p. 18 | The Anti-Saloon League Convention by L. A. HANSEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

The Anti-Saloon League Convention

By L. A. HANSEN

THE sixteenth biennial convention of the Anti-Saloon League of America, held at Atlantic City, July 6-9, was the largest gathering of protest against the drink evil ever seen. About 10,000 persons met in two large halls on the Million-Dollar Pier, and devoted earnest attention to a program of four days of most serious consideration of the problem of combating the liquor forces.

Leading temperance workers were present from all parts of the country, including many orators of first rank. The set speeches delivered numbered about one hundred. Some of these were masterpieces in oratory, and will add to those holding permanent place in temperance literature. Among the speakers were governors and ex-governors, Senators and ex-Senators, Congressmen and ex-Congressmen, judges, lawyers, physicians, college professors, clergymen, business men, politicians, labor union workers, philanthropists, settlement workers, W. C. T. U. members, and men and women representing all walks of life.

The Catholic Prohibition League, organized a year ago, also held a convention, some of its speakers holding places on the Anti-Saloon League Convention program. Resolutions were adopted, pledging the support of the Catholic League in the work of the Anti-Saloon League, and a committee was appointed to co-operate with it in its campaign.

The speakers from the Catholic League acknowledged that an organized movement for prohibition as represented by the league was a new thing among Catholics. Other speakers expressed their gratification at this addition to the temperance forces, and said that if the question of drink could be rightly settled with the Catholic membership, the problem as a whole would find much readier and easier solution.

The public press was well represented, and gave liberal space to reporting the proceedings. About thirty special corps of respondents for metropolitan papers were on the ground. The press in general received its share of severe scoring from the platform for its support of liquor interests and for carrying liquor advertisements. It was repeatedly stated that much money is expended by the liquor interests in molding public sentiment through newspapers.

The varied program kept the interest at the full entire time. The subject of general consideration proved a many-sided one, and those presenting its various aspects demonstrated expert handling of it. Song, poetry, declamation, dialogue, dramatic recitation, character delineation, humor, trenchant wit, statistical summary, concise fact, hard argument, pointed truth, logic, grave reasoning, eloquent appeal, vigorous denunciation,—all had their place, and each was used by different speakers to the best possible advantage in presenting the curse of strong drink.

The occasion was a revelation of the fact that the battle against intemperance is a stupendous one; but it also disclosed a growth of sentiment never before seen, which will probably develop to the limit of human possibilities in meeting the evil. One could hardly fail to see that the large body of men and women here gathered was determined to utilize every possible means of legislative power in bringing about prohibition.

One speaker gave expression to a truth that received the usual share of approval. Said he, “After all is said and done, there is but one real held for intemperance, and that is the power of Jesus Christ.” One could not but wish that the realization of this truth were the one objective of every man and woman at the convention.

One sensing the tendency of men to rely upon outside forces could hardly help feeling that the successful use of legislative power in bringing about enforced prohibition will encourage some people to resort all the more to the use of the same power in securing other laws regulatory of men's conduct, moral and otherwise. There is need, as ever, to point the way to saving truth as it is in Jesus.

The resolutions of the convention embodied a renewal of effort to secure Congressional action favorable to a national prohibition amendment; prohibition for the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Alaska, Porto Rico, and the Philippines by Congressional enactment; elimination of intoxicating beverages from interstate commerce; barring from the mail newspapers carrying liquor advertisements; and a number of other measures. L. A. HANSEN