The Searchlight (Guthrie, Okla.), No. 514, Ed. 1 Friday, February 28, 1908 Page: 2 of 16
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jPSHPSI
TO DOWN PROHIBITION.
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O Liquor's Line of Battle Against O
C Prohibition Forces.
O Voters represented 1,200,0010 O
0 Persons represented .... 7,0i00,000 O
O lnvestmeut repre'd, $3,350,000,000 O
0 Expended nnnually.. $469,851,000 O
0 Licenses, annually.. .$2-68,875,465 O
O Other taxes, yearly.. .$70,000,000 O
O O
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Chicago, 111., Feb. 24.—Rattle is to
l.e offered prohibition in evc-ry city,
town and county of the United States
l trough the medium of a vast national
federation, with executive headquart-
er* in Chicago, and composed of ev-
ery associatimi connected dircctly or
indirectly with the liquor trade. This
was the formal announcement made
by John A. McDerraott, manager of
the organization bureau of the pro-
ject.
Arrangements for the liquor inter-
ests and allied trades and societies to
join hands in a stupenous campaign
against prohibition have been under
vay for several months, but it has not
been felt that the time was ripe for a
public announcement of what, it is de-
clared, will be the most remarkable
fight yet undertaken in this country
by a single industry. The general
plans have now been formulated, how-
ever, and accordingly have been made
public.
To include Many Interests.
The federation, which will carry on
Its business through an executive com-
mittee composed of representatives
from the more important organiza-
tions Included, is planned to take in
the brewers and maltsters' associa-
tions, the retailers' and wholesalers'
Associations, manufacturers' and deal-
ers' clubs, liberty leagues of traveling
.salesmen, and all associations connect-
ed with the allied trades. In the term
"allied trades" the liquor interests
group the glassmakers, saloon fixture
manufacturers, cooperage works, ci-
gar manufacturers, soda water makers
machinery makers anil every other
trade and manufactury which ,in any
way contributes to the btlsinetis car-
ried on by the liquor trade. J,.
In addition to these associations it
will be sought, to obtain the c®*ppera-
tion of labor organizations connected
with the liquor and allied trades and
the active help of such general organi-
zations of citizens as tlie German Na-
tional Alliance and the United So-
cieties of Chicago.
The plan, in short, is for welding in-
t(> a cohesive whole, with all parts
pulling together, every species of sot
ciety in the country which can have a
direct or indirect interest in seeing
that prohibition is beaten.
Membership ln^o Millions.
It is estimated that the organiza-
tions which will give active aid to the
central executive committee will have
h total membership of 1,200,000 votes,
representing 7.000,000 persons. It is
estimated by the liquor trade that the
investment represented by the federa-
tion will lie approximately $3,350,000,-
(00. This figure leaves out of consid-
eration the hotels. It is asserted by
those planning the fight that of the
f.,000 large lintels in the country 5,-
Ot'O would be run at a'loss if prohibi-
tion gained a national footing. It is
expected to obtain the active co-pera-
tion of the hotel owners, in which
event another $2r*0,000,000 would be
added to the total investment repre-
sented.
The campaign to he entered upon
will include the formation of a publi-
city bureau, which will send out mass-
es of booklets, leaflets, statistics and
arguments of all kinds in support of
the liquor trade. What is termed a
"campaign of education'' is to be un-
dertaken. It is stated that the whole
question is to he thrashed out witli the
American voter, not as a matter of
politics or personal feeling, but as a
problem of industrialism and econo-
mics. The liquor trade, through its
spokesmen and writers, is to insist
that if national prohibition occurs it
will be a "calamity only equaled hy
the civil war" and that "conditions
akin to those produced by a revolu-
tion" will take place..
To Work With the Farmer.
Desltles a general "education" of
the public at large, a special campaign
if to be made for the farmers' benefit
It is stated that $200,000,000 of all
farm products—taking every kind—
are* used annually by the liquor trade,
and that the agriculturist faces a tre-
mendous loss If prohibition continues
to gain in the future as it has in the
past. It is declared further that a
grand total of $469,851,000 Is paid an-
niftUly into the producing sources of
the United States by the brewers,
maltsters and distillers.
In addition to these public move-
ments, the federation will be thorough-
ly organized in every state through
state associations, composed of all the
organizations in each state directly or
indirectly interested in the liquor
trade. These' state associations, in
turn, will see that each state is organi-
zed 'n city, town, township, county
,and precinct.
"A sweeping organization of the en-
tire United States" is the slogan in
this regard. With this network of
organizations the liquor trade will be
in a position, so its spokesmen
prophesy, to offer battle against prohi-
bition in much more telling fashion
than in the p&st. Local option and ev-
ery kind of prohibition or temperance
legislation will he fought to the ut-
most.
congress. The thing would go through
with a rush. That at least, is what
we expect to happen."
The speaker, after referring to Ger-
many's policy in dealing with natives
in her colonies, added: "If the Ger-
mans got the Philippines, God help
tfco Filipinos!"
SELL PHILIPPINES TO GERMANY?
Paris, Feb, 22.—The following state-
ments are forwarded with all reserva-
tions, but they represent an opinion
as to the real objective of the Ameri-
can fleet in the Pacific which is ac-
tually entertained at this moment to
the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of
high diplomatic circles in Europe.
With a claim to definite knowledge
cf the subject it is affirmed that an
understanding exists between the
Washington administration and the
German government whereby Ger-
many will purchase the Philippines on
a basis of the payment of the amount
heretofore paid by the United States
33 indemnity to Spain, plus all Ameri-
can expenditure in the islands since
the American government took pos-
ession of them. The fleet will go to
Manila as a precautionary measure in
case .Tapan should become irritated
when the deal is exposed. The Unit-
ed States will retain a coaling station
in tlie Philippines. ,
It is explained that Germany's lat-
est loan recently negotiated is to
provide funds for this purchase.
England's attitude is represented as
non-contentious, the would much
prefer that America should retain the
islands, but if sovereignty is to
change, she doesn't wish Japan to ob-
tain a foothold farther south, which
would increase the Immigration dan-
gers and troubles of Australia,
An eminent diplomatist discussed
the foregoing with ar. American yes-
terday, on the assumption that it was
a virtually accomplished fact. In re-
ply to the obvious question, "How can
the Washington administration de-
liver the goods, even if agreed to do
so?1" he said, "Of course, I know it
will require the assent of congress
and the approval of public opinion
also, it is notorious that America is
sick and ttr<(d of the Philippines, and
would be glad to get rid of them. Tha
American people are far too lacking
in patience ever to be content to await
the fruition of colonial enterprise, no
matter how great its future value.
"Roosevelt's influence is quite suf-
ficient to obtain popular assent at tlie
proper moment to the sale i of the
P'.;!Hi-i"nes to Germany. lie has only
to array the facts and figures showing
that these island are nothing but a
hopeless drain on the national treas- [
ury, and to accompany his statistics
with one of his great philippics to *
SANTA FE TO RESTORE TRAINS
Admitting that the six passenger
trains taken off under their schedule
which went into effect on the 15th of
February in Oklahoma were not taken
off because they were not making
money, but to get the same amount of
business for a less expense the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad,
through Its general manager, W. E.
Hurley, who was called upon to show
cause by the corporation commission
why these trains should not be re-in-
stated, today offered to compromise
by restoring four of the trains. These
include trains Nos. 115 and 116, be-
tween Newton, Kansas, and Purcell,
w hich formerly passed through Guth-
rie at 8:50 a. m. and 7:10 p. m. and
the Eastern Oklahoma passenger
trains Nos. 409 and 412, which left
Guthrie at 5 ik m. for Skeedee, return-
ing at 8:05 the next morning. To
make amends for trains Nos. 19 and
20, which were formerly run between
Guthrie and Purcell, leaving here at
8:10 a. m and returning at 10 p. m.,
making connections with the Gulf,
Colorado & Santa Fe to Ft. Worth and
other Texas points, the road offers to
make through connections with trains
Nos. 15 and lfi to Cleburne and other
Texas points.
General Manager Hurley made the
statement on the witness stand that
the two-cent rate and other railroad
legislation had nothing to do with the
general slump in business and the
lack of confidence in railroading and
other corporate business.
The witness vouchsafed that if busi-
ness conditions were normal and the
revenue of his road justified they
would extend their lines in the state,
and that it was the lack of confidence
and the inability to raise money that
prevented these improvements.
Chairman Love of tlie commission
reminded the railroad official that his
load had not complied with the con-
stitution in regard to establishing a
general office in this state where the
records of the company's business
should be kept. The witness admitted
that he or his company had no way of
learning definitely whether the road
was paying in this state, as the ac-
counts were kept for the entire sys-
tem. The only evidence introduced to
show that the business of the com-
pany was falling off was the state-
ment made by the witness that the
revenue from the Eastern Oklahoma
branch was much less the past few
months than it was last full. This is
easily explained. The Eastern Okla-
homa does a tremendous business dur-
ing the cotton season, as it traverses
the cot ion belt and when the season
is over there is not. of course as much
traffic.
Chairman Love also reminded the
witness that the Santa Fe had not com"
plied with Order No. 3 of the commis-
sion by filing a report showing the
actual mileage in the state and the
cost of the same. Genera Manager
Hurley agreed that his road should
comply with the two orders pointed
out by Chairman L<ove without further
notice. An adjournment was taken
at noon until 2 o'clock, at which time
Attorney General West assisted by
Assistant Attorney General George
Henshaw, introduced evidence for the
state showing why the trains should
be reinstated. Protests have been
filed with the commission bp mer-
chants in the various towns in Okla-
homa through which these trains
formerly run. The United Traveling
Men's association, state officials and
the members of the legislature.
It is thought that the commission
will accept the offer n.tde by the
Santa Fe and compromise on tha
terms mentioned above. General Man-
ager Hurley and Vice President
George Nicholson have been here tfrom
Chicago all week conferring with the
Oklahoma division officials and the at-
torney general working for the com-
promise. They at first were willing
to re-Instate only the Eastern Okla-
homa trains, but finally agreed to the
above stated compromise.
AS TO GAME
" -v • <r /
What the Great- Bire and Game Ex-
pert in the United States Says
Abo^t the Warden License
System for the Protection
of Birds and Game
National Association of Audubon
Societies for Photection of Wild Birds
and Animals.
New York City, Feb. 15. 190S.
Hon. Thomas B. Wortman,
Guthrie, Okla.
My Dear Sir:—At the request of
General J. C. Jamison, honorary presi-
dent of the Oklahoma Audubon soci-
ety, I beg to submit to yon a few
words regarding the proposed bird
and game legislation that you are
about to introduce at the present ses-
sion of your legislature.
General Jamison has not as yet
sent me a copy of your bill, but has
given me a few of tlie points that are
to be included in the same, and so
far as 1 can see, I do not believe that
your bill can be improved, and further
the legislature of your state at Its
first session will not enact any stat-
utes that will do more for the benefit
of Oklahoma than to pass the bill
you propose for the preservation of
the game birds and animals, as well
as tlie non-game birds, which compro-
mise over 30 per cent of the birds of
your state.
Your section regarding quail is ab-
solutely correct, as is also the sec-
tion regarding prairie chickens, tur-
keys, deer and antelope. They may-
be drastic, but in these days when tlio
game birds and animals of the country
are -so reduced in number, nothing
but the most drastic legislation will
act as the necessary check on the
alarming decrease.
It is with the greatest satisfaction
that 1 see that you remove the dove,
which 1 consider one of the most val-
uable of all our birds in its relation
to agriculture, from tlie game list,
that is legislation of the very highest
character.
'i bis brings to nie the most import
ant sections of your proposed bill,
and that is, those referring to game
wardens and hunting licenses.
It is a tact that everyone who ltu*
studied the subject of the bird and
game protection concedes that no lawv
however excellent, is capable of sell-
enforcement. It is imperative that
your state should have a chief gamo
warden with as many deputy assist-
ants as is necessary to see that the
law is enforced. It would be far bet-
ter for your legislature not to pass
any bird or game laws of any kind or
character it they do not provide a
means of having them entorced. A
law without enforcement, is a dead
letter and brings tlie whole subject
into contempt. |
Further you cannot obtain the ser-
vices of intelligent and reliable and
upright men, unless they are paid for
their time. Most, men in these days
have to work for a living, and the lab-
orer is always worthy of Ills hire. Un-
der these circumstances, the state
will have to provide a means of sup-
porting its game enforcement, and to
do that without a direct tax upon the
people of the tate, it will be neces-
sary for you to pass a law providing
for resident, non-resident and alien
licenses. Very many of the states of
the country are now making their
game department self-supporting. In
other words, the man who handles the
gun and seeks to kill birds and ani-
mals that belong to the state at large
for his own use, must pay a reason-
| able sum ;for the privileges. No true
i sportsman will ever object to this,
V
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The Searchlight (Guthrie, Okla.), No. 514, Ed. 1 Friday, February 28, 1908, newspaper, February 28, 1908; Guthrie, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc286016/m1/2/: accessed June 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.