The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-30
CoLLoRD's GREAT SPEECH.
Converted Saloon Keeper spoke to a
Big Crowd at Tabernacle on
Monday Evening.

Converted Saloon Keeper spoke to a
Big Crowd at Tabernacle on
Monday Evening.
Mr.. r. M. Collord, of Waterloo, de-
livered one of the greatest addresses
at the big tabernacle Monday even
ing that the Leon people have ever
heard. For one hour and half he
poured forth facts and statistics that
were amazing to his hearers. 1t was
an arraignment and exposition of the
liquor traffic in politics and govern
ment far beyond the conception of
most everyone. Only few that are in
touch with the game" know of the
corruption, scheming and subterfuge
that is used. But it is this certain
knowledge that Mr.. Collord has and
pours forth relentlessly. He has
come from behind the scenes and was
recognized power behind the
throne; political boss-with booze
as his weapon.
For several years Mr.. Collord was
superintendent of the liquor dealers
state association Of Illinois and is
largely responsible for the vote-buy-
ing and ballot-stuffing that was so
ago. He has been travelling COM
panion of three ex-presidents and
many leading politicians in Illinois
and other states He has managed
and was one Of the largest share hold
ers of one OF the largest Wholesale
liquor houses in Illinois.
Five years ago Mr.. Collord was
converted, became christian in his
In Il
employees, locked his door upon an
investment of 100000 and says he
has never been back since. He is
now a real estate man of Waterloo,
Iowa, but gives one-half and more
of his time touring this and other
states, making speeches on temper
ence and trying to overthrow the
traffic in liquor.
Mr.. Collord says that while he
was a political liquor boss, yet he
was not a speech making boss, and
when he made his first speech on
temperance at a meeting in Chicago,
and at that meeting Bishop Mcdowell
presided, he was slated for a five
minute talk, but that he was so hest
tant in speech and at the end of five
minutes he sat down much confused,
but amid thunderous applause and
that he was called back and spoke
for forty minutes. One would never
imagine now that the speaker had
ever stammered for word or lacked
for something to say. He told OF
the liquor traffic's connection and
how it contributed money and influ-
ence directly and indirectly to any
party or candidate that would pro-
mote it's interest, and how the traffic
would deceive the very ''elect' and
by measures and counter measures
would succeed often in getting tenn
perence forces to line up with certain
candidates and legislation which was
SO fixed and framed that the
liquor interest was advanced. He
was one of the main leaders Of the
liquor dealers association which met
at Atlantic City and proposed to
regulate the saloon" They appeal
ed to the temperance people OF the
United States to give their associa-
ton a chance to clean up the saloons.
They said they would cut out the low
dives, divorce the saloon from crime
and houses Of prostitution and give
America respectable saloon"
They put 100000 into the state of
Ohio and by the aid of temperance
people elected a governor, and in
Pennsylvania they poured a large
sum of money and elected Senator
Penrose, whom the church and tenn
perance people presented with a'large
bouquet OF roses at Washington. An
even worse condition prevailed in In
diana. He told how in his own and
Uncle joe Cannon's district in YER
million county, Illinois, and with he,
CollOrd, directing the forces, that
district cast two hundred and fifty
votes more than all the men, women
and children living in the district.
He said that in one year the liquor
traffic paid to the farmers of the
United States 100000 for corn
and the same year sold back to the
farmers, after they had extracted the
BOOZE" $76,OO0,O00 worth of slop,
mash, ETC., and had all the booze left
for profits. He said the total cost
of barrel of whisley was $40 and
it retailed in drinks for $3.50.
Mr.. Collord was asked by the Sat
urday Evening Post to write an ar
ticle on the liquor traffic for that
magazine. He investigated thirty
line CLUES III Cue CAllou o'o'oo a."
found that there was one arrest for
booze for every seventh male voter,
and one arrest of women for every
forty-nine thousand Here he argu-
ed strongly for woman suffrage and
received big applause.
Mr.. Collord has been offered fabu-
lous prices by lyceum and chantau-
qua bureaus for lectures, but he de-
clares that he will not capitalize his
past life and that he wants to give
his service without price for the up
lift of humanity Mr.. Collard came
as Q substitute for the Flying Squad
ron of the Business Mems Temper
ance Association of Iowa, who were
to have spoken in all the churches
here Sunday, with mass meeting in