The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-03-07 00:00:00

THE WOMEN'S WHISKY WAR.

The ?chewing letter h from the American Correspondent
of The noire, under date Philadelphia, Fob 17

The "Women's Whirky War" in the West is in.
creating in intensity. Heretofore it has been confined
ta Southern Ohio, but it has now spread into Southern
Indiana and across the Ohio river to one or two towne
In Kentucky. The progre of this remarkable crusade
Is the chief subject of our news from the West. It is
difficult to over.estiosate the enthnalasm or earnestness
of the movement, and this accounts for its general
succees. It enlists the sympathy of the best people of
every town and village, and where resistance is met the
energy and perseverance shown are tremendous, the
women in more than one case de oaring their intention
of gong to gaol rather than nbey the le,al writs issued
to restrain tneir prayer-meetings hi the streets. It is
quite probable that the war will saoli break out in
Cincinnati, the largest city in that section of the
country, and the liquor dealer' are already preparing
for it by offering to furnish liquor free to all who will
hold out against the women. At Covington, Ken.
tucky, opposite Cincinnati, the preliminary movement
has begun by the "Ladies' Committee" sending re-
quests to all the saloon-keepers to abandon the
basinese, and it is expected that some time during this
week the crusade will be organizsd.
In Southern Ohio the women have succeeded by
their prayers and persistent sieges in clueing up id the
ealoone, so that the liquor bueintes is practically &ban.
daued in the following towns :—Nelsonville, Athens,
Logan, Ithaey, Lebanon. Leasborg, Georgetown. Man.
chatter, Washington, New Vienna, Hruidchester,
Lancaster, and Cedarville. The saccesaful bands
belonging to these places have closed up eighty
saloons, and are now devoting their attention to
neighbouring towns, and declare their intention of
extirpatii g the traffic from the entire oountry. The
movement has also °puma vigorously in the larger
cities, such as Xenia, Dayton, Springfield, and
Columbus, the State capital. In Xenia 400 women
formed their organization on the 11th inst., and
began work promptly the next day. They laid siege
to a number of saloons sod have kept stem-lily at it
ever since, though their success as yet is not very
=irked. They prevai.ed upon a number of lawyers
to sign an agreement not to defend the liquor dealers.
The town is divided into four sections, each of which
is patrolled by a band of 100 praying women. In
Springfield the crusade has been signalized by two
various conflicts, though no one has been badly
hurt. The cruseders number 240 women and
there are constant accessions ; but, as in Xenia,
as yet no material I regress hat been made, there
really not having been time for the movement
to develope its strength. ....
As may be expected :this remarkable movement is
not without its drawbacks and in some quarters violent
opposition. At McArthur, Ohio, the ladies have qoar-
relied among themeelves and split into factions, so that
jest DOW they are fighting each other more eeergeti-
cally than they do the liquor dealers. At Shelby a
band of 100 mayirg women were grossly insulted by a
sulaunkeeper, while at New Holland an intended
vie ins put consternation in their ranks by a sudden
raid with a redhot piker, for which he was arrested.
At Waynesville the Alaye r has instructed the police
to disperse all bands of women found congregating
In the. s'reets or on the side walks, and he
declares that there shall be no more eiiewalk or
saloon prayer-meetings held. The women are resolute,
however, and say they wiil hold as many meetngs and
offer up as nosey prayers as they think proper. One
saloon-keeper there is keeping an account of the time
the women occupy his place for prayer. and proposes
bringing suit for damages, They ru .Ice him daily visits
and in their prayers include. as earnest petition that
his litigious intentions may be thwarted. At Washing-
ton, after all the dealers had surrendered, one bold
individual hid the audacity to,ppen anew shop, but he
; was besieged with such vigorous prayers and singing
, that be signed the pledge and sent his stock of licntors
; to Cincinnati. in Morrow, one saloon-keeper, after
signing the pledge aud agreeing to close, has drawn
bsck. He says he has a wife and three children
dependent upon 11.;m for support, and that he is not
sorry he signed the pledge, but adds, "I have some
ttock ale and ci ler and wine on hand, and I want •
committee of men to corns and buy them." He
finally gives them notice that be will continue his
burin, se, and "don't want to be bothered with y or
sliming and praying any more; that is my final
deo -ion." This bold renegade, as may be suppo,ed, is
jut now the subject of the most faithful, fervent, and
persistent praying in that locality. In Jamestown,
Wale some of the dealers have yielded, others have
united in a held declaration that "they wi hose every
droi of blood in their v- ins before they will quit the
traffic." In Pomeroy 90 women Are earnest'y at work
and have shut up four saloons; bid there are 60 remain-
ing, so that their tea is no easy one. In Athensville,
while the dealers invite the wi men into their saloons,
they declare that six mouth.' praying will not affect
them a particle and that they are "prayer proof.'' In
a number of towns legal proceedings are g' beg on to
prevent sidewalk obstructions, while, on the other
hand, petii ions to the Constitutional Convention and
the Legislature are receivieg nutunroue signatures *sk-
ies for prohibitory legielation. At Hi4hland, where
an injunction against sidewalk obstructions, and more
particularly against annoy ing a dealer named Dunn,
has been granted, the praying goes on in the churches,
and the women are trying to get the injunction dis-
solved. The women have also prevailed on the Town
Council to declare all liquor selling illegal and that all
saloons shall be closed forthwith, so that the con.
turnacions Dunn is to be brought to terms in this way.
In Indiana, the movement began at Evansville, on
the 12 h Met This is a considerable tate it, and 200
women are in the organza. in, which hag declared
that by "moral •171..i04 " they will en lefty .ur to in-
duce the liquor dealers to abandon their bosiness, and
that "they will never cease pleating until their objet
Is attaiued" At Odumbus the women say they" have
enlisted for one year's steady, persisteut prayer for and
against rum sellers." At Jeffersonville the crusade
began on the 14th List. Two hundred women met in
a church and marched to the most prominent saloons.
At first they were refuted admittance and held
their meeting on the side-walk, hut at two o'hers
they were invited in, and the prop istors agreed to
quit the business if bought out. Enormene crowds
followed the women, and it is wad that drinking went
on as niers', even when they were besieging or occupy.
big the saloons. At Shelbyville, where the movement
was urgently started, the dealers gave notice that they
would cue for damages for Inas of husiness. Thereupon
an orgatisation was formed to fight the liquor traffics
thronch the Courts and Legislature, an act of incorpo-
ration being got and a e elite' of 200,000 dols, being
anneineced for the compiny. Whether the money has
been subs :sibyl does not appear. The "whisky
crusade in Ohio, Indians, and Kentucky is watched
With close attention by all parts r.J the country.

On the subject of this Anti•Whisky Crusade, the
Daily News publ6hks the following letter :
filr,—lt is almost or difficult to argue nit" an Editor as
With the master of thirty leglors but I met beg leave, on
behalf of a great nom aer of your readers, to take excel:Mr RIO
I statements In TOUT lead. r on the Female Crusade In
Gam azain sr Ipplingabuners in that Sts.o. that there le any
reale lltt arts h bet-sin Aube and pu oiic.houresls an assertion
whims ell the hot. 1 ha eerie paipably contra I irk, as d ass the
admission of the publicans that In pr portion as their chops 11.-
eters.- itrunkenn.ss.oo crime Incremee also. If there Is any such
practical Manes; why ph iulii a legal rs strictton be tint on
the number of the one and not of the other? Admit yoar
position and free trade In intoxicating liquors Is the only
lastest and reasonable Lane. The Go I Templare, like
other temperance associations, do encourage men and
Wow n to abstain rod di connect themselves from drink-
ing customs, but this procalora di- as not Involve a tolera-
tion of legAffsed f .clibles and temptations to drinking.
The Good Templisrs are firm prohloilionista, as well as
ardent missionarits of total sb.tlnerce. Ia le eleseig con-
sistent to Monica,. personal party, and at the lame
time support the suppreasion of 'raffle In Indecent puhliia.
tt ,to. The intiouation of Inefficacy aa applicable
ti the Maine Ishinor Law, can he met br an emphatic
denial. That law, 1411,e) It fillets. depends tersely
for he faithful enforceinenr, as do our English law., sap°n
the sentiment ant Comet, ix Mumma of the heel atop,
title, Where onto.: ad It Les accompliabed all that Its itlg-
Reuters ever chimed on Its Inmost% and Mins testimony has
recently bean barns to the valoe of ornhtllttoin legislation
by the Governors of %Igoe and alessaabusetta. Bait we have
evidence in our own country of the bent fits of the same
policy ; for lo every district where the liquor traffic Is ex-
cluded, a social condition is seen strikingly anterior to that
which is observable In district, where it Is carried on Io
enable the double experiment to he more fully made la the
Olj ci f the Permissive Bill, and Its oppoxente if they be-
lle/eh in their own ewe wool not refuse she challenge thus
fairly offersd.—l are, Mr, respectful? y.
DewSoN BURNS.
Sidney-Ms, King fienry'aroad , NW., Feb. 20.