The Washington herald., 1912-03-25
SENATOR WORKS
SCORES SALOONS
Denounees Church Repre-
sentatiye's Defense Of
Liquor Traffic.
HITS AT LABOR ALSO

scathingly denouncing the represent
alive OF lone Of the great churches in the
District for appearing before the Con-
gressional committee to defend the liquor
trafic in this city," Senator Works, Of
California. who spoke before the mass
meeting Of the Y. NJ. c. A. at the First
Congregational Church yesterday after
noon on The true American citizen"
said that the statement was made At
this hearing that thirty-six members OF
the congregation of that church are en-
gagged In the liquor trafic."
1T is a pitiful condition. indeed" con-
tinued the California stateman, that one
OF the churches belonging to one Of the
greatest religious bodies In the world
should practically be maintained by
money given by saloonkeepers. And the
spokesman at this hearing" sarcastically
remarked the speaker. claimed that
these saloonkeepers are good citizens and
attend church regularly
Qualities Labor Remarks.
Organized labor also came IA for its
censure at the hands OF the California
Senator. who expressed his surprise that
even laboring men at the excise hearing
protested against a change in the liquor
laws in the District. Why? Because IL
would interfere with their personal lib
erty. as American citizens. OF getting
drunk whenever they felt like It" The
speaker said he sympathized with the
aims OF organized labor, but decidedly OBJ
jected to the idea OF palming on the
liquor question as one concerning or
ganized labor.
At this juncture a man In the audience
arose and told the speaker that organized
labor in the District as a body had not
taken any part in the liquor question.
whereupon Senator Works qualified his
former statement.
The man who pays his debts and taxes,
Is honest, supports his family, Is indus
trious and sober. is merely harmless
citizen" in the estimation OF Senator
Works. He must do more than that In
order to be classed as a true American
citizen He must take an active part in
politics and make every effort to help
his brother man and thereby contribute
to the elevation Of the moals of the
land"
Praising California as a model COM
monwealth, Senator Works said: Cal
ifornia has done more toward establish
ing purity In politics and the individual
freedom Of fits citizens than any other
State in the Union. California has de-
clared In favor OF the initiative and ref
erendum and the recall, and has recently
called upon her women to help to purify
the politics Of the State. The political
power in California is in the hands OF
the people themselves, and not In the
grasp Of a few privileged ones"
DO you know that in our large cities
X Is as much as We can expect to get out
at the most important elections about 50
Per cent OF the voters? One-third OF the
voters are not taking interest enough in
the affairs OF the government to go to
the polls and vote. One OF tne greatest
dangers in this country to-day Is the
indifference OF our so-called good citi-
Gems What has brought about this in
dinerence? The whole secret Is that he
has been taught by others what ticket to
vote. and that the election IS governed
by some one else and not by the voters
themselves as such"
What is needed in this country at this
hour declared the speaker. is TO place
this power back again into the hands of
the people. Glasses are being recognized
ir this free land of ours. The rich man
is on one side and the poor on the other
side. Privilege-seeking is the order OF
the day. What does II mean that GER
tain United States. Senators paid hun
dreds Of thousands OF dollars to be
elected? 1t means that the very act Of
putting up so much money at elections
is In itself a corrupting influence.
The Candidate and Money.
1T simply means that II the candidate
for public ONCE cannot put up a certain
amount OF cash he need not apply. And
who gets this money? 1t Is dispensed to
political workers. Il is plain bribery. |
what sort Of citizenship are we building
up and educating II We make people be- |
ieve they should be paid for doing their |
political duties as citizens at the polls? |
There Is constant effort by all sorts OF |
people to get something for nothing out |
of the national government. The oppor- |
unity OF getting something for nothing |
tut or the government here In Washing |
on Is greater than elsewhere. This prac- |
Ice Is becoming universal, however, and |
8 nothing but plain bribery
Senator Works referred to the corrupt |
politics in Ohio. in Illinois, land per
laps in every State in the Union. And |
Why Is there such a deplorable condition |
n our country? 1t is because elections |
n this country are controlled by greed |
md managed by money. II those men
whom We regard as fha hast cttt-an, -