Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-12
Kraft DENOUNCES
u. S. CONSTITUTION
Former Socialist Candidate for
Governor Grows Excited az
Anti-Prohibition Meeting.
MAJOR CARL LENTz. OF
NEWARK, SILENCES Him
Then He Tells En- abeth Audi
ence of the Advantages of
Moderate Drinking.
Especial 10 she Evening stnr.I


ELIZABETH. March l2,-Major
Carl Lentz, Of Newark. and Frederick
KRAFT OF RidgeHeld who was So
cialist candidate for governor In 1907
had lively tilt al the anti-prohibi-
zion meeting In Turn Hall here last
night. when Kraft jumped from the
subject OF the meeting and began a
Socieltstic speech.
After making several assertions In
favor OF sociRlistic principles Kraft
said;
1.-THE constitution of the United
States Ia the most imperfect docu.
ment OF the Kind that was ever
framed. II is useless. II 10 not even
worth tearing up"
Major LentE. who wRs on the plat
CORN, arose and interrupted the
speaker
az protest against statements OF
that sort" he said. 81 do not agree
with the speaker, and | am certain
the majority OF those here do not. /
must insist Lhut ho confine his speech
90 the subject for which the meeting
was called"
Words were banded between tho
SOCIALIST and tho Newark man, then
Kraft again launched into an ar
saignnent OF the prohibition move
ment.
1000 Attend Meeting.
The meeting. which was held under
che auspices OF the German American
Alliance. OF Elizabeth. wus attended
by more than l.000 persons, who bee
came most enthusiastic as the cause
OF prohibition was denounced by the
speakers,
The meeting was opened by songp
by a chorus OF l50 members Of the
United Singers, OF Elizabeth, after
which Joseph Pruesler. president OF
the Alliance, introduced Major Lent1'
He spoke in German and said In part
An old German prorerO bids uS
settle down and make our homes
where the people sing. because the
ptople who sing are good. After hear
ing these singers none could believe
we who are assembled here to protest
against the prohibition movement are
unlawful.
I'VE stand for the right OF every
man TO determine what he shall eat
and drink. We are opposed to the
immoderate use OF alcoholic beVer-
ages Just as we are opposed to the
immoderato use of anything else We
favor the maintenance OF clean, re-
spectacle places where the people may
drink pure liquors In decent surround
fngs. We lndorse absolutely the gen.
eral movement for moderation In
drinking.
Treating" Makes DrunkMFds.
1.-THE American habit OF treating
probably causes more immoderutc
drinking than any other one factor,
and we condemn the practise heart
ily Prohibition. however. Is not the
solution OF the liquor question. Where
prohibition exists statistics show
there is an Increase in the use "
liquor, an Increase In drunkenness
and an increase In crime. Great harm
Is done by prohibition for the reason
It tends to cause persons desiring to
drink to do so by stealth, No man
should drink In secret, If ne cares to
body can see him The moderate. open
use OF liquor In the family circle
teaches children not to conceal their
actions and Il teaches them to drink
8only moderately when they have
Eea ched the proper age"
Major Lentz appealed to all. espe-
cially German Americans, 10 stand to-
.gether In the fight against prohibition.
The prohlbtionlsts have said they
nave 100000 to spend to put prohibit
stion in New Jersey We have no
money. but we must fight the move
ment for prohibition by every man
using his best efforts to oppose this
infringement on the rights and per-
sonai liberty of the people"
Rev. Edmund A WATSON, rector Of
ST Stephens Episcopal Church, New
ark opened his talk by contradictlng
the assertion Of the prnhihitlonlsts
that the church advocated their cause