Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-02
Louie and Meeker Mix in Four-Round Go;
Battle With Words Before Large Crowd;
Full Details of Red Hot Verbal Encounter

IN oregon and washington mas
proven farce, averring that thou
sands are now eager to have the
amendment repealed
He told how Massachusetts, had
tried prohibition, but that finally the
citizens became so Disguised with it
that several famous Bostonians and
others went before the state legisla-
ture to urge its repeal.
Scandal in Wichita.
The recent police scandal in Wich-
tia was mentioned by Congressman
Meeker, the speaker declaring that the
police chief charged with selling
liquor in the city hall was one Of the
Billy" Sunday trail hitters. He defied
Rev. DR.. Lowe to show how the pro-
posed amendment will keep one drop
of liquor out OF the state, declaring
that the situation in Des Moines is
even worse than before the amend
ment in the Hawkeye state went into
effect. ''
The speaker for the affirmative
sprang sensation when he advanced
to the center OF the stage and flour
ished the Bible above his head.
Here's Bible and $40 bill. ! defy
my opponent TO show any word or
sentence for prohibition"
"I'd rather see free country with
breweries in it than one without
breweries, but run by crowd OF re-
ligious fanatics"
Congressman Meeker then asked il
it was because of the so-called blood
money" that the German, French,
Jewish and Italian housewives are so
bloody" good.
Rev. DR.. Lowe wound up the argu-
ment for the negative with fifteen
minute talk. Kansas came in for dis
cussion again, the preacher asking
why it is that If prohibition is such a
bad thing for business thetwo major
political parties swear by it.
Some OF the statistics offered by
Congressman Meeker were disputed
in innuendos by Rev DR.. Lowe. Its
just question OF which group of sta
tistics the public will believe" He
read a letter from the Denver chief of
police saying that prohibition is a
, good thing for Colorado's capital. He
closed his rebuttal with. rhetorical
denunciation OF the breweries and sa-
looms.
Congressman Meeker in his fifteen
minute talk declared that the Omaha
preacher had passed the whole eve
ming without mentioning the amend
ment. He said that Rev. DR.. Lowe
had absolutely failed to point out how
the amendment would keep liquor out
OF the state. That the speaker for
the negative hadn't come within one
mile OF prophesying what would hap
pen in Nebraska with prohibition in
force was a statement by the st. Louis
man.
Asks Cause Of Repeal.
IF prohibition Is such good thing,
why does a number OF states try 1t
out and then repeal it"
He declared that President Wilson
has twice gone on record as favoring
local option and as being against state
prohibition.
liC DlH ttkut w NOHiS ithio NVhh-
try will not be the liquor question, but
to rid the government Of the DONNA
l.tion BY religious fanaticism.
"I'his is the first time in the history
| Of the country that church has made
I a bid to get control Of the state"
/, !. The speakers INDUCED in personali-
ties at different times during their
arguments. Congressman Meeker
averred that had the preacher, when
he was student IN the theological
seminary and nearly starved once,
gone into saloon and hit the free
lunch counter he could probably have
| gotten all he wanted 10 eat. Also,
the chances are that the bartender
would have slipped him a five to keep
him in school,
| AT several different times during
the debate Mr.. Webster was forced to
call for order because Of disturbers in
the audience