The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-03
THE WOMAN's BATTLE.
sToRMING THE cITADELS.
THE SHELBYVILLE CRUSADE.

SENTIMENT on THE QUEsTIoN-AN IMPAIR
TIAL VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
From Special Correspondent of the sentiael.I
SHELBYvILLE, IND, Jan. 30-Our usu-
ally quiet little city has been consider
ably worked up" during the past ten days
on account of the proceedings of An organ
ization recently formed here. known as the
''The Woman's Temperance Union" Its
name is sufficient to explain its object, hence
1 will confine myself as nearly as possible,
to facts. Last Monday morning several
ladies waited upon the rum sellers and drug
gists with a petition, desiring the saloon
keepers to close up, and praying the drug
gists to refrain from promiscuous sales.
Armed with this the little band marched
into the saloons, presented the same, and
met with decided refusal. Nothing daunt-
ed bv this their first failure. they met again
Tuesday afternoon at the NJ. e. Church, and
drew up another petition for the purpose of
prevailing upon drug men TO cOnfine their
sales to those only who came armed with a
phvsicianis prescription. This, too, proved
unavailable. But they were not to be thus
easily disposed OF, and at precisely two
o'cloek they again met, and with increased
forces they proceeded to the saloon of George
Deprez, where they held a brief prayer meet
ing Mr.. Deprez very kindly opened his
doors, bade them enter, and did all IN his
power to make them feel comfortable. But
Deprez would not consent to sign the petit
ton, maintaining his right to sell, and TAX
ing refuge in the law as his only excuse. He
seems to think his business a perfectly legit-
| innate one so long as the law re-
cognizes bis right to continue it.
| Yesterday Thursday afternoon the ladies
to the number of about fifty, after their
usual preliminary meeting at the Christian
church, started once more upon their novel
errand, this time going to the saloon OF o. @.
Keck. Kech refused to allow them to enter
his saloon, but despairing not, they
KNELT UPON THE SIDEWALK
And held short prayer meeting, after
which several of the union conversed with
Kecx, but could get no satisfactory reply as
to whether he would or would not close up.
After leaving this place they went to the
j wholesale and retail house of Messrs. Rob-
ertson & Nickum, but were again refused
/ admittance and were again compelled to re-
main outside. However, the exercises were
conducted in the same manner as at Keck's,
after which they repaired to the church.
The meeting having been called to
order, the president, Mrs. John Elliott,
asked if any of the members were desirous
of communicating such things as would be
in manner beneficial to the society. After
a few moments of almost painful silence
Mrs. G. III. DCnn knelt in front of the pulpit
pathetic prayers / ever listened to. The
words We're we'll chosen, the sentiment beau
tiful, and all who heard it pronounced il the
! most touching ever made in the city. This
/ afternoon another meeting was held in the
} Methodist Episcopal church, and after the
appointment of several committees and a
, brief season of worship. about fifty ladies
again sailed forth upon their mission. The
first saloon visited was that of "Mai." j. G.
Maize. Here the proprietor gave them per-
mission to enter, which they did,
and again they knelt and prayed. They
! sang two hymns, and then presented their
petition. The "major" very kindly in
: formed them of his intention to quit, but de
r sired their assistance in obtaining another
$ business. To which they very readily as
: sented. Leaving the major to reflect upon
4 their proceedings, they then wended theii
:, way, followed by motley crowd to the sa
: loon of August Deprez, brother of the one
d visited Thursday afternoon. Mr.. Depre.
met them at the door, and told them not Il
enter Here were they again compelled Il
use the highway. Several prayers were made
and as many hymns sung, when they agaiI
adjourned to the NJ. e. Church, there to b
dismissed until tomorrow. Much interes
: and eagerness is manifested in regard to th
result of to-morrow's work. All of the sa
r looms have been visited with tn
exception of the one on Washington stree
!. owned by Silas Metzger. Mrs. Metzger ha
made
i' SERIOUS THREATS
= AS to what she intends doing should sh
receive call, and fears of row are indulge,
in by both sides. In a conversation witt
. that lady to-day, she expressed herself a
4, ready and willing to receive the union, ant
q said that she would tell them some plail
q truths, meaning that she intended assailinj
:. their private characters. butt do not think sh
would if she could. She is feeling badly ol
account of an article in to-day
Commercial (Cincinnatn, referring t.
her children as being "beer- blooming
: This movement on the part of the ladies ha
70 attracted the attention not only of those ii
: the city, but the entire county. The peo
Il pie are coming from the country in ever
available vehicle, and watch the proceeding
> with an interest that completely submerge
g all thoughts of a political nature. Severa
9 of the leading anti-temperance men propos
!, forming themselves into a society for mutua
protection, and declare themselves firm il
. their purpose to overcome the efforts of th'
d temperance people. They are of the belle
% that many of the middle men Will join then
5, i'm the adoption of resolutions denouncin
II the action of the extremists. | have tal1el
1t no little pains to inform myself regarding
u PUBLIC SENTIMENT ON THIS SUBJECT,
4 And must say that my views have changes
h somewhat within the past twenty-fou
9 hours When the women first took up thei
y line of march, the event was So sudden tina
e. men stood in the attitude of wonder, and
e was hard to get an unbiased opinion. Thel
d there were but two sides-extreme tenn
e. perance people, and the extreme anthem
a. perance wing; bnt to-day the middle mel
l. have come to the surface, and are giving ex
r preston to their feelings pretty freely. On
n man will denounce the whole Proceeding
le without reserve, and declare he would leav
1t his wife, disinherit his daughter, and driv
1t upon the precipitous verge of pauperism hi
a decrepit mother, if either should join tn
l. mild-mannered, matronly Sisters Union.
p They see in it nothing but the self-sam
IS spirit that mobbed John Hardn's salool
is here some years since, and declare that
st the women persist, blood will follow Blu
S. this class is composed mostly of the extrem
l. anti-temperance element. Another ma
Is will say. at is Gods work, and the wome