The Washington times., 1912-03-04
CATHOLIC PASTORS
!. INDORSE LIQUOR
LAWS Of DISTRICT
Father Meagher Tells Sena-
/ tors Southwest Saloons
/. Are Much Maligned.
Continued from First Page.l

not prohibit. My expedience is that
there is more drunkenness under prohi-
bition than otherwise
The Rev. Father Maher cited expert
calities.
, Defines Temperance.
He said temperance meant modera-
tion, and this was seldom seen in total
abstinence advocates. If there were
prohibition speakeasies would crop up,
and ways would be found of getting
liquor.
IF the population of this city, and 1
speak of the colored population, Is
forced to go out of the city to get
liquor, they will cme back with effects
that will not be desirable. The reguIa-
tions that exist today are more than
sufficient to deal with the liquod traffic.
: The regulations which exist make this
city the best regulated city in the
country SO far as excise regulations go"
The speaker then took up the pending
bills In detail and objected to features
Of them He declared that the provision
that exacted signatures to petitions and
yearly renewals OF permits gave op-
rortuntty for blackmail.
Another provision to which he object
ed was IL o'clock closing. He said that
in Boston this had caused much drum
licnness. Nor did lie want q provision
in the law that would prohibit sales to
minors under any circumstances. He
was willing TO have The law stand as
now. prohibiting sales to minors know
ingIy."
Defends Southwest.
Proceeding to defense of the people
OF Southwest Washington. he said:
Il have lived in twenty cities In the
last twenty-five years, and have never
met better class OF people than in
Southwest Washington"
lie said there was sixty. two saloons
in Southwest Washington, and of thu
saloon owners thirty-four came to his
thirty four better men anywhere in any
business.
oh. my!' sail some one sitting in
the back part of the room.
"A ridicule and II sneer is no argu-
ment.' said Rev. Father MeaPher.
He said the saloon men were char
table and good citizens in general. In
the past year there had been but one
conviction in the Southwest. Asked by
some one in the audience If he had ever
happened to be at Seventh and X
streets southwest about midnight Rev.
Father Meagher said he had, and he
proceeded to declare the conditions with
reference to liquor in the Southwest
were the best possible.
Law Enforced.
He said everybody would admit the
world would be hundred times better
II there were no liquor, but he objected
to prohibiting 1t in one spot and allow
ing it in another. 1t would be a re-
Election on Major Sylvester. he said, to
assert the law was not enforced in the
southwest.
Louis p. Shoemaker followed with a
defense of present excise laws.
What promised to be a sensational
scene was presented when James l.
Feeney spoke for tho existing excise
laws. He defended these laws, and told
the committee he belonged to the
Eagles. The bar. he said, was open al
day Sunday, and he had never seen a
drunken man.
II have" shouted the Rev. A. II
Thompson, of Waugh M. +. Church.
Il don't believe it," shouted Feeney
, The two glared at each other, and
1t looked as If hosrilities might result
when Hugh F. Harvey pleaded fol
peace and quiet was restored