Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 18: Temperance, 1913

Long before Indiana assumed statehood, we find its territorial governor, Wm. Henry Harrison, on July 30^ 1805, in his first message to the territorial legislature, recommends the prohibition of the liquor traflSc with the Indians. We quote from his message :

**The interests of your constituents, the interest of the miserable Indians, and your own feelings, will suflSciently urge you to take into your most serious consideration, and provide the remedy which is to save thousands of our fellow creatures. You are witnesses to the abuses, you have seen our towns crowded with furious and drunken savages, our streets flowing with their blood, their arms and clothing bartered for the liquor that destroys them, and their miserable women and children enduring all the extremities of cold and hunger. So destructive has the process been among them that whole villages have been swept away. A miserable remnant is all that remains to mark the names and situations of caany numerous tribes. In the energetic language of one of their orators, it is a dreadful conflagration which spreads misery and desolation through the country and threatens the annihilation of the whole race."

Thus spake General Harrison in the first message to the first legislative body that ever met on THoosier soil. His words have been reverberated down the ages and are as true and applicable today as they were when uttered ov^r a hundred years ago.

From the days of the territorial government there has been more or less legislation on the temperance question. The first act was passed in 1807. The attempt was made to handle it as a purely local question, one law being enacted for one county or township, and another for other sections of the state. The acts of 1850 especially emphasize and illustrate this local and special method, where numerous acts were passed specifying what shall be done in particular counties and towns to meet the local conditions and all at variance with each other. One session of the legislature would prohibit the sale of intoxicants in some locality and the next session would take away that restriction: In 1853 a general law was enacted, but the local option feature Was still predominant. At this time a temperance wave was sweeping over the country. Maine had passed a prohibitory law and the prohibition fever was rapidly rising. In Indiana the Democrats in their convention had declared against prohibition. About the same time the courts decided a case that annulled the law of 1853. At once temperance orators sprung up everywhere. The Know Nothing party, which had come into existence on the death of the Whig party, was making some stir. The agitation of the slavery question in Congress caused party lines to be re-cast. These elements, with the Free Soil Democrats, united on the temperance question and won and a prohibitory law was enacted, but one of the judges held the law unconstitutional and it became inoperative. After the failure of this prohibitory law of 1855 but little was done in restraint of the liquor traflSc for many years. A general law had been enacted requiring retail dealers to procure a license and forbidding the sale of intoxicants on certain days. Some counties enforced it, while others paid little attention to it. The temperance sentiment again became aroused and in 1873 the ** Baxter Law," a very stringent temperance measure, was enacted under the administration of Governor Baker, but the succeeding legislature repealed it and nothing was put in its place. Since 1881 various license and restrictive measures have been adopted, each tightening the reins and ma^g it more difiScult for the traflBc to operate their business. The Nicholson law in 1897 and county option law of 1908 were wholesome measures, but the latter was promptly repealed by the following legislature, not, however, until every saloon had been closed in over two-thirds of the counties in the state.

The first temperance movement in Cass county was inaugurated by Rev. Father Post, who arrived in Logansport on Christmas day, 1829. The scenes he beheld aroused him in this little forest village, impelled him to use every power God had given him against the liquor traffic and its eflPects, which he thus describes: **Hard by was the camp fire of the red man; his yell, as drunken, sollicking, he rides - ^*John Gilpinlike' - through the streets, or presents himself in a boisterous, threatening way at the window of a settler, his whoop, his chant, his dance, his gambling with his comrades in the public highways- or forcing himself into stores to importune for more * fire-water.'

** Against intemperance,'' says Father Post, *' there was arrayed a strong influence. The liquor grocery was banished for several years; th^ first hung out its sign very timidly and under a heavy frown. Yet the bane worked, the victims were numerous. Most ignobly, miserably, have a multitude been slain. The business and habits of intemperance, the propagated vices and wretchedness have stubbornly withstood the eflPorts in behalf of religion and social improvement."

Father Post drew up a constitution and by-laws in 1831 and organized the first Anti-Saloon League in Cass county, with Gen. John Tipton its first president, and as he tells us, its firm friend and chief promoter until his death. Speaking on this subject, Father Post further says: *'It did substantial service, having in 1837 two himdred and fifty members, with efficient and able helpers with frequent written and public addresses. In 1843 a manifest improvement had taken place in the town since the suppression of the whiskey groceries - ^a suppression not perpetual, yet at bright intervals, before and subsequently, enjoyed. There is a ready and adequate remedy and therefore a responsibility for the horrible ravages we continue to suffer from intoxicating drinks. The traffic, as truly as any nuisance, is subject to the control of the community. Society can purify itself from this cankerous plague. When will a long suffering people rise in their moral and intelligent energy and accomplish this most imperative reform? I hail as yet to come the glad epoch." So spake this sainted minister to the people of Logansport three-quarters of a century ago.

by Owen & Bapp in Posey county. On March 6, 1833, a remonstrance, headed by P. Waymire, was presented to the board of county commissioners, Samuel Ward and Daniel Neff, against the issuing of licensee to sell ardent spirits in Logansport.

**The Sons of Temperance," **The Washingtonians,'' **The White and Blue Bibbon" temperance societies, and other organizations which flourished in their day, all did good work in the cause of temperance.

In the sixties the Good Templars societies were organized in diflferent places in Cass county and did much to create public sentiment. A. Way, of Kansas, was the organizer and was an enthusiastic and effective exponent of the cause. Logansport Lodge No. 113, I. 0. Q. T., was organized August 13, 1887, with Bev. H. L. Stetson as chief templar. This organization was very active; its membership increased to three hundred and many a drinking man was rescued from the blighting influence of the drink habit and restored to his family and friends. Under the auspices of the Logansport society. Good Templar lodges were organized in Shultztown, Galveston, Walton, Boyal Center and at Pipe Creek. The local lodge reached out and took in many members like J. J. Hildebrandt, the son of a saloon keeper, and J. B. Stanley, both of whom became chief templars, and the latter grand chief templar of the state. T. J. Legg and J. Z. Powell also served as grand lodge officers. About 1895 the grand lodge I. 0. G. T. held its annual session in Logansport and many temperance workers throughout the state were in attendance and a great temperance awakening in the community resulted. About 1890 the Good Templars held a grand temperance picnic in ''Maple Grove, *^ at Twenty-second and Broadway. At that time this part of the city was a beautiful maple grove and not a house had been erected east of Twentieth street. J. Critchfield, of Nebraska, was the principal speaker at this temperance rally and crowds came from all parts of the county. Under the auspices of the local lodge another temperance picnic and rally was held at Spencer park on August 31, 1895, which was addressed by U. S. Senator David Turpie, and J. Z. Powell read a temperance poem which was published in the Daily Reporter September 2, 1895.

Largely through the influence of the local lodge, Prancis Murphy held a ten-day temperance revival at the Broadway rink, comer of Sixth street, during the year 1888. Large crowds attended these meetings and many drinking men came out, boldly, on the side of total abstinence as the only sure road that leads up to the higher and better life. After Mr. Murphy closed his meetings the work was taken up by our local people and ''Murphy" meetings were continued for years in "Justice Hall,*' over 426-28 Broadway, now occupied by the J. H. Foley grocery.

The Gospel Temperance Union was organized April 22, 1889. J. B. Stanley, president; Wesley "Walls, secretary, and Bev. D. P. Putnam, treasurer. Weekly meetings were held by this organization in the Broadway rink and at various halls and churches and its membership reached 3,500. Branches were organized at Galveston with 850 members, at Walton with 600, at Lincoln with 200 and at Boyal Center with 500 members.

"The Woman's Christian Temperance Union" was organized in Logansport in June, 1890, and Mrs. M. J. Stevenson was its first president. This society was very active in promoting sobriety so necessary to true Christianity.

The Pather Mathew Catholic Total Abstinence Society was organized November 9, 1870, under the leadership of Michael McTagsrart. This society was composed largely of Catholics and exerted a great in- fluence for right living not only among the members of that church, but also in the community at large. This was an active organization for over two decades and for many years Father Campion, of blessed memory, was its foremost leader.

The Young Men's Total Abstinence Society of St. Bridget's church was instituted in 1892 with twenty-six charter members and J. W. Holland was its first president. This society was brought about through the influence of Father Kroeger, who was an earnest supporter of the temperance cause.

St. Vincent's Total Abstinence Cadets, St. Bridget's Yoimg People's Temperance Society, and other organizations of similar import, have been instituted from time to time. There has been one or more active temperance organizations in Logansport ever since Father Post's first temperance society in 1831.

The Anti-Saloon League is at present the most active temperance organization in existence. Strictly speaking, it is not an organization. It is a league of organizations. It is the federated church in action against the saloon. **Its agents are of the church and under the church. It has no interests apart from the church. It goes just as fast^ and just as far as the public sentiment of the church will permit. It has not come to the kingdom simply to build a local sentiment or to secure the passage of a few laws, nor yet to vote the saloons from a few hundred towns. These are mere incidents and steps in its progress. It has come to create sentiment and solve the liquor problem by the ultimate extinction of the traflSc." This league came into being about fifteen years ago, is national in its scope and has a superintendent in each state, with district superintendents in various sections of the state, whose duties are to create public sentiment by holding meetings, by distribution of temperance literature, to aid in securing temperate, moral and upright oflScers, and restrictive temperance legislation until public sentiment is suflBciently aroused to strike the final blow and put the saloon out of commission once and forever.

Under the administration of Gov. J. Frank Hanley and largely through his influence, a county local option law was passed at a special session of the legislature called for that purpose in 1908. This law gave each county the right to determine for itself whether or not it would permit saloons within its borders. Special elections could be called by the county commissioners for this purpose. Accordingly, the commissioners ordered a special local option election, held on April 6, 1908, the required number of petitioners having been previously presented. This was probably one of the most hotly contested elections ever held in Cass county. The saloons and liquor element, with all the money required, were fighting for their existence. Under a mistaken idea that the business interests of the city would suffer if the saloons were closed, many well meaning business men espoused the cause of the liquor element and under the guise of advancing the commercial interests of Logansport organized a '* Business Men's Association," with W. H. Porter as president. This association had a majority of the leading business men of the city as members and as such wielded a great influence. The saloon men did not have any regular headquarters, but kept in the background. The Business Men's Association, however, opened headquarters at No. 317 Market street and engaged in an active campaign to perpetuate the saloon and the liquor traffic.

Be it said, however, to the credit of the city, that the majority of the business and professional men did not belong to this organization, and many withdrew when they ascertained the object for which it was instituted. A counter-organization, known as the **Dry Business Men's

Association/' was organized to espouse the cause of the temperance people. This association outnumbered the **Wet Business Men's" organization, but from the fact that a half dozen of the latter association were the largest and wealthiest firms in the city, with ample funds to back their movement, their influence was more far-reaching and effective than the **Dry" association. The Anti-Saloon League, under which name the temperance forces were mustered, was led by J. Z. Powell aa president, supported actively by every Protestant minister in the city except the German Lutheran and the Episcopalian, and passively bjr every Catholic priest. Both sides organized their committees similar to a regular political campaign. Speakers of state and national reputation were secured, together with, local speakers, and every township, as well as the city, was supplied with oratory. "WTiole pages of the daily papers upheld the beauties and benefits of the saloon, that our city would be deserted and dog fennel grow in our streets if the saloons were closed. While with equal earnestness the temperance forces maintained that the saloon was the cause of more poverty, vice and crime, than all other agencies combined and plead for its extinction.

The election day came and with it a steady downpour of rain. The result is history. The city of Logansport gave a majority of 1,420 votes in favor of saloons, while the country gave a majority of 1,312 against, giving the saloons 108 majority in the county. The Anti-Saloon forces, however, believed that improper influences were employed by the opposition and that the majority of 108 was not real and would have been reversed on a careful expression of the real sentiments of the people of Cass county. This option campaign was, however, a great educator, and created a wonderful temperance sentiment throughout the county. Seed was sown that will grow and bear fruit for time and eternity. The various temperance societies and organizations herein enumerated have each and all had their influence in not only turning men from their cups, but have created public sentiment in favor of sobriety, civic virtue and right living, which is impossible as long as the saloon exists. The temperance sentiment is growing in Cass county as elsewhere. Companies and corporations will no longer employ a patron of saloons, and we believe the day is not far distant when the business that does no man any good, but does bring distress and degradation to thousands, will be banished from our fair land. The temperance cause is right and what is right God will, in His own time and way, uphold.

Our present high license system has been tried and found wanting. It may drive out a few saloons, but forty saloons in l^ogansport can do as much evil as twice that number. To regulate a saloon and make it respectable and perform a useful function in a community seems to be a hopeless task and some day the people will find it out and act accordingly.