Pages
9 to 12
Section
TOIi. XX.
SALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, JULY 1,0, 1010.
No. 104.
4
PROHIBITION AMENDMENT
TO CONSTITUTION DISCUSSED
Over 5,000 People Hear Rev. Clarence True Wilson and Col. E.
Hofer Under the Auspices of the Oregon Civic Federation
Both Sides Strike Hard Blows Shall Local Option be
Superceded by State Wide Prohibition? Vital Issue Be-
fore the People of Oregon on Which the Politicians Are
Taking to the Woods.
Mr. I. H. Amos: I am requested the wholesalers or of the retailers,
to announce that membera of the or of any political party or of any
W. C. T. U. are desired on the plat- faction; nobody but God and I nre
form. The president of the W. C. T. responsible for what I say here to-
U. Is on the platform and she night. (Applause.) And I make
hasn't quite as many people as she my statements in the sight of God
would like to have there, and there and before you as one of your fellow-
are a number scattered through the,
audience; let the ladies come for
ward, the ladies of the W. C. T. U.,
and take seats on the platform.
Now I think it was tho Intention
to have tho ministers on the plat
form also, and the, party prohibition
ists. Now, don't all tho audience
como on that call; they ought to all
come, but there wouldn't be room:
but party prohibitionists, especially
those Identified with the work, take
a place on the platform.
I am reminded that this is not i
religious meeting and that the
brewers and saloon keepers organiza
tion should be invited to the plat
fotm., Now, if there are any per
sons in the lead in the trade, if they
will kindly come forward and take
seats on the platform we shall be
glad to have them. (Applause.)
At 8:14 p. m. Dr. Clarence True
Wilson, Cbl. E. Hofer and Mr. M.' C.
Reed waled dowoithealsle to the
platform, and were greeted with ap
plause and cheers.
M. C. Reed, President of the Civic
Federation of Oregon:
Ladles and Gentlemen, this debate
has, not been arranged merely as a
matter of entertainment. This is n
serious problem upon which every
voter will be called upon to decide
during this coming year; and I am
sure that as voters of the State of
Oregon you are anxious that this
matter De properly settled; I am
satisfied that It will be; and I think
that with such able representatives
as we have on either side, there is
no doubt but what we will have some
new ideas concerning the subject.
This subject is set like a stono in
the very heart of our political
thought, but surrounded as It is with
such brilliant settings as these Intel
lectual gems, I am satisfied that the
subject will be properly illuminated
and better understood.
Now, the arrangements are that
Col. Hofer is to have the first half
hour, Dr. Wilson is to follow with
an address of ono hour, after which
Col. Hofer will close in a one-half'
hour address.
I have the pleasure of introducing
to you a man who is not afraid to
register his conviction on this sub
ject, and whatever you may think
of his notions about this thlner. I am
satisfied there is ono thing that you
will approve, and that' is you admire
any man who has the courage of his
convictions and is not afraid to say
what he honestly believes. I now
have the pleasure of introducing to
you Colonel Hofer of the Dally
Capital Journal of Salem. (Ap
plause.) Colonel E. Hofer said:
This looks a little too much like
a pulpit; I am not familiar with the
article of furniture (referring to tho
lecturne upon the platform. (Laugh
ter.) Mr. Chairman and ladles and gen
tlemen: In opening this debate,
which I wish to assure you Is entire
ly friendly on the part of myself and
Reverend Wilson, for whom I have
had profound admiration for a num
ber of y6ars, and I accepted the invi
tation on the part of the
Civ'c
Federation to engage in
this joint
debato more out of desire to con
tribute slightly towards public inter
est in the question, and I only regret
that some abler man might not be
standing here in this magnificent
presence, some man much better
qualified to represent the affirma
tive side of this question than your
humble servant ; I take pride in say
ing that I am one of the busiest men
In the State, and I hope, In my way,
one of the most active men; and I
take further pride in saying that I
am only a private citizen, ani.that
one of my greatest, that my chief
ambition as a citizen of the common
wealth, is to be well and favorably
known merely as -a private citizen, a
self-respecting private citizen who is
not pauperizing either himself or his
family by subsisting upon the State
or upon his fellow citizens by any
artificial skin game of any kind,
Mr. Chairman. (Applause.) What I
mean Is that I want to earn my own
living, and I want to stand before
my equals, my fellow-citizens, mere
ly as a self-supporting, self-sustaining
private citizen, who arrives at his
conclusions in bis own way, and who
expresses hla own Ideas. I am not
here as the representative of the
Xlquor Dealers' organization, pr of
citizens, not under any instructions,
ncr following any suggestion froni
any source whatever. I would like
that plainly understood.
This debate has been somewhat
misrepresented in the newspapers,
and before proceeding Into this dis
cussion I ask your indulgence to
i state, the question as I under-
stand it.
It has been published in the news
papers that I am here as the cham
pion of the saloon or In opposition
to temperance or prohibition. A
number of statements have been
made in tho newspapers, and to
obviate any confusion I would like to
read from the letter which was sent
to mo by your ho'1 orable Chairman
on behalf of the Glvic Federation.
He states in his letter, and I have
here the original, that after a con
sultation with Dr. Wilson he had in
vlted me to take part in a joint de
bate of. either qrie.'of the following
propositions
"First, Resolved that tho prohibi
tion amendment to bo voted on In
the State of Oregon in 1910 would
M. V. ilLl.U,
President Civic Federation of Oregon
benefit the State." That was the
first proposition submitted to me,
Or the alternative: "Resolved, that
thp defeat of tho prohibition amend
ment to be submitted to tho people
of Oregon In 1910 would benefit
Oregon."
Mr. Chairman, I accepted this lat
ter proposition, "Resolved that the
defeat of the prohibition amendment
to the constitution would benefit
Oregon." Hence, I am hero to op
pose the adoption of the prohibition
amendment to the constitution of
Oregon, and I want you to bear thut
in mind, because it is entirely a dif
feront question from some of tho
questions that have been stated tn
the newspapers, and I think I can
make it plain to you why it is a dif
ferent question.
Wo nre at present living in Oregon
under a very stringent local option
law. That local option law was
dovlsed and prepared and drawn up
nd submitted to the people of this
State by the so-called Anti-Saloon
organization. Is that correct?
Chairman Reed: I think that is
correct. .Mr, Knodell is here; I will
ask Mr. Knouell. Is that correct,
Mr. Knodell?
Mr. Knodell: That Is correct.
Mr. Hofer: The local option law
which we have now, ladles and gen
tlemen, was submitted to tho people
of this State, was prepared by and
recommended to the people of this
State by the same organization that
now comes before you and asks you
to amend the constitution of this
State with a prohibition amendment.
Now, lf there Is no controversy
about that let that statement stand.
Is that satisfactory?
Dr. Wilson: That is right.
Mr. Hofer: Now, I have been a
little bit further misrepresented tn
the newspapers and I think I am en
titled to a word upon that subject.
I have been advertised, perhaps to
help draw the crowd, although that
wasn't necessary (laughter), I have
been advertised. In fact, I have been
almost, I was going to say, calumiu-
ated with the charge that I am a
candidate for the office of Governor,
and I wish to resent that imputation.
(Laughter and applause.) I am
still a private citizen and hopo to
remain so.
A voice: No doubt of it.
Mr. Hofer: With your kind in
dulgence (Laughter and applause.)
And there Is a prohibition nowspnpsr
published In the city of Salem that
assures me overy week, to the extent
of about a page, that I am tho ono
man In Oregon who never, never
shall sit in tho Governor's chair.
(Laughter). So If you believe that
newspaper, there Is nothing further
necessary for me to say.
A friend of mine said, "Why,
Colonel Hofer, you could be Governor
of this State if you would just keep
still about this prohibition question,
if you would just keep in with the
church people and tip it off to the
other side that you would not hurt
them and get both sides with you,
j'oul could be Governor of Oregon."
I told him I wasn't built on those
lines. (Applause.)
Dr. Wilson. That Is good.
Mr. Hofer. I remember a very hon
orableman, as Casslus told Brutus,
we are all honorable men in politics
I remember a very honorable
Senator at Salem who talked pro
hibition in the mornlnc tn tho
ministerial association and in thei1,ttle more lf yu Please (laughter),
afternoon signed up a contract to
kill certain temperance bills In the
Oregon State Senate. I am not in
that class, ladles and gentlemen.
(Applause. And he was an honor
able man,1 as politics goes. And I
want to say to you right here and
now that I would not suppress mylfrIfied saints of this world or going
convictions upon any question, I ! down into the gutter with tho poor
would not straddle any public ques- and tne lowly and tho humble and
tion for any honor in the gift of tho tlle sinner and the downcast, and you
people. I don't believe in that kind might almost say, tho vilest people
of politics. (Applause.) And I warn."1 Ul community, I would say fare-
this audience, and I Warn the tem
perance people of the State of Ore
gon, or tho Anti-Saloon League, for
there are a lot of temperance people
outside of the Anti-Saloon League,
that I shall do all In my power, per
sonally and. upon the stump and with
my newspaper, to defeat this so-
called prohibition amendment to the
constitution, and, after having done
everything that, I can fairly before it
is suDmittea to a vote or tne people,
If it Is submitted to a vote of tho
people and Is carried into effect by
ILo people, I will bo one man who
w'il demand that It be obeyed and
respected. (Loud applause.) And if
It should be your misfortune and my
good luck to ever occupy the chair
of the Governor of this State, I
would see that that amendment was
enforced if it took all the military
and executive power of this State to
make you all go dry. (Applause and
laughter.) I believe in peple having
what they want when they vote for
it, and when tho majority carries it
I believe in the -will of tho people
being respected. I don't bolleve in
trifling with the expressed will of the
people upon any question.
Now, I am also here to say that
I am willing to give credit to the
temperance workers of this State
and of all states for all good work
that Is done along educational lines.
I am glad to know and I am clad to
say that In the fifty years of my life
I have wlsnessed a great diminution
of what you might call hard drink
ing. The fact is tho hard drinker is
passing aw.ay, and tho man of ordin
ary intelligence knows today that
when ho Is punishing liquor he Is
simply punishing himself. It doesn't
take a genius nowadays to know that '
simple fact. But I also believe that
tho way to reform men Is through
the teachings of tho gospel, through
the teachings of Christianity. I be
lieve in the transformed individual,
the man whose spiritual life Is
awakened and who Is renewed and
regenerated according to tho teach
ings of Jesus Christ. I am ready to
say that. I include nil Christian
denomlnationswhen I say Christian
ity,, and the teachings of Christian
ity; I don't just mean this particular
sect, or that orthodox church, or my
particular brand of rollclon. I be
lieve in ailthe Christianity that the
duu Duiura oh an uver wiu worm, ana
i want to belong to that great
Drotnernood or Christianity that ex
tends over the entire world.
Now, with this Uttlo preliminary
i tninK tnat j also nave a right to
say that I was born and raised in the
State of Iowa and lived there
about thirty years, and then I came
to Oregon and I have lived In Oregon
about twenty-one years and I have
conducted a newspaper and taken an
open public part in the discussion of
public questions, and I think I have
a perfect right to stand hero before
you and discuss this question in a
fair, frank and fearless manner. I
am not here to apologize for appear
ing on this occasion, or for advocat
ing the views which I shall advocate.
And I advocato those views with en
tire respect, and with entire, I wns
going to say veneration, for tho
honorable gentlemen of the clergy
and of the temperance organizations
that aro here represented; and I
wish to go a step further, that I In
clude In my -respect and veneration
every citizen of tho State and every
Industry and every business. I want
to be a friend of all men; I don't
want to exclude anybody from my
sympathy or my friendship or my
respect, ana i want to say tnat tne
saloon keepers in tho city where I
yve are ray friends and I want to
remain thoir friend.
A voice: Amen.
Mr. Hofer: And I think Just as
much of them and their Wives and
their children and their families and
their souls as I do of any minister
sitting upon this platform, and a
COL. E. HOFER,
Editor Daily Capital Journal.
! bemuse tnoy need my help (ap
plause) they need my good will; they
need my friendly hand and my
sympathy, and lf I had to decide be
tween getting up on a platform with
a lot of the so-called elect, or a lot
of tho so-called saved and transmo-
well to those who wear tho robes of
righteousness and I would go down
in the gutter with tho poor and tho
oppressed and tho suffering (ap
plause) because they need my help,
and they need my good will; nnd
that is the1tlnd,of Christianity I be
lieve in. I don't want to be among
any select or elect circle in this
wortd, or in the next world, and I
don't want to sit near the throne in
the next world for what little good
I can do here: I' don't bellevo in
that kind of religion.
Now, friends, with this little pre
llmlnary, and I am sure you will ex
cuse me because I am trying to ex
press what I honestly feel and I am
trying to express tho truth of my
convictions upon this matter, and I
am aware that I am in an audience
here, I have been told that this
audience has beon packed with 'the
so-called dry people. I don't be
lieve there Is any truth In that.
That was telegraphed me up to
Salem, that this entire tabernacle
here was to be filled with people
who were already converted and con
vinced of the propriety of this pro
position of amending tho constitu
tion. Your honorablo Chairman
wrote to me and wanted to know wno
I wanted to have here, lf thero wore
any elements of tho city that should
bo specially Invited to como here to
listen to this Joint debate to bo on
my side of the question. I immedi
ately wrote to him and I have a copy
of tho letter here, sir, that I did not
think It was fair for either side to
undertake to pack this meeting;
that I would do nothing of that kind;
that I would come hero and face this
audience, although thoy might bo
composed entirely of peoplo who did
not agree with mo; because I want to
say to you right hero, friends, a.
great many of you aro in tho habit
of sitting in your churches nnd listen
ing to some man In tho pulpit pound
this prohibition proposition at you
from ono end of tho year to the
other, and he Is quito careful never
to allow tho other side to bo heard
In that pulpit. That Is what a lot
of you folks havo been fed on until
you only know ono sldo of this
question, and I had just as soon tell
you so, (Applause.)
Now thon, I am only sorry that
this possibly will be tho only Joint
debate that wo will have. If wo
could have about a half a dozen of
these Joint debates, and could get to
understand one nnotjior thoroughly
rnd weed oui th. poor argurneiis
that both of us may make, weed out
the defective things, weed out mis
ctptemonts of fact that either on-a f
us is llablo to engage In, wo would
after while got down to tho hard,
cold facts of this matter, and I
think ono or the other of us would
bo convinced of the illogical position
which ho has taken and would bo
converted and would admit it to' tho
other.
A voice: Good
Mr. Hofer: I am frank to say
that if I experience such a change oT
mind or heart, that I would come
out and publicly confess it before
the audlenco (applause), and I
would get down on my knoes nnd
apologize to tho community for hay
ing been on tho wrong side, But i
don't anticipate any such result.
(Laughter.)
But, Ladles and Gentlemen, I
think there is this to be said; I am
going to give Dr. Wilson credit for
being one of the ablest men that tins
appeared In tho State of Oregon up
on his side of the question.
A voice: Amen.
Mr. Hofor: And I bellevo that ho
ts sincere and that he Is honest and
that he Is going to bo fair tn this
dobate; I bolleve qll that; but, on
the other hand, I oannot overlook
the fact, that he Is a pastor of tho
Methodist Church.
A voice: Amen.
Mr. Hofer: And ho Is required by
I the discipline of that church to
preach prohibition and to practico
I total abstinence. (Applause and
laughter.) In a way I feel sorry for
Dr. Wilson. (Laughter.) Strictly
speaking, ho is not a free moral
agent. (Laughter.) Ho hasn't got
any choico In this matter. Ho has
got to preach prohlbitipn and he has
got to practico total abstinence or
his salary would stop in a minute.
(Laughter and applause.) .
Now, I say that with all respect
and deference to the honorable doc
tor, because I am not hero to throw
mud or to throw bricks, and I hopo
to convlnco you that I am ' a
bouquet thrower from away back.
(Laughter.)
Now, in this whole discussion I
would like to have you bear In mind
that the question Is, Shall we adopt
state wicie constitutional prohibition sometimes proposed, as to put God
by adopting an amendment to tho himself into tho constitution of Ore
constitution, or shall we retain tho con. we would not bo uuttinu God
ironclad, rock-ribbed local option law
drawn by these same people who now
want us to cnango our mind and thero are peoplo who want to put , cussion he remarked, "What is tho
adopt a new State policy to suit God Into tho constitution. Thero use of paying our fare clear down to
their notions? That is the proposl- aro all kinds of cranks In this world I San Francisco to see the Jeffries
tlon, ladles and gentlemen, and I am t who want to amend tho constitution. 1 Johnson affair when this is coming,
not going to let you get away from Nov, there is ono moro little point off In our own town?" (Applause.)
that proposition. that 1 would llko to bring up, and, Thero is not a state in this union,
Now, I am opposed tothis constltu- tllls ,s for Dr. Wilson's consideration. , or under God's stars, that Is not de
tlonal amendment. I don't bellevo 1 have been reading tho national , bauched nnd befouled by saloon tn
ln littering up tho constitution of platform of tho Prohibition party, , fluences that will tolerate the prize
Oregon with nil such propositions as, and I find no reference in it to , fight today. (Applause.) California
might emanate from all theso dif- amendments of State constitutions; i Jias fifteen thousand liquor licenses,
forent sources and those different it is not n part of tho platform of places whore liquor is sold, and most
organizations. I don't think it Is tho national Prohibition party. I of them are concentrated in the
wise. I don't think it Is right, and! don't know jimt how he will get northern part, and San Francisco Is
I don't think It is necessary, and l! around that, but I suppose he will ono of tho most rum-befouled places
hopo to present a few arguments have somo way out of that. They on earth. Thero Is not a form of
along that lino before I get through.
jnow, or course, as you all under
stand, the local option lawropresents
what might bo called tho homo rule
prlhclple; that Is, tho doctrine of
local solf-government Is bound up In
tho local option law, and when that
law was presented and was advocated
about one half of the peoplo of tills
State believed that It meant local
option for the country precincts and
tho right to carry on what Is known
as high license in the cities. It was
not pretended at that time that thero
would bo anything but the right for
each community, In fact, I havo a
circular that was published by the
Anti-Saloon Leaguo in which thoy
said that every precinct, every
locality, every city under this system
could absolutely decide this question
for themselves and havo tho local
solf-government control upon that
matter, and that cities could license
and regulato and cities could con
trol, and country precincts and rest
denco wards of cities could vote out
the saloons and tho whole thing was
to be on that adjustable self-onor
atlng basis, and It was especially not
to violate the principle of local solf
government. That Is what wo have
now, and I want you to bear that In
mind, that lf you adopt this prohibi
tion amendment to tho constitution
you will absolutely wlpo out nnd
nullify and destroy tho local option
law, the principle of homo rulo and
the prlnclplo of local self-government,
and cities llko Salem and
other cities in this State would be
absolutely prohibited from regulat
ing or licensing or doing nnythiug in
this mattor of dealing with tho
problems growing out of tho liquor
traffic, and tho city of Portland
would lose nil its revenues which 't
is now receiving, somewjioro be
tween four arid flvo hundrod thous
and dollars a year, and would havo
to levy two and a half mills addi
tional taxes upon all tho property of
the city and would absolutely I030
nil control of the right to regulato
and manage anything in connection
with the liquor traffic, and your
great magnificent city horo would bo
turned loose Into a kind of prohibi
tion pandomonlum. That is what
you would havo horo in Portland.
(Applause and various romarks,
somoono saying "Let hor go.")
Mr. Hofor: You say lot hor go:
you aro probably a transient rosldoht
hero. (Laughter.)
wow, my next objection to tho
adoption of this so-called prohibition
amendment to tho constitution Is
along the lino that I first indicatod,
that ovorything is not fit to go into
the constitution. For instance, there
aro sucn tilings as a dead lottor In
the constitution. We have thorn in
the constitution now. Wo have a
clause in thero that prohibits free
negroes and mujnttoes from coming
Into tho State or owning property
hero. Of courso, that amendment,
or that feat ro of the constitution is
as dead as a door nail. You will all
agree with mo that it would bo Im
proper to proposo an amendment to
the constitution that no Mormon
should over como Jntp the Stato of
Oregon, and that no Mormon, that no
porson should practico or bollovo in
tho Mormon religion, and yet that
kind of an amendment would bo pro
posed by somo people, and yet It is
perfectly plain that If such a thing
was put Into tho constitution It
would bo openly violated. It could
not be enforced, the Mormons would
feel that thoy were persecuted and
they would multiply and spread and
thrive In Oregon as under no other
circumstances. So It would bo If
yo tried to amend tho constitution
to compel everybody to go to church
on Sunday. If you put a Sunday
amendment Into the constitution to
compel everybody to ceaso from
labor, which Is already tho law and
ts violated overy day, to compel
everybody to observe tho Sabbath
and to go to church, and that every
body would have to observe tho Sab
bath day on Sunday. Or course, that
would bo a persecution of tho Seventh
Day Adventlsts, and that kind of an j
amendment would bo trampled un
der foot, and tho Soventh Day Ad
ventlsta would multiply and thrive
under that kind of persecution. I
only use theso Illustrations to show
that there aro many things that It Is
unfit and Improper In a free country
to put Into tho constitution of n
State, and I take tho samo position
toward the prohibition question, and
I think I can convlnco you later in
my argument that tho few states that
already have prohibition amend
ments In their constitution, that they
are trampled upon and that they are
not obeyed and that they are not
respected. And tho point to take
Into your mind Is this. That moroly
putting a thing Into tho constitution
does not change conditions one
particle. If wo would put, If we
could do so sacrellglous an net as la
ono Iota nearer to any human heart !
In Oregon, not ono particle; nnd yet
proposo a numDor or tilings in tho
natlcndl platform of the Prohibition
party,' but thoy don't propose to
amend tho State constitution In any
respect.
Chairman Reed: You havo only
a low minutes left.
Mr. Hofer: I havo a few minutes?
Chairman Reed: You have just
three.
Mr. Hofer: Well, It might be well
to eui'.ago In prayer for that length
or time (laughter and applause).
Now, when I have concluded Dr.
Wilson will occupy nn hour of your
tlmo, and I presume it would make
this joint debato moro specific if I
would Just ask him a. few questions.
I presume ho will answer them any
way, but he might overlook them:
and I would like to havo blm note
down a few questions that I want
REV. CLARENCE TRUE WILSON,
President Antl.Hulooii League.
answered for my own satisfaction;
and ono or them is dictated to me
by ray ancestry. My parents were
poor peoplo who came over across
tho water to mako their homo in a
froo country, and thoy camo from a
country called Qormany, and I would
llko Dr. Wilson to toll mo why, f
,u" i"u"'u uuMiv io whv, iiiiutoiy aroppcu on in noouiation la
it Is sound In principle, why tt Is
that tho peoplo of Germany, who
aro not very much given to prohibi
tion us yot (laughtorr why it is that
tho German nation has become the
greatest and tho most powerful na
tion, Industrially and educationally
and morally, in tho entire continent
of Europo. (Applauso.)
Wo are told that prohibition
would euro all tho pauperism In tho
world, and I want Dr. Wilson to toll
us why Belgium, why tho
HttlO,
country of Belgium, whero thoy con-
surao moro boor por capita than any
country in tho world I guoss thoy
diink more than a barrol npieco
thero every year Why thoy haven't
got a single pauper In all Belgium, rostaurants that servo it, but that
I want him to explain that to mo; I(we havo nine hundred and sixty-five
guess he can; ho Is pretty smart, federal liquor licenses In Portland
(Laughter. j And then I want hlra o that wo actually ha.ve four hun
to explain this: Why, If the state-', ir0d and thirty blind Pigs tn Port
raent of tho national secretary of land who aro selling llauor and not
tho Anti-Saloon Leaguo is true, that, taking out a license. (Applause.) Wo
thirty-eight to fprty-two million peo-, have more blind pigs in tho city of
p.o In our country aro now living In Portland tonight selling liquor wlth
wlmt Is called dry territory, about out paying tho city a dollar of
one half of tho population of the, license than wo hayo In all tho
United States It Is stated aro now , twonty-ono cpuntlea of Oregon ami
living In dry territory, and yet tho the olghty-flvo dry precincts and alt
statistics of tho Internal Itovenno tho wet counties thrown In. Wbero
Dopartmont shpw that tho consump- ever you lkonso the liquor business
tion of liquor In tho United States; thero will bo an Illicit sale far qvery
has Increased two hundred per cont legalized sale. i
since tho Anti-Saloon Leaguo wus Now, ray friends, when you hear
organized. (Applauso.) Then IJ a man say lf yqu oloso np tho saloons
would llko to knpw Jf tho whole you will havo blind pigs, you remind
United StatOB gets into dry territory him that wherever tho liquor busi
how much we would bo drinking, noss gets tho upper hand, that law
(Laughter.) Ilessness and vlco hold high carnival
Now, I know that sounds sacre- and that tho encouragement of it by
llKtOUB to SOmO Of ydur earB Who our llrnnsn Bvatem hnn filled all
havo beon trained to a dlfforent kind ,
of music, but I nm hore to rudely
awaken vou from tho nana that von
. . - ' " . I
havo been taking in the Beats pil
some of theso churches and got you
to thinking on tho other side of this
subject. I want you to think on both
sides of a subject for once In your
lives. (Great applause.)
Chairman Heed: Ladles and gen
tlomon, I was much Inpresaed with
tho remark that Colonel Hofer mado
concerning the continuation of those
debates with Dr. Wilson, and what
the outcome might possibly be, and I
could not help but think that if
Colonel Hofer has as much Influence
wltii tho Almighty concerning liquor
as he has with praying for rain that
ho would pour the thing all over Dr.
Wilson. Now then, wo have as our
next speaker n gentleman whom you
all know, Portland's pride, tho
Reverend Dr. Clarence True Wilson,
who will address you now.
(Dr. Wilson was greoted with pro
longed applause, after which ho
spoke as follows:)
Dr. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, when
tho Honorablo T. S. McDanlel heard
the announcement of this joint dls-
corruption mntea at in tno Ton uom-
mandments, or over conceived by the
depraved mind of men that does not
thrive there, and tho self-respecting
earthquake absolutely rofused to
swallow thorn. (Applause.) Thero
aro only flvo states In this union
that tolerate tho liquor business; I
moan that tolerate tho liquor busi
ness and glvo no chanco to tho peo
plo to speak on. It, that restrict their
regulations to a llcenso law and have
no local option, no option on the part
of the peoplo, and two of theso
states are California and Nevada.
California, In spite of tho prevailing
sentiment In Prlsco that put back
tho grafters and drove out Heney,
has got a decent Governor (Ap
plauso); and when California's Gov
ernor refused to tolerate a prize
fight with Its hotting, gambling,
lewd women, demoralizing effect up
on civilization, then Nevada beckon
ed to it and Its governor said, "We
want you here."
Let's look at Nevada. In local
option Missouri, in local option;
Mississippi, according to the United?
States reports, thero is only ono
federal liquor llcenso given for overy
four thousand and flvo peoplo In
that stato, but In Nevada thero hasi
to bo a liquor llcenso for every thir
ty-seven persons, including men.
wsmen and children, (Applause.)
Just think of the situation where a
saloon must be established for overy
thlrty-sovon.
In Oregon and Idaho wo havo the
largest native born population of any
states, but In Novnda fifty-one por
cent are foreign born and aro shap
ing tho civilization of a sovorelga
American stato with Imported ideas
that will not work undfer a republican:
form of government, whero tho
church, tho school, tho home and the
morality nnd tho docont public senti
ment of tho peoplo, the nverago peo
plo, make the Stato all that It is.
Now, I want you to notico tho de
bauching influenco of tho Baloon up
on tho population, and you see it in
tho Stato of Noradn. Somo peoplo
say that brings prosperity; but, ray
friends, there are forty-six states In
tho American Union. Tho last
census report shows an Increase In
population
atntna. Ni
in forty-five of thos&
Nevada Is tho only stato Ire
the Hat of this union that has abso-
thirty years, and had loss pooplo in
it 'n 1900 than in 1870. Decent peo
plo got out of it. (Applauso.)
Now, wo all recognlzo tho ovll of
the liquor business and tho evils of
tho liquor business that once In a
whilo will crop out In a dry terri
tory whero you hnvo corrupt of
ficials who refuso to enforce tho law.
That is often pointed out. But, my
friends, do you know that the liquor
business In Portland I nm not going
to Oormnnv or nolcliim! thrn m
enough of it hero (laughter and bp-
plauso) do you know that In tho
city of Portland we havo four hun-
dred and slxty-flvo licensed saloons
nn.l drill? ntnrnn thnt Ifnon lfrmnr unit
license states and communities with
blind plga ten to one that we wouldl
,
. n ... 1
ivanimueu on rago m.j