, 1874-12-06

0u8 uhy uu HulCA Lud WQlIlIu4t uAF6 4e1aul6
to learn. Its course has been wisely conserv-
ative. It has done solid good. We are glad
to know that it has met with the support and
the success which it deserves
PRACTICAL WORK FOR TEMPERANCE RE-
FORMERS.
If the people who ara interested in stem
perance reform" really desire to make their
work practical, let them go at tangible and
well-de6ned objects. We will suggest one to
begin with: Let the clergy, and the women,
and the temperance organizations, unite in
inducing the manufacturers, builders, shop
keepers, and others who employ large or
small numbers Of people, to change their
payday from Saturday to Monday, or some
other day in the early part of the week.
Let them prepare pledges for the
employers to sign, binding the signers to
make this change. It is reasonable request,
which no fair-minded man can refuse, if he is
persuaded that it will result to the benefit Of
the clerks, mechanics, and worHngmen. He
pays out no more money, and paysit no more
frequently, and with no more trouble to him
self. He simply changes the day of payment,
and If, by doing so, he can contribute to the
welfure Of others, and Of the city, he cannot
refuse.
Here is the argument for the practical
reformers to use. Before the panic there we're
5000 saloons in Chicago; to-day there are only
2.:,O0 This reduction is the direct result of
workingmen of all classes being thrown out
Of employment, receiving reduced wages, or
having little money to spend in the grog-
shops. If, then, the refonners can divert the
money which now finds its way to the grog-
shops from men who still have employment,
they can close up more saloons We candid
II believe that the change Of payday from
Saturday to Monday would force 500 more
grog- shops to suspend, and enable their own
suits. The reason is obvious. When men
receive their money Saturday afternoon, it is
with the Prospect Of holiday before them
There are two nights end day intervening
before they are required to resume their
labors. They are in social mood The
holiday affords the opportunity, and the sa-
looms the temptation. A couple go of TO-
gether for social drink They meet dozen
others doing likewise This leads to infinite
possibilities in the way of debauch. A
drunken spree, IN arrest, night in the lock-
up, a Monday mornings fine, and q loss of
day or two of employment, more than e1-
hausts their weekly stipend. Or, as one
drink leads to another, so a number
of drinks mny lead to the small
gambling houses that are spread about as
nets to catch Just such fish, and SO the
earnings may be squandered- Or nights
carouse which is not slept of may be renewed
next day, and prolonged spree may be the
result, which does not end till the wages
money is all gone. The process may vary,
but the result is always pretty much the
same. II employees were paid, however, on
Monday morning, there would be nothing
for them to do but enter upon their work.
They would have weeks labor before
them. Tired out at night, they would
separate, and go home to their families, their
money in their pockets, as naturally as they
do now. The difference would be happy
home, with fuel, and food, and clothing, in
stead of desolate household Of wan women
and starving children. Here is chance for
good work. The plan is not entirely expert
mental Wherever it has been tried it hes
worked admirably. In England it hes
been put in operation very generally, and
always with good results In many of the
large cities and manufacturing centres of this
country it has been inaugurated to advan-
tage. But We do not know Of any systematic
and organized movement to bring about |
general change. Here is the chance for the
temperance rcformers in Chicago. Let them
61 date ahead,-say JAN l, 1875,-prepare
their pledges, and start out their volunteer |
agents simultaneously in the various parts of
The city. The only objection they are likely
TO meet is selfish one On tile part Of certain |
employers, who will complain Of necessary
cessation from work for q short time Monday |
or Tuesday to pay of the men This may be |
by saying that the loss of a few I
minutes time will be very small in each indi- |
7idnal case, and will be far more than made |
1p in steadieran better work from q set of
men who do not go on sprees O Saturday |
lights. If the temperance societies Of Chi
ago want to close 500 grog-shops, and save
million year of the wages Of the working
classes for the use Of their families, this is
he way to do it.
WHAT W0NEN ARE DOING.
That very useful, elastic, and suggestive
lrticle, the United States Census, furnishes
ome very interesting facts which have d.