Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-02-16
To End Rum Dives.

To End Rum Dives.
Demon Rum almost went down for
the count today, when 500 temperance
advocates appeared before the House
Judiciary Committee to voice their len
timent in favor OF legislation that will
drive the divekeePers, blind tigers, aud
bootleggers Of the country out Of BUSH
ness.
1t was the second round of the battle
being waged in Washington this week
by the w. g. T. U. and the com
modious committee room in the Heuhe
Office building was packed to it's doors
long before it was possible fer the COM
mIttee to get . quorum together.
Mary Harris Armor, "the Georgia
Cyclone who showed no inclins tion,
to spare the feelings Of the Senators
when she spoke before Senate sub
committee yesterday, was one of the
speakers and 1t might be said, the
feature Of the meeting. AIthoughsshe
talked even faster than yesterday, and
had tho members of the committee
fairly gasping for breath, she was more
considerate in her language, and really
said nothing to offend the Congress-
men.
Mrs. Armer made it plain, however,
that the " hite ribboncrs are asking for
nothing more than what is just and
right at the hands Of Congress, and she
did not want the committees to think
they were begging favor.
"We're ssking ne favor" she said,
"but we de want protection. We've got
right on our side, we've got God on
cur side, and believe, gentlemen,
we've got you on cur side.
ssSome of you hesitate to give us these
laws because, AZ you say, the Constitu-
ton must be considered" continued
Mrs. Armor. swell, let me ask you,
what does the Constitution amount 10
when it directly opposed the Declare
ton OF Independence, which says that
every citizen OF the United States is en-
titled to life, liberty, and the pursuit
Of happiness"
"AlI that we are asking you is that
you give Georgia chance to enforce
its own laws. We do net believe it is
fair to allow a man living outside OF
Georgia TO do things in Georgia, which
q man living in the state cannot do.p
Mrs. Armor pointed With pride to the
splendid showing Of Georgia people
present, and was cling at the rate OF
about 200 or more words minute,
when she applied the brakes, AID said
she wol i'd give some Of the others a
chance.
Ellen NJ. Stone, the missionary who
speat twenty years IN bulgaria and
more than three wears IN Macedonia,
six months OF which time she was =
captive held for ransom by briganda
spoke in favor ofthe legislation sought.
She said it shamed her when working
for temperance in foreign fields to have
to acknowledge that her country was
SO tightly in the grip Of Deamon Rum
Mrs. LILA NJ. George told Of the
speak-easies in Pennsylvania; Mrs..
Sarah H. Hoge dwelt upoL the blind
pigs" of Virginia; MIS-. Stevens de-
nounced the dive keepers of Maine,
while women from other States refer
red to the evildoer as bootleggers, blind
tigers, rum sellers, and nuisance in
general, asking that some sort Of law
be enacted that will drive thea out Of
business.
Mrs. Ella A. Boole, of New York,
admitted she could pot brag of any
temperance localities in her State, yet
she spoke proudly Of the fact that the
w. 9. +. U. had mere than $4,000
membes in the State.
The hearing was scheduled for halt
past 10o'clock, and when that time
arrived the big committee room was
filled and many were standing. Fifteen
minutes passed by and the women
showed signs of becoming nervous
when no member of the committee ap
peared, despite the strenuous efforts OF
the committee clerk and q most oblig.
ing telephone gill.
At IL o'clock the committee showed
up, and one minute later "the Geergis
Cyclone" walked into the rom at ths
cheers of three hundred white ribbon.
ers present.
The bearing was over in an hour.