The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-09-09
WAR IS DECLARED
ON S. D. SALOONS
FIGHT AGAINST LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
IN SOUTH DAKOTA is HER.
Aided AS WARFARE in
MASS MEETING.

|
!. was unqualifiedly urged by tn
speakers today in opening the mas
meeting which launched the cam
paign for statewide prohibition. Th
first session opened at the Corn Pal
ace at $3.50 O'Clock this morning, Dl
j. S. .qoagland, of Mitchell, presiden
of the South Dakota Anti-saloo
league, in the chair.
In the presidents S address of wei
come before the convention this af
ternoon and in the addresses OF tn
! five speakers at the morning session
j the coming campaign was character
lied as a warfare, to be entered int
seriously, without over-confidence
/ and with full realization of tn,
forces which will be opposed in tn,
fight for changing the constitution
of South Dakota to prohibit the exist
ence of the legalized sale of liquor
I DIR. Hoagland declared that tn,
great conflict in Europe had taugh
4 the world, through the protective
measures against liquor taken by thu
countries at war, that King Alcoh
OF was coward, that "John Barley
corn was chicken-hearted and tina
booze was the synonym OF military
inefficiency and the fore-runner oil
failure. He especially emphasized
the strength and the forces which
would be brought to bear to maintain
South Dakota in the wet" column
Delivers the Key Note.
The meeting was opened with
prayer by Rev. F. H. Brockmieller
of Aberdeen. In the absence of e. O.
Excel, who arrived this afternoon
from Chicago, the song service was
necessarily omitted. Prof A. W.
Roper, pianist, came yesterday and
will accompany Mr.. EXCEL in all OF
the song services, which will be an
important feature of the gatherings.
Rev. w. E. Roberts, of Sioux Falls,
delivered what is considered to be
the key note speech of the conven-
ton, "The War We Wage" Rev
MIR. Roberts declared that the COM
ing campaign was not Sunday
school picnic, but genuine warfare
against strong foe. He emphasized
the danger of over-confidence and
the need of organization, men and
money.
Lauritz Miller, states attorney for
Dawson county and general counsel
for the Anti-Saloon league in South
Dakota, spoke on "The Deciding Fac
tor Mr.. Miller quoted extensively
from the figures from the elections
of 1886 and 1896, when the saloons
were legalized by a vote of the peo-
pie and upheld in a second battle of
the ballots. He declared that the
indifference of the temperance forces
and their neglect had lost both elec-
tions, although by close margins in
many of the counties of the state.
He suggested as the slogan for the
campaign, "A Dry Ballot in the Bal
lot Box for Every Dry Voter in the
State"
Saloons Not Helpful.
The theory that saloons bring
business to a town was raped in the
address by M. Moriarity, of Rediield,
who spoke on "A Live Dry Town"
Mr.. Moriarity declared that it was an
insult to the farmer to contend that
he will not bring his wife and family
to q dry town and would trade else
where. He stated that the experience
at Redfeld had not hurt business in
mat city, but that the movement had
spread and that now Sphinx county is
entirely without saloons. He stated
that for the six months since 1908
when Redtield had saloons, there had
been 235 arrests, compared With ~
the following year.
reorganization" was the subject
considered by Coe |. Crawford, of
Huron. former United States sena-
tor. The senator declared that he
believed the majority of the voters of
South Dakota were favorable. to tenn
perance and that the problem of the
coming fight was to crystalize the
sentiment for prohibition and get the
votes for the amendment. He main
,tained that the arguments and con-
yictions were all on the side of pro
hibition and urged an early start
with the work of organization. SEN
ator Crawford declared for fiery and
relentless war over crime and cor
luption. He stated that the state
should be voted out of its partnership
With saloons and militant power
created to cope with the situation on
hand.
Major Dan Morgan Smith, prob
ably the leading speaker of the con-
vention, was called upon Tor few
brief remarks Major Smith con
graduated South Dakota for having
men in public life who were openly
in the fight for prohibition and urged
q warfare in which Bibles would be
used instead of muskets. The major
is a southerner, gifted in the art OF
oratory and now one of the nationa
leaders in the temperance cause. III
formerly was general counsel for the
Model License League, an organlza-
ton of liquor dealers.
Judge ]. t. Medin, of Sioux Falls
will preside at tonight's session. U
S. Senator Thos. Sterling and Major
Smith will be the principal speakers
The program for the second day
session, with the big parade at 5
o'clock tomorrow afternoon, already
has been published in The Republi-
can. Among the speakers will be
e. w. Martin, of Deadwood, former
congressman, on the morning pro
gram and G. H. Dillon, of Yankton
present congressman from the Flrs'
district. in the afternoon.
KING ALCOHOL NOW
DETHRONED IN EUROPE
DR.. Hoagland in his address OF
welcome as president of the state