The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-10-26

C. W. TONNE
SPOKE AGAINST TIE PRoHIeI
TON AMENDMENT
Before Large Crowd at the Court
Theatre last esenlne-A Con-
stnein9 Address.

10 n great audience of over 200
that crowded both the first floor and
balcony OF the Court theatre 20 its
greatest capacity. Charles W. Towne.
OF New York. ex-senator from Min
nesota. delivered an Instructive and
convincing address on the subject Of
prohibition. telling OF the great loss
OF business and money that q would
cause and giving reasons for every
statement that he made.
The speaker OF the evening was in
troduced by Hon G. W. Bente. and
when be stepped TO the stage 10 de
liver his address was greeted by a
great storm OF applause
In opening his address Mr. Towne
stated that the gathering had assem-
bled TO deliberate on a problem that
seldom confronted the average citi-
zen OF a state. that OF changing its
lnws. and that the enormity OF the
occasion should he fully impressed on
the minds OF al present.
He tod OF how the people OF the
/ United States were the first 10 CON
! ceive the idea of forming a constitu-
ton ana obeying its laws and that
/ the present attempt TO have the laws
-, OF the state changed was simply a
/ foolish idea or certain portion of
the voters In the state. who believe
! that all other voters OF the state
! should think as they do. He stated /:
The mater of changing the constitu-
| ton OF this great state must be ap-
preached with carefulness gree.
many voters OF the state are in doubt
as TO what IL is their duty TO do in
the matter and when I'm doubt OF any
thing We must follow the old adage
and not vote for anything that We
are in doubt about"
viii Defeat Amendment
Mr.. Towne stated that, after careful
consideration. on voter could con
scientiously vote for the Prohibition
amendment aud cited the result OF
prohibition In several states and
cities as reason for his statement.
He stated that in every election in
every state. men voted against what
/ they knew TO be the right side OF the
question and cautioned the voters az
\ this election TO use their greatest
judgment before casting their votes.
IF this is done" he stated. the
amendment will be voted down by an
enormous majority
lie next took up the definition OF
the word Temperance. and told OF
the ridiculously feeble efforts OF the
"drys 20 turn the word into meaning
absiinance. lie stated that the word
was never meant TO imply the mean
! ing OF abstinence but that n means
moderation and told the vast audi
ence that Washington. jefferson and
all OF the patriots Of olden times
understood the word Temperance" TO
mean moderation.
Children Law Breakers.
He stated that prohibition in this
| city and state would cause our
children 20 grow up. a class az law
breakers because they would see the
prohibition law broken so frequently
that they will grow TO believe that
they are not bound to obey any law.
He further stated that there Is no
doubt but that the law will he broken
/ " the state Is voted dry. as no law
against the habits Of "A great portion
OF any community can be enforced.
lie also stated that condition of law
! lessness would spring up as II would
prove impossible in this state. as IL
has in other states. 10 enforce the pro-
hibitiOn laws and that the non
| enforcement OF any one law leads to
the disobeyauce OF all laws
Mr.. TOwne stated that he was not
| the champion OF intemperancc. but
the champion OF personal liberty. good
fellowship and good cheer as every
free born American citizen should be-
and as the majority Of them would
show themselves 10 be BY their vote
on the Prohibition amendment
Spoke Of Intemp-rsnee
Continuing. he said that intcmper-
nee Is not only intemperance in
drinking. but intemperance in eating
and that the first intemperance known
TO the world was intemperance in
eating While" stated the speaker.
there Is no form ~ intemperance
more disgusting than intcmperance in
eating. there has never been a law