The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1917-01-05
DEMOCRATIC FORWARD
LEAGUE Starts FIGHT FOR
STATEWIDE PROHIBITION
Monster Banquet Addressed By Bryan Beckha McChesney
Alexander and Somnsrs Is Held In Louisville.
Legislators Who Stand Not Only For Submission But For Adoption
tAmendment By People To Be Campagned For This Year

Given an impetus such as no move
ment ever before inaugurated in Ken
lucky has probably known, the fight
for a Democratic Legislature that will
properly submit at the 1918 session
the question of amending the consti-
tuition of the State to prohibit The
manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors, and to that end electing Sen
ators and Representative who be-
yond doubt favor such an amendment,
is on and will be waged without ces-
sation until the people have spoken
in the August primary election.
The Inauguration of this campaign
was marked by monster banquet
held in the city of Louisville, the
stronghold of the allied >whiskey and
brewing interests of the State, on last
Thursday evening. At this banquet,
which was given by the Democratic
Forward League of Kentucky, OF
which DR.. A. j. A. Alexander, of
Woodford County, is the head, about
five hundred men were seated and
heard words of advice and counsel
from the lips of William j. Bryan
United States Senator J. c. w. Beck
ham, the Hon. H. V. McChesney, the
first man to make a race in Ken
lucky on platform for Statewide pro-
hibition; Editor Harry Sommers, of
EliZabethtown, and DR.. Alexander. Col.
p. H. Callahan, of Louisville, Vice
President of the Democratic Forward
League, was POSTMASTER of the ban
Guet.
The gathering was probably the
most representative held in Kentucky
in years. Judges, court and county
officials, lawyers, ministers of all de-
nominations, physicians, editors of
Kentucky newspapers and business
men from all over the State made up
the throng. No meeting ever held in
the State exceeded it in enthusiasm,
hundreds who were unable to get a
seat at the banquet waiting out
side until the speaking was begun.
All were Democrats, the standing-up
mem of their communities. and the
word in every mouth was that control
Wrested from the domination of the
allied liquor interests and the prohibi-
ton amendment submitted by a Leg
islature made up of men who favor il
honestly and who cannot be swerved
from their determination in the mat
ter.
Mr.. Bryan. who made the principal
speech of the occa sion, declared the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors TO be the greatest menace to
the American home. He told of the
fight being made throughout the ma
ton to stamp it out, and of the great
success Of the movement. He did not
come to Kentucky, he said, thinking
be could be of great help in the fight
but rather to gather inspiration and
strength from the determination and
enthusiasm here shown. He declared
that Kentucky has a veteran in the
fight, Senator Beckham, and said: .
am simply Beckham's lieutenant wheI
i come to your State" Both Bryan
and Beckham told of the nationa
fight against liquor and expressed the
belief that Congress was not far from
submitting the question to the people
of nationwide prohibition. Mr.. Nc
Chesney, Mr.. Sommers and Dr. Alex
ander, as well as POSTMASTER Gala
han. devoted their remarks to the is
sue as it is presented here in Ken
lucky. Every speaker was frequently
interrupted by applause, the big au
dience being on its feet many times
during the evening.
In the course of his speech MI
Bryan said:
The question is here and we have go
20 decide which side of the issue we vii
take. When child is born you have Z
take care of it. for il is a member of til
family from the time of its birth. ant
the child is born. the issue is here. Tween
ty-tlNee States are dry and several NOR
have so clearly indicated their intention
thai we shall have not far from thirty DR.
States within two years from this time
We now have majority in both the Sen
ate and the House in favor of natioha
amendment to the constitution. and NOR
than half the people of this nation nov
live in dry territory.
People Must Rule.
81 believe in the right of the people (
rule. and if there is any virtue in the doc
trine that the people have 4 right to ruiz
when a majority of the people of this coun
try declare that the saloon must go, III
saloon from that day is an outlaw an
the Democratic party shall not stand Spon
sOr for an outlaw. All l have in polite
and al l hope to be L owe to the Demo
cratic party. Ii took me up when | wa
a Young man in a Western State and
made me its candidate, and ut Washing
ton it gave me opportunity to associat
with the leaders of my party, and theI
without an organization, il nominated IN
n as candidate for President. and fOu
yea alferW FL il renominated ne by Il,
ell nation. aud eight years ago, withou
ans organization TO help me secure til
nomination. 1 received nine-tenths OF I'll
vota of the Democratic national cOnyentiO
for bird time. and in three campaign
4 received the votes of something like 81
But half million Democrats. and. M
uirRds. obligated rs 1 am TO the Demo
el-r.c party, ! would be beneath contemJ
Il allowed brewers and saloon keeper
~ Gstillers TO wreck my party withOI
Uti-ng my voice in protest.
lave stated that L expect to make
ny chief business for the next four yeaI
To help take the Democratic party out {
thu hands Of the most damnable grou
81 men, who ever tried TO enrich then