The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1917-05-18
(By Special Correspondent

(By Special Correspondent
Those engaged in the alcohol fight
who have been waiting to hear the
voice of Massachusetts, with it's old
time ring speaking for freedom from
drink arc beginning to catch some OF
the longed-for notes.
Governor Mccall was interviewed
by committee representing the dele
CATION of prominent citizens who ap-
peared before him, May at the hear
ing on war Prohibition in the State
House Council Chamber. They came
10 urge for the second time that the
Governor send the legislature spe-
cial message in behalf Of the passage
of a resolve memorializing Congress to
establish war Prohibition. The conf
mittce also conferred with Speaker
Cox of the House of Representatives,
and President Wells of the Senate.
Sunday, April %, at fremont Tenn
pie, and Tuesday, May |, in the Gov
crnor's Council Chamber, recognized
leaders of the business, moral and
intellectual forces of the state were
heard demanding war Prohibition.
Thirty-hve hundred persons packed
fremont Temple. Hundreds more
were turned away.
Strong resolutions were adopted
by a unanimous rising vote calling
upon President Wilson and Governor
Mccall to take immediate action to-
ward national Prohibition for the pc
Rod OF the war.
The speakers demanded war Pro
hibition for the conservation of food
stuffs and men. They insisted that
the man with the gun in this war
should be able to shoot straight, I'M
tempted by drink They asked the
government to make sure of having
sober men on the farms and in the
shops for the strenuous times of SER
vice that arc before the nation.
The presiding officer, Rev. Paul
Revere rockingham, minister Of Ar
lington Street Unitarian Church, de
clared that he had information that
the liquor and vice interests were al
ready on the ground making their
preparations near expected locations
of training camps in state for the de-
moralization of the soldiers.
Charles Sumner Bird, well-known
business man, former leader OF the
Progressive party, declared:
Millions Of bushels o. grain are
Eoing into the manufacture Of liquors
enough to make 100000 loaves Of
bread every day in the year. 1t is
outrageous. 1t should be stopped and
stopped now. This is fight between
whisky and bread.
Thomas N Carver, professor OF
economies at Harvard University,
presenting statistics indicating that
some 7,OOO,000,000 pounds of food
stuffs go annually into the manufac-
ture OF liquors, declared:
But the greatest waste Is In the
men who drink. / do not know OF
any vice that so incapacitates man
for a responsible position. / had
rather fight under an officer guilty of
almost any other vice than that of
drink, for drunken officer might
send me to death by wrong order.
For every judgment beclouded by
drink I warn you there will be loss
in the life-blcod Of our citizens.
Rev. William Harmon Van Allen
of the Church Of the Advent warned
that atrocities equal to those in Bel
GUM and France can be matched in
degree and kind, if not in extent, in
every city under the American flag
where liquor is sold.
Former Governor Eugene N. Foss
declared
1t is a question of booze or bread
now. Which shall we have-life-sus-
tanning bread or life destroying
drink? There are Sc saloons within
half mile of the Charlestown navy
yard. That is fine condition under
which to build ships and recruit men!
More than 200 of the most influen-
tial citizens of Massachusetts went up
TO the statehouse to present the case
of war Prohibition to Governor Nc
call Governor Mccall was asked to
request the Legislature to pass me-
morial to the national government in
behalf of national Prohibition during
the period of the war.
Bishop Lawrence declared that the
change of public sentiment on Prohi-
bition has been simply enormous
even in the last month.
There is the question OF economy
of grain and other products, OF draw