Evening star., 1943-05-02
BY John Clagett Proctor.


AS the older Washingtonians visualize
conditions today and particularly the
great amount of alcoholic drinking that
is going on in this city. and elsewhere,
especially among the younger people,
their minds must naturally turn back to
their own early days when large num-
Der of temperance societies existed in
the District of Columbia. These not only
reclaimed innumerable adult alcoholic
eddicts, but through their teachings Of
sobriety, and their entertainments and
social gatherings given for the enjoy
ment of the younger members Of these
organizations, many were prevented from
taking up habit that eventually would
lead to generalization and loss OF char
acter and respectability.
But the question of temperance in this
country is by no means a new one, for
1t dates back even before the birth of the
present oldest old-timer. and to the very
beginning of the republic, since the first
temperance organization seems to have
come into existence as far back as 1908.
In the District, it is probable that the
the pioneer organization of such bodies.
This society held its preliminary meet
ing in the City Hall on July 81, 1928, and
at subsequent meeting selected William
Cranch as president, Rev. DR.. Robert B.
Senple vice president, James L. Ed
wards treasurer and John Coyle, jr,
secretary, the directors chosen being Rev.
John Davis, Rev. Reuben Post Rev.
Obediah B. Brown, Rev. Andrew Coyle
and Rev. James H. Handy. Judge
William Cranch was for many years the
chief justice of the District of Columbia
Circuit Court and a jurist greatly es-
teemed and regarded even to this day
for his many valuable decisions.
CONGRESS Takes Interest.
Soon, members of Congress became
interested in the temperance movement,
especially in connection with the Amer
ican Congressional Temperance Society,
formed in 1888, of which 100 members
of Congress and officers of the Govern
nent are reported to have signed the
constitution and pledged themselves "by
example and moral influence to dis
countenance the use of ardent spirits and
its traffic" But apparently they did
not stop members of Congress from
wanting their toddy, for 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 Senate, 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 it from the time it
passed upon the subject. However, there
must have been some who did not take
kindly to this restriction, for we are told
that when Capt. Marryat, the English
novelist, visited the Capitol restaurant
il 1888 he noted in his diary that when
one asks for pale sherry they hand
you gin; brown sherry, and it is brandy;
Madeira, whisky
Total Abstinance Society.
Judging by the lack of results achieved
by the American Congressional Temper
ance Society, which sought rather to
limit or curb the liquor traffic than to
prevent its use entirely, a step further
was taken in 1842. resulting in the form
ing Of the Congressional Total Absti-
nence Society, and the sale of all kinds
Of Intoxicating liquor was little later
prohibited in the Capitol, while the
Treasury clerks even included total
abstinence clause in their pledge, as
cid other partly dry temperance
bodies.
In our own time-from so to so years
ago-it is not difficult to recall when
it was not an infrequent occurrence for
members of the Senate, when fatigued
from holding the floor for long hours,
to have brought to their desks cup of
tea which they would sip from time
to time until it was all gone, and the
page was sent to get another cup. This
tea" according to the knowing ones
or SO it was averred at the time-was
nothing else than just plain whisky"
But, after all, we must admit that they