Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-08-16

of autos and several hundred people
present. The program was given u
2 20 o'clock. Mrs. r. w. Boynton
president of the local organization, pre-
sided. A group of young women led
in the singing of America Kew. l.
pharo offered the invocation. Zeltha
Leksell aud verva Elliott each gave
an appropriate reading very accept
ably.
History Of Organization
!. H. Eslick, in short address, gave
a review of the origin Of this occasion.
He stated that this is the fourteenth
anniversary Of this gathering at TINS
place. 1t began in an effort to arouse
interest in the temperance movement
and has become an annual gathering
which is regarded with great pleasure
by the entire community. He gave an
interesting account Of some Of the ac
complishments OF these fourteen years
DIR. Chippertieid Speaks.
Rev. II. L. Chipperfield pastor OF the
Webster City Methodist church deliver
ed the principal address on the pro-
gram. 1t consisted Of resume OF the
present status of the prohibition move
ment in the United States. The
eighteenth amendment to the United
States constitution is an accomplished
fact By this amendment the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating liquor for
beverage purposes is prohiDlteo
throughout the land.
The volstead bin, by which this
amendment becomes effective IN It's
execution, has also become law. Both
the amendment and the Volstead law
have been passed upon by the United
States supreme court and declared
constitutional in every particular.
There is no probability that this
amendment will ever be repealed.
Eternal Vigilance.
Owing to this situation some people
have thought that the battle was won
and we could now proceed without any
further concern in this matter. How
ever, we are dealing with willy
enemy and eternal vigalence is the
price Of safety" There is considerable
sentiment in some quarters in favor OF
letting down somewhat In the prohibt-
tory movement and III such instances
they ask for the privilege of retailing
beer and light wines for beverage pur-
poses. This seems quite an innocent
request. But what does 1t involve? Ac-
cOrding to government statistics the
per capita consumption Of liquors in
1914 was % gallons. OF this amount
about 2 gallons was classed as spirit
GUS liquors This means that to admit
the sale of beer and light wines would
reestablish nine.tenths of the total vol
ume Of the liquor traffic as formerly
conducted. And If nine.tenths Of the
traffic were permitted is it likely that
anyone would care to protect the other
tenth?
Up to Congress.
The vets are concentrating their ef-
fort at relief by trying to elect some
legislat ton in their favor. Suppose that
a congress were elected which would
enact bill that liquor containing less
than three per cent of alcohol was non
intoxicating what would be the result?
Such an enactment would permit the
sale of a large amount Of beer and
light wines which do not contain a
larger per cent OF alcohol than this
amount. 1t would mean that beer and
wines could be sold anywhere by any
one with no more regulation than gov
erns the sale Of pop or soda water.
Here, then, lies the danger of going to
sleep after the adoption Of the prOhib-
it0ry amendment. We need to use
every care to elect men to congress who
will make no compromise with the
liquor traffic and who, under no cir
cumstances will consent to nullify the
eighteenth amendment to the cOnstitrl-
ti0n.