed in the district court room.
- 1t was noticed that there were a num-
Der of Ants who gave close attention to
what was said by the speakers.
The musical selections, "Bonnir Blue
Flag" and Dixie" were rendered ef-
fcctivcIy by the Woodmen's band When
Dixie was placed the vast crowd checrcd
to the echo, standing and waving hats
and handkerchiefs.
The assemblagc was called to order
by W. \. McKinnon. president of the
Young Mems Prohibition League.
Displayed conspicuousiy and signih-
cantly was a streamer bearing the slo-
gan Of the Caddo Prohibition League,
Law Enforcement Against Law De
hancc," which is the answer to the
catch-plea of the Ants, "Regulated Ii
ccnsc Against Blind Tigers
The post of secretary OF the meeting
was filled by A. J. Frantz Of the Jour
nal
The first speaker, Judge r D. Webb,
sailed into the saloon with argument
clear and convincing. He contrasted
the conditions preceding prohibition and
the present steady progress of the city
with all its advantages. The return of
the saloon would prove to be a great
detrimcnt to the future progress of the
city. He had given much deliberation
to the proposition of regulation of the
saloon, but he had become convinced
/ that the saloon could not be regulated.
The next speaker, DR.. J. K. Smith,
! arraigned the saloons and their allies in
words burning in the fervor of his de-
lnunciation lie fairly riddled the pre-
lenses OF the Ants to regulate the sa-
loon. He punctured the plea of the hf
| teen citizens address to the voters to
regulate the saloon which is impossible
! He criticised the attitude OF certain gen
tlemen who had been paraded in public
print as endorsing the proposed regu-
lation Of the saloon, among whom were
cited AN ex-governor, members of the
legislature, the six living e-rnayors Of
Shreveport, the governing heads of our
national banks, etc" and he clinched
his argument by declaring that some of
the signers who were now insisting on
the regulation of the saloon, had resist
ed and had defeated, when councilmen
and officials of the city, the ordinance
prepared and submitted in the Council
to have the saloons regulated. Their
plea for regulation was inconsistent and
could not be given serious credence.
Their record was against them.
The speaker pictured the horrible con-
ditions that would follow with the re-
turn of the saloon. Especially in the
rural districts where there is no po-
lice protection and the homes of the
farmers are far apart. He depicted the
Generalization of labor and the constant
menace from the negro when drunk.
And in whose interests are these efforts
being directed to promote the return of
the saloon in Shreveport and Caddo
parish? He was praiseful of present
conditions which should not be disturb
| ed. His speech was one of the most
vigorous heard in Shreveport in years.
The next and the last speaker of the
meeting was Judge J. c. Pugh. His ar
gument was forcefuI He would de
plore the return of the saloon as the
greatest of calamities which could be
inflicted on the people. It was his opin-
ion that the people not connected with
the liquor element would not stand for
the saloon whose evil influence was a
blight on every home. He ridiculed the
Ipretense of the gentlemen who are
striving for regulation, which the saloon
would treat wit hcontempt and spoke
encouragingly of the prospects of over
whelning the saloon in defeat from
which they could not be resurrected i'll
Years,
At the meeting last night seVenty-one
of the young men present joined the
| Young Mems Prohibition League.