Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12

Alexander BUD EGgLeStOn, pioneer
temperance yorker of Washington.
At this period Francis Scott Key, author of
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" was the United
States district attorney for the District of Co
lumbia, and was called upon for report on
the criminal cases prosecuted by him and their
bearing in relation to drunkenness. After Civ
ing the information requested, he concluded by
saying:
This win show what the United States pays
annually in Washington County in the prose-
cution and punishment of crimes. I am conf
dent that vigilant police and the suppression
of dram shops would diminish it at least one
half.
Hoping that your society may succeed in
convincing our citizens that 1t is their duty and
interest to adopt these measures
Members of Congress soon became interested
in the temperance movement, especially in con-
nection with the American Congressional Tenn
perance Society, formed in 1888, where 100
members of Congress and officers Of the Gov
eminent are reported to have signed the con-
stitution of their society and pledged them
selves "by example and moral influence to dis
countenance the use of ardent spirits and its
bers Of Congress from wanting their toddy, for
a few years later the Temperance Union of the
city deplored the sale of intoxicating liquors
permitted in the Capitol Building.
In 1887 the Senate took the matter up and
provided in its standing rules that no spurious
liquors should be offered for sale or exhibited in
the Capitol or in the grounds" At that time
the House was apparently wetter than the Sen
ate, for it took seven years to get its consent
to the rule covering the whole Capitol although
the Senate, ON the surface at least, did make
an effort to enforce 1t from the time it passed
upon the subject. However, there must have
been some who did not take kindly TO tins re-
gtrickiOn fnld hat vuI1o
Marryat, the English novelist, visited the Capt.
toll restaurant In 1888 he noted in his diary
that when one tasks for pale sherry they hand
you gin; brown sherry, and it is brandy; MaGei-
"a, whisky"
JUDGING by the lack of results achieved by
- the American Congressional Temperance
Society, which sought rather to limit or curb
the liquor trafic than to prevent its use en-
tirely, q step further was taken in 1912, result
ing in the forming Of the Congressional Total
Abstinence Society, and the sale of all kinds of
intoxicating liquor was little later prohibited
IN the Capitol, while the Treasury clerks even
included in their pledge the total abstinence
clause, as did other partly dry temperance
bodies.
In our own time-around 40 or SO years ago
tt Is not difiicult to recall when it was not an
tnfrequent occurrence for members Of the SEN
ate when fatigued from holding the floor for
Of tea" which they would sip from time to
time until it was all gone, when the page would
bring in another one. This tea" according to
the knowing ones-so It was averfed at the
time-was nothing else than just plain
whisky" But, after all, we must admit that
they did make some mighty good speeches In
Congress half a century ago.
The Congressional Temperance Society re.
ferred to, and which was organized In 1893.
with Mr.. Lewis CaSs as president, had q sort
Of spasmodic career, for IL had no less than four
revivals-1SS7. 1912, 1874, and again in 1866
it was given new start only later to give up
the ghost entirely. But just why it did not
succeed Is question the writer cannot answer,
for surely there were some very good men
interested In its behalf, the first annual meeting
after its last revival, held in the House OF
Representatives Sunday evening" January 20,
1858, showing those In attendance as being
Senator Wilson (presiding), Mr.. William Plants
OF Ohio, Horace Greeley, Mr.. Samuel r. Carey
and Mr.. Thomas H. Ford, both Of Ohio and
Gen. Hurlbut Of Illinois, all Of whom made
speeches IN favor Of Temperance that Of lRr.
Greeley in particular. we are told being very
radical"
I TPON the question Of partial or total ahsts-
hence there was early manifested de-
ciied difference OF opinion, % mneh so indeed
that IN 1sA1 split occurred IA the Oatk0aAs