The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-13
WAR ON JOHN BARLEYCORN
OYER SErEv THOUSAND SIGNATURES
no THE PLEDGE IN ELMIR1.
The Good Fellows OF the Town Leading on
Talk with Col. Ceid,veiI-specimen Cases
The Deserted Barrooms- Hibbons


wonderful. perfectly amazing. Why. I've been
through political campaigns for years. Two
spoken at meetings and seen mon all gone with
political excitement. but that Is nothing TO this
temperance blaze. II has burned through the
southern tier like prairie fire. and IL won't
stop until it has burned clean"
Col Caldwell Is one of the most prominent
men. and the most popular man. in Emira. His
reputation is more than local. He has been
Mayor OF the city. proprietor OF the ADVERTISER
Colonel OF n regiment OF the National Guard
went out IA Muior and served through tho war;
was once clerk Of tho Assembly. and was also
clerk OF the Constitutional Convention Of 1867
His experience is. therefore. varied and yet no
asserts that he never saw anything eaualling
the present excitement. As in Middletown tho
movement assumed n peculiar and local form OF
attack and method 80 here IL is even more
marked. and il altogether unique. The Elmlra
movement i noticeable. first. by reason Of the
men who led on, and, second. by their style of
lend 'rship. II has been. from the optsiart.
almost wholly in tho hands of the Iovial. hale
ana heutty. easy going men OF the world hero,
who have heretofore thought tho first act of
courtesy was 10 open u bottle of wine with a
friend. and whose social gatherings while not
debauches, Were always ehlivncd by the pop
ping " cprks. These M" tn" M who. almost IA
If 10y prcconccrtcd action suddenly took the
pledge. and have boon acllyGly at work ever
You want TO know some Of the special re-
one. ] am moi II yer have been drunkard. but
took my wine or something stronger when |
was wth the boys IN political meetings or So
chilly. never thought II WIS possible To- divorce
political gath"rinrs from drinking. and you may
know We ha'r some Er'Hy RED h2t times here
during campaign. We'll. six weeks ul.n, WArn
the meetings had just began here. my wife
asked me to 70. said. yes: would rather
eot into the hull somcwhow found myself say
ing To- myself. Why not sign that pledge and
keep it" couldn't r. s.st the impulse, aud
al alt..fl
20 with me. She was glad enough to do It. So
went, and the people here that have lived
with go long. and from whom have had some
prominent positions. thought II queer 10 see mo
mar ching down the asl". Butthcy ehcorod and
apluuicd. That's my case.
Then took right hold. and have boon speak
Ing almost every night since. But come. I've
81 an hour or tyWo. II you want 70 see practical
you first to the barroOm where tho biggest bust
mss ia Gown has hcyn done -
We went 10 the harroom in the rear Of the
Iathhun House. No one was there but an old
woman rubbing the floor;
Are you keeping bar?' the woman was
"Shurc. no. but thin might. for It's niyir a
pinnrv comes into it now like they used
The Bartender came in shortly. and after buy
ing somc cigars Col. Caldwell said.
Joe. j was up speaking in watkins last
night. aud who do you SUPPOSE signed z"
ION | don't know" SAID Jor indiiIcrcnty
We'll Commodore Foote and his son-in-law
Joc started back an almost lot tumblcr
drop 'Cummgiore Fooie.' lac at length
E.-prd. We'll. I'll he -"
Irs. sir w,'ve got the Commodore. Lots 81
New Workers know the Commodore. H. owns
the lake steamers. you know. just sit down
hel' am smoks a c,sar ~ So Low many
their II O'Clock horn"
W waited hall an hour and during that time
tim two mon came in. Onoof them apolosiled
"a Col; Caldwell aud said he met "a stranger n
friend and asAod nam ~. y goi ~iN barrels
| Of whishcy' he added. and INr gOt temper
| NJ t. let \ pn sI4
lts got to be drank ~ drnk Il myself"
Al, lgH ~ n g.l mat very l.y.y. business, said
| weeks axe that bar would have been crowded at
this liine of lay. Look Mrross the street You
weeks AZ that was u saloon doing lively bust
ness. The proprietor has signed the pledge.
business; 1hcrr's another On Baldwin street.
ana another On Lac street mind you, AL FASH
ionnhlr rla'se. TICS" men shut uroi their own
accord ana there are many uthcr- who will have
t.,n cause ih'y haN. no bus ness
W INT fHuu ne people here wear blue rib
ThuSD are our badges. Every person you soc
who has ne on has signed the pl' l-e. and YOU
SEE they are ou night out ~ every ten You meet =
/ INUW u Nu n r shoulder md ~eiXsd Ills hand.
! Tonrs were streaming, down her cheeks God
bic > you. Colonel, my husband has signed the
pledge never expected 10 be - happy
W'hal hardly gone halfa block when man
/ came uInn1 III A.l uut nus hani. colonel.
/ hr said, Nv" done II. Il came pretty hard, but
| ! lui my nanc, down this morning. and my
' I'm rIi' Il IT, J9hn." That's the way
they do.' he continued, turning to me- Lots
/ other Why. some of the worst soaks in
/ I!mira mon that you cQuiln't -ti J. a iIn into
| without ~A!sNey oOzins out. are our byst work.
/ In the headquarters Of the local society tho
record of thoec who have signed is kept 1t
clude nine. nth- of tur drinking mon Il all
srnle-. Ihe secretary said that on an average