New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
THE WAR ON WHISKY.
THE WORK IN INDIANA.


IN THE LEAD-THE DRUGGISTS pLEDGE-CBms-
TIAN TRAINING or A sALOOS-KgEPERS CHILDREN
OPERATIONS or THE BAXTER LAW.
fFRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or TIN rRrBUSg.I
RICHMOND Ind. March S.-fhe women's temper
ance movement has fairly taken bold OF this city OF
700 Inhabitants but do not find that the Indiana
women yet quite as enthusiastic or 40 successful
az their sisters of Southern and Central Ohio But
they have no cause for discouragement That
their success is DELAYED is no doubt
owing In some degree TO the fact that the most sp
proved methods. according TO worldly wisdom were
not followed in the Inauguration OF the movement.
Earnest Christian women began the work In Rich
mond nearly two weeks ago. bot not until last night
did they have ono of those grand mass meetings. at
tended by mon who lead in business. and women
who lead in society-meetings of the kind that
at once stamps the movement with the seal of pub
lie appreciation and also strikes terror to the liquor
sellers by showing them that the praying women
have might as well as right at their back. Such
| meeting having now been held. and the sympathy
of the entire religious community being enlisted in
tho work success may be expected at no dstantday.
A brief history Of the work in Richmond win
show wherein the Indiana and Ohio plans agreo and
| differ. The war on whisky began in this city with
| meeting of 10 Christian women. many Of whom
were members Of the Society Of Friends at the
| rooms of tho Young Mems Christian Ass0cia-
| ton. Several ministers were present. and
| agreed with the that tho Ohio move
ment in some form ought TO be begun
here 1t stated at this meeting that there woro
thirty unlicensed saloons and licensed saloon in
| the city The organization Of League was deemed
| advisable, and to this end a committee was ap-
pointed TO report plan Of organization at en-
| adjourned meeting. The second meeting was held
| Il. Al
Speeches were made by both men and women.
principally Quakcrs. and Womans Ten
perance League, with President Vice-President,
and Secretary was duly organized. 1t then
voted that on the third day thereafter the ladies
should assemble at a. M for prayer and then go
| forth for the purpose of prayer for and with those
who are engaged in selling intoxicating drinks" In
| the meantime the druggists wero visited by COM
mttee and all, save one. DR.. Boppert, signed the
| following pledge
| Being in sympathy with and desiring TO ard any
movement that will lessen the evils Of intemperanoe,
we druggists Of the CITY Of Richmond. do agree not
to sell any spirituous intoxicating liquors except
| upon tue prescription OF physician. or IN cases
| where circumstances render the procuring OF
such prescription impractcable. and tho chor-
actcr Of the parties a2plyinS, I,,, ana ,Sas our
| it will be used for medicinal purposes only.
This is understood not to apply 20 the ssio
Of alcohol for in the mechanical arts and sciences
nor of wine for sacramental purposes upon inc written
order OF minister reputable member oi the regoas
upon us so long as the WOmens Temperance Ieagae Is
in active existence the Temperance cause can DC ad
yanced thereby"
| The women think they have done great and
good work in stopping the sale of liquor by drug
gists, and though nothing else may be accomplished.
they feel that their abors have not been in vain'
Dr. Boppert however still resists their entreatios
few days ago, after season of prayer at tho
Friends Meeting House, the women went to this
mans store in a body AS they filed into the room
the leader extended her hand in friendly way TO
the proprietor but he declined TO receive
| It. and gruffly informed his visitors thai
| their company was not wanted. The hint was Dot
taken for they at once lifted their voices in song
| and then united in prayer. The doctor now iost
temper and ordered them out of tho house, saying.
| "I,m tirod of this thing; go and pray In the
| churches Some of the praying band were fright
| ened and retreated as perhaps all ought 70 nave
| DONE but a few remained and prayed and sung
| awhile longer The saloon vistations were
| made at first by small number OF
women who solemnly pledged themselves 70
| "work for the determination Of the whisky
| and beer traffic In such ways as the Lord may
drectp On tho first afternoon the visits were very
mietly made with the idea that some of the saloon
| keepers might be thus persuaded to abandon their
| business But though courteously received, these
visits had no perceptible effect. On the next Gay
| larger number of women engaged in the work ana
knelt in prayer before tho doors Of several saloons
whose proprietors refused to let them in. And 80
the work has gone on from day to day with
ont great variety of incident. When admitted the
ladies have prayer-meetng IN the saloon when
denied admttance they pray and sing in the street.
but by no means in q noisy or ostentatious manner
Only one saloon has been closed but Others are par
IL ID yhoh
remarkable character. When they first visited him.
the ladies pleaded with him earnestly. He replied in
an exhortation to them as to the treatment OF
hired girls He professed to be well disposed
and charitable as anybody. and offered IS to one OF
his visitors who had spoken of her poverty. lie
said he was Christian in sentiment. and his good
| deeds would outweigh his evil ones. On another
occasion after the ladies had sung and prayed No
brought his wife, neios and three children INTO the
room, and having introduced them, remarked
that he wished tho ladies to hear the emu
dren sing in order that they might sec thA
his little ones were receiving Christian education
and were being "trained in the way they should
go1 The children the youngest four and tho
eldest nine years of sge-then sang. very creditaby
the Sunday-scho hymn, IL love tho name
Jesus" Their father then asked if any lady presen'
had children who were better trained or who ~
fiected more credit upon their parents. The ladl"
taken aback. but took refuge as usual in prayer
and song. -,
Richmond ia the homo Of the author Of the famous
Baxter law of Indiana, a law resembling In so'ns
estimable English Quaker. renowned for good WORK %
and zeal in all reform movements. Ihe peopte LUZ
are divided in opinion as TO the effect OF the Ia
which bears MS ; name M ~ prossniio ssnins I saloon
the consent OF majority, Oh lnS a ~ "a
of the ward township in which sncn & saloon rssrs