The Mankato free press., 1915-11-26
Fight Against Booze
From Mondays Daily.

In two prohibition rallies at the
Salvation army hall, held yesterday
afternoon and evening, part of two
day conference on the subject OF
state wide prohibition for Minnesota
took place. II was announced yester-
day that three more meetings were
to be held in that hall today, being at
1890 a. m, 2 p. m. and 7:45 p. m.
As George +. Wells of st. Paul.
chairman of the Minnesota state
prohibition committee. said yester-
day, the issue to be determined at
these meetings is whether to fight
for state prohibition by statutory
enactment, or mere action of the state
legislature, or by submitting to the
people constitutional amendment,
providing for absolute prohibition in
the state. Mr.. Wells stated that thus
far the sentiment had been over
whelmingly I'm favor Of acting merely
through the state legislature. II the
plan OF having the proposition sub
mitted by constitutional amendment
should be adopted, II would be four
years before the amendment could be
made effective.
There were two visiting speakers
at both of the rallies. These were
Mr.. Wells and o. @. Christgau, Of
Glen Ellen, ILL.,. who has charge Of
the department OF oratory OF the
Hamilton college OF Law. located in
Chicago. Glen Ellen is a residence
suburb of Chicago.
Conferences Held Elsewhere.
Mr.. Wells stated yesterday that the
movement for statewide prohibition
was started a little less than three
weeks ago, and two-day conferences
had been held on this subject thus far
at Redwing. Winona. Houston, Pres
ton. Austin, Albert Lea, Owatonna.
Dodge Center. Rochester and STILL
water. the Mankato rally being the
eleventh. Mr.. Wells stated that the
idea was to hold one such rally I'm
each county, and then to have a state
prohibition conference to determine
the best methods of proceeding with
the matter of securing statewide pro-
hibiticn. He said another purpose Of
these rallies was TO stir up brohibi-
tion sentiment, and to get people who
were I'm favor of that cause. but who
were disposed to be rather inactive,
TO get to work and do something.
Some of these meetings have been
attended by Mr.. Wells, and some by
Mr.. Christgau. but the great feature
at most OF them consisted of the
Clarions. These, he said would be the
feature at the Monday meetings Of
the Mankato conference. The Clari-
ons are two speakers, singers and
entertainers, devoted to the prohibi-
tion cause. Professor F. w. Lough
and ]. w. Huddleston. known as the
giant basso. both of indianapolis.
Resolutions Were Passed.
Mr.. Wells stated that at all the
various rallies held thus far in diff
ferent parts OF the state. strong reso-
lutions had been passed, favoring the
institution of campaign for state
wide prohibition.
The programs that were arranged
for the two meetings yesterday were
jointly arranged by the local army
corps and the local w. c. T. U.
The afternoon meeting was opened
by Miss Hazel Reed. William Jessup
briefly announced the purpose of the
meeting. Several hymns were sung,
the accompaniments being played at
the piano by Miss Jennie Gibson.
Rev. C.. W. Comstock, pastor of the
Christian church, gave a shcrt address
laying emphasis on the point that
ministers and other church leaders
should take part i'm the actual prob
lens of the day. and particularly i'm
the prohibition issue.
Jaw II. Sherk said the business men
ought also to be active in the fight
aCainst the saloons. He said he him
self took part i'm the fight against the
saloons i'm the Blue Earth county
campaign in the spring. Some might
think n merchant would lose business
by such n procedure. but as far as he
could see he himself had lost moth
ing In that way. and whether busi-
ness was lost or not. the business
men should take part In the struggle.
Business men these days more and
more were recognizing the tremen-
dous importance, from a business
VI tht uitu httptHS SODtT,
and were insisting more and more In
having total abstainers 10 handle the
various jobs.
How Fight Could Be Won.
Rev. Comstock. i'm presenting Mr..
Christgau, as the speaker of the
remarked that the church
census showed that after setting aside
the Catholic church goers and the
Lutheran church goers of the state
Of Minnesota, a very small number
was left for the other Protestant,
churches. He said Mr.. Christgau was
a German Lutheran. and the idea
occurred to him that II all OF the Ger
man. Scandinavian and other Luth-
rran church members could be in
iuced to put up fight for prohibit
ficr. the state could be carried very
easily.
Mr.. Christgau said the mighty
sweep of prohibition over the country
was going on with increasing power. |
lie remarked that eighteen states |
had been carried. and Iowa would
make the nineteenth. to say nothing
,f the dry localities and counties in |
vet states.
The speaker dwelt at some length |
,n the argument that many moder-
lte drinker put up. namely, II can
luit when | wish to-" He said Il re-