Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-10-08
BARELEY DEFENDS
prohibition Cause
No "Dry" State Has Ever
Returned TO "Wet"
Column He Says
SAYS LABOR WILL
BENEFIT BY CHANGE

DENEfl i ID OllhlNOE
Predicting that within a few months
the United states Senate viii pass the
pfoh.bition amendment giving to all
the states in the Union the right to
vote on Statewide prohibition, and
sailing upon the citizens Of this city
to cast their votes placing Wilmington
and Rural New Castle county in-the
"dry" column after November 6, Judge
Alben W. Barley, member Of Con
gress with all the vigor and enthusi-
asms OF a Southern gentleman pleaded
with the hundreds OF voters that hlled
the Queen Theatre yesterday afternoon
to capacity to make this city safe for
democracy and decency.
While his utteranccs were full OF the
"punch" common TO political orators
of the present day, and with answers
ia the usual argument place forward
by wet speakers, they were not a
whit stronger than an announcement
made by Caleb r. Burchenal chairmen
M The Wilmington Anti-License Com
miitee. Mr.. Burchenal after recount
ING how his committee had tried TO ar
range for debate with the commit
lee rerresentlng the liquor interests,
said that unlss they arranged for such
q debate. that he believed they were
afraid Of the issue.
we believe that we are right salu
Asr purchenal I'VE want the other
side TO have the fullest opportunity 70
nresent their side, but II they do not
tale advantage OF this opportunity, we
believe Il is due 10 the fact that tney
are afraid 10 meet us In debate. rms
ls a country OF free speech, ana we
believe in free speech, and we want
,he people OF Wilmington TO deciue
his question Of license only AFTER nav
inc fun presentation Of the iaols
from both Sides
Al The beginning Of his speech ton
,..assnoan parkley commented on the
talk given by Congressman Meekyr . isss
sunday night. "Just a few minutes
before the close Of Congress III Ma MA,
said Judge Barkley, "Meeker ilau III
troduced into the records OF Doheress
speech, against prohiDitloh. NV
recently a lawyer Of Missouri mas sueu
brewery interest of that s'ate lor
ss5oo asserting that the speech MeeAos
haa placed on the Congressional hooo'o I,
hsd heen written by him lthe leWEer"l
r. ~,o,, knew Meeker as we KNOW mn
T., n Congress, then he did not max
~ more votes last Sunday hlen
hon he does when he talks IN NOh
gress. "a, - so,ence col
a.,,nad alcohol. How II killed me-
soast and vegetable. How the AmeriVp
xfodical Association at a. recent mee'n
1901 resolutions telling what uea,
noison alcohol In any form was
"' One half of the men who diedp'
,,veen 2l and IS years Of age die iro'
tbe elects Of strong drink he said
81 suppose the booze crowd here al
,s,ng the same arguments as IN oth'
,ioces that prohibition does not pro
b;hit Has anyone ever suggested ~
tbe LEGISLATURE oI Delaware repeal Tn
laws runishing house-breaking becaus
there are now and then some inert
committeedl -, a..
alias anyone ever reconnrnheu e,'
,ho con;tal punishment law be repeale
l,ecanss once in a while there Is a muir
dor committed? Prohibition may no
,,rohibit altogether. but I challenge an
Contradiction that prohibition does pro
bihit moro in proportion than the law
nrohibiting theft. robbery or murder.
@Coming into the city today 1 say
a sipn Vote wet and save Wilmington
labor. n,
81 resent this insult cast upon IN
1ah6rino man. / am a laboring ma
myself Until I was 81 years OF ag
everything had was earned with the'
two hands Of mine. Ever since 1 nav
been in Congress have voted for ever
hin for labor that came before MS. TO
forbid that the labor of Wilmingto
should be stamped with the trademar
of the beer keg.
statistics show that the saloon
The greatest foe the laboring man eve
had or has todav More than one-thir
Of the accidents in the industrial worl
today are caused by drink. Three on
Of four boys before the Juvenile Court
Of this country can trace their dow
fan 20 drink on the part Of themselvo
OF their relatives. One-half Of the mui
ders committed and domestic infdelit
are due to drink
u suppose the liquor element has bee
using the same old argument about tax
here as elsewhere l want TO say thu
the man who recognizes the curse
alcoholism. who agrees IL ought TO
abolished, and who, in order TO sa
himself a few pennies in taxes, voi
wet. is a moral leper and political pa
hite He ought TO be conducted out
the community.
''Note this fact. No state that
ever gone dry has ever returned 70
wet column. II prohibition is fail
why have the voters not reversed Il
decision
The Rev. J. Ross Stonesifer was
presiding officer AZ the meeting. the I
DR.. Herbert I. Randolph made the
vocation. and the Rev W. f. Cork
pronounced the benediction.