The Washington times., 1916-03-04
RIVAL REFERENDUM
MASS MEETING TO
Be HELD TOMORROW
"Antis" to Gather at Polls and
"Pros' at New National
Theater.

Rival mass meetings, one for and
the other against n referendum In the
District. will be held tomorrow after
noon.
The meeting for the referendum is
to be held at ? o'clock at the New
National Theater under the auspices
OF long list OF vice chairmen. repre-
senting practically every phase OF busi-
ness and commercial activity In the
city.
The meeting against the referendum
will be held at Polls Thcater at 2:3O
o'clock under the auspices OF the Anti
Saloon League OF the District OF CO.
iumbia.
Each meeting. II is declared. Ia as
sured OF large attendance, and there
will be number OF prominent speak
crs at each.
League Issues Statement.
The NatIonaI Theater meeting for
the referendum was arranged by a com-
mittee of which william +. Guido is
chairman. Robert n. Harper vice chair
man. and Charles J. Columbus secre-
tary-treasurer.
At the Poll meeting against" ad-
dresses will he made By James Harvey
Davis-"CycIOne Davis, of TeNas"--the
Rev. H. X. Hardin. the Rev. J. Morgan
Chambers, both OF Washington, and the
FSS;. RSv s. s g. D0rsy Of neTys. pis,,,ct Coin o.
1876
The Anti-Salosn. League gave out the
following statement today. saying in
iThc Anti. Saloon League. being on
DC sed TO a referendum. Is not support
ing the meeting In the New National
Thcatcr. but will voice its oprosition to
such referendum ut prohibition mass
meeting Sunday afternoon at Polls
Theater at the same hour.
There is some confusion as to tho
attitude OF the league toward the nues-
tion OF suffrage for the District. II Is
charged that II Is opposing suffrage
As an organization, the league can take
no part either for or against suffrage.
II Is not OPPOSING II now. nor has II
over done so. The question is one of
Importance. and no doubt win require
careful consideration in III" future. bit
II Is not now under consideration.
Opposed To Referendum.
But the league is opposed TO the
referendum in the present fight for
District prohibition. Approximately
-. 600 residents. many Of them tax
payers mere. retain their cltizensh IN
In their respective States and would
not give up their peImanen. fran
chise and endanIer their Government
position In order to vote on prohi-
bition or any other question in the
District
Before the machinery fori register:
inG the votes and conduttinS the
election could nc perfected. frauds
would be committed and tho result
would likely be such farce as
would bias the consideration OF the
general question of suffrage for the
l'istricS which many Of our best cit
izcns favor
'It haS been made known that the
local liquor interests are demanding
vote on prohibition. DO the lluuor
interests really desire a vote? II is
suspected that the demand is mad.
In order to confuse the issue. and to
delay and defeat action ON the Shep-
paTd prohibition bill"
Those in charge of the National
Theater meeting declare the citizens
Of the District should he permitted to
express their needs and desires to the
Congress through the medium OF a
referendum.
II believe that II Is high time that
the citizens of Washington were TAX
ing a decided step forward toward a
VI ~ w lllldm
+. GUIDE. chairman OF the committee,
said. Now that the trade and other
| organiZa tions OF Washington have
| spoken for a referendum. / am con-
vinced that II liz only in the nature of
| things that the citizens OF Washing
ton, without regard to affiliation,
should he permitted to express their
desires In this all important matter.
Capital AT q Disadvantages"
I'VE OF the committee do not know
OF any better way that this movement
can be further promoted than through
this medium of making IL possible for
| the people of Washington generally
| to come together for the development
of the propaganda in question.
II feel sure that the meeting will de-
velop good and substantial reasons why
referendum should he permitted the
citizens of the District OF Columbia. In
my travels from time to time | have
found that the country at large Ia un.
familiar with the fact that the citizens
of the District of Columbia have abso-
lutely no say whatsoever in the matter
OF their internal arrangements. As a
consequence, Washington has been
placed at distinct disadvantage com.
mercially and otherwise"