The Washington herald., 1917-01-08
Rev. Sam Small, in National
Theater, Rouses Much En-
thusiasm In Speech Against
Saloon-Crowd So Great
that Overflow Gathering Is
Called in G. A. r. Hall.

Prominent national and local advocates
Of prohibition fired broadside after broad
side into the liquor dealers and others
who are urging Congress to allow the
residents of the District the privilege
to settle, by a referendum vote, whether
the sale OF liquor shan be prohibited here
Almost a continuous fusiIade Of applause
evinced the moral support of $500 persons
who crowded every available bit Of room
In the National Theater.
Long before the appointed hour for
the meeting every seat in the theater was
occupied. Realizing the large number Of
persons who would not be able to get
In Andrew Wilson, president of the
Anti-Saloon League, under whose
auspices the meeting was held, made ar
rangepents to take care of the overflow
crowd at the G. A. r. Hall.
The attack on the liquor forces began
with an invocation offered by Rev. Geo.
A Miller. Afterwards the audience stood
up ahd Joined in the singing of America
Liquor by Grace Of Congress.
"LdosIor exists here in the District of
Columbia by the grace of Congress The
W
to blame for the rum license. II they
have the power to allow It to live, they
also have the power to choke 1t to the
death. Congress need not ask the people
Of the District to decide upon this mo-
mentous question. 1t is up to that august
body to close the saloon door even as
they opened it" declared Samuel Small,
D. D., Georgian advocate of prohibition.
IF Congess was able to squeeze the
gizzard out of l,10o barrooms that used
to sell liquor In this District and narrow
the drink dives down to 800 IL can and
must squeeze the gfzzard out Of the re-
naming 30o." he continued.
"I am firmly convinced the people who
are responsible to Congress, as citizens
Of the great United States, are In return
going TO hold Congress responsible TO
them for the welfare OF their particular
locality. and in this specific case 1 ask
you IL the inhabitants of this District are
not going 10 demand prohibition from the
hands of the country's iawmakers7" The
audience answered him with q deafening
affirmative.
SaddIed with the Curse.
You people of the District have been
saddled with the curse OF liquor by the
highest legislative body in this country.
You cannot blame the saloon keeper and
his force of bartenders for the evil that
is in your midst Take up the cudgels
with the responsible party. smash your
way to victory by fighting them.
Go TO Congress and demand that they
abolish rum and all of its attendent evils
and l am sure that success will crown
your efforts to free this portion of hu-
manity from the chains OF drink" de-
clared DR.. Small in conclusion.
THE people have written into the laws
Of the United States that Congress alone,
and no portion of people, shall make laws
for the city of Washington" said Judge
William H. De Lacey Judge OF the Juven-
lie Court To-day when abolition Of the
saloon in the District looms up as a near
victory. we are told to halt in the name
Of the people. In the name Of the people
right to legislate exclusively In this mat
ter by giving the citizens OF this District
the referendum vote to decide for liquor
or prohibition.
Are we going to forget that the people
have solemnly said that Congress alone
shall have exclusive jurisdiction here?"
he asked.
The word mo" was shouted by $500
voices.
Realization of Evils.
Il am sure that our meeting here to-
day is not to stir anita gonism against the
liquor dealer or the liquor drinker, but
rather to wish for both a fuller realiza-
ton OF the evils and degradation that
flow from the fountains of intoxicating
drink" declared Judge De Lacey Above
all things it is far more important that
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.