“Quite an easy task for one who has given honest study to the question,” said Mr. Wine Expert. “Wine is a mocker. Just as wisdom mocks at the calamity of those who reject it in Prov. 1:26. So, wine, personified in a similar manner, mocks at the folly of those who refuse it. (Applause.) Strong drink is raging. Just as in Jonah 1:15, the sea was raging in protest against Jonah because he refused to preach the truth to the people. So in this passage, ‘strong drink is raging,’ because so many church-members and ministers refuse to preach the real truth to the people on the subject of strong drink. (Prolonged applause.) If there were as much said against me falsely, as has been spoken against strong drink, I would not only rage, but would go raging and foaming over this stage in protest. (Tremendous applause and shouting from the people of the world.) I tell you more, my friends, strong drink will keep on raging as long as old Voices and ‘The New Voice’ of cranks and idiots are heard to squeak out their childish nonsense to an enlightened people.” (Furious applause and demonstrations.)
“The last part of the passage is easily to be understood,” continued the speaker. “‘Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.’ How could a person be wise who allows himself to be deceived and hoodwinked concerning as good a thing as wine or strong drink?”
“Nobody, we need not fear,” cried out a brewer from one side of the room.
“There is however a host,” continued Mr. Wine Expert, “who are woefully deceived, and who are endeavoring to force their deceptions upon the state.”
“And I am one of them,” shouted a tall man from Kansas, U. S. A., as he violently jumped to his feet, and remained standing.
“I would suggest,” calmly interrupted the venerable leader, “that our special photographer take a snap shot of this man. We are always glad to keep a record of such monstrosities. He looks like a fair specimen of a deceived man. (Laughter.) He is lean and bony, and if any one of you never before saw such a man, take a full view of him now. Suppose you,” he said, as he continued pointing at the Kansas man, “slowly make a full revolution on your feet so that each one can here see all sides of you,—if you have more than one side.” (Great applause amongst the people of the world.)
The man from Kansas stood still till the voice of the insulting outcry died away.
“I can stand abuse; I can stand irony and sarcasm; but I thank God that where I live I need no longer endure the insults of the Rum Devil. (Suppressed applause.) If Mr. Venerable thinks I am the only man present who comes under his classification of ‘deceived persons,’ I will demonstrate to him his folly, for there are many thousands here who have not yet bowed the knee to Baal.”
“Out of order!” “Put him out!” “Away with him!” came from the audience.
“If there is a person here opposed to the Rum Traffic, let him rise,” fearlessly continued the tall man.