Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-30
FAVOR COMPENSATION
IN PROHIBITION PLAN
Audience Shows Preference for
Reimbursing Saloonkeepers
for Losses
GIBBONEY WINS DEBATE
Clarence T. Wilson, However, Denouro..
Liquor Traffic as Enemy of
Society

Saloonkeepers should be compensated e.
the event Of national or State probih,,t..
according to the majority rule Of more ,ho-
1000 Philadelphians who crowded the Ban.
tist Temple, Broad and Berks streets. at a
debate between d. Clarence Gibbonev pro.,
dent OF the Law and order Society, and Dr
Clarence T. Wilson, secretary of the No..
of temperance prohibition and publIc ,,'n1
ais of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Excitement waxed high as the speakar.
who both favor prohibition but differ ~
methods TO achieve it, appealed to the anal
ence in impassloned tones. Gibbonev me-.
The final count at the vote was loeI -
$40 in favor OF compensation to the saloon
Keepers. The question was:
Resolved, That when the ITnited Co.,
and the State governments abolish tbs ie9
galized liquor traffic compensation or roirs
bursement for the loss OF actual investroau.
be provided" "eH'
Judge Patterson presided.
During the debate Michael J. Ci,nou.
keeper OF a saloon on Germantown ayenua
was elected from the building by poIIcen,"r'
because he objected to Doctor Wilson's ~.
marks. F'
The latter denounced the traffic in ~
mia tones. He said that saloonkeanar.
deserve no more compensation than diS
the pirates on the high seas Of old af,..
pennsylvania rum barons" and said ths
traffic was on the same plane with don.
peddling and white slavery
1tum in America is taking its dvipo
gasp he went on, and then he warned ths
saloon men In the audience to prepare for
the end. The traffic is as doomed as Judas
1scarlot" he declared.
Maudlin sentiment will never settle VI.
liquor problem. said Mr.. Gibboney as hs
urged the audience to look at the oues,ior
without passion and to study IL from ali
angles. The people are fighting rum. hs
went on. not individuals.
To substantlate his contentious that tha
Government shares in the profits of ths
liquor business and. therefore, is a partner
with the brewers the distillers and the sa
loon men. he pointed to the 5000 900 .0oo
which the United States receives annually
from the manufacture of liquor
The Revolutionary War, the Civil War.
the war with Spain, all were financed by
the liquor men," he declared The man
who later was elected from the temple an
plauded and shouted loudly when Gibbonev
made this remark and received his first
warning that he would be "streeted."
I'm every national crisis" Gibbonev
went on 'the liquor dealers were COM
PEELED to toe the mark and furnish tbs
money. They were called upon to finance
our patriotism and now we turn to them
and say they are dangerous and a lot Of
crooks"
He pleaded for a square deal for tbs
men who have invested their money and
said 1t would be nothing short of robbery
II the Government were to close the saloons
and refuse to compensate their owners
The attitude of the prohibition element who
would thus legslate the business out OF
existence was characterized as hyprocisy
and poor display of the rudiments Of the
Christian religion and ordinary law. Pro-
hibition, he declared, has been a failure
in many States, notably Maine
Then came the vote and the announce
ment that reimbursement had won BY a
substantial majority. The debate was the
hrst or series of twenty which are to bs
held In various cities under the auspices Of
the Ushers' Association. The next appear.
ance of the oratorical gladiators will be
in Washington.