Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-02-27
THE WAR
In oetumwa against Intemper
anc0,

In ottumwa against Intempsr
Tho Blue Ribbon Army Now Num-
bers over 1900.
Lewis Opera House, at an early
hour last evening, was packed to suf-
location with people, old and young,
to listen to the address Of John w.
Drew on temperance.
The services were preceded by the
singing of songs by q choir Of some
40 ladies, led by Rev. J. Sunderland,
prayer by J. w. Hardin, of Des
Moines. After these preliminaries
Mr.. Drew commenced his address,
which was plain, practical, and by
turns eloquent. He related some of
his own sad experience as an inebri-
ate, showing how he lost character,
business and friends, and how by re-
forming he found staunch friends
who helped him up again in the
world. He gave . history of the
temperance reformation in New
Hampshire. He said that State had
been one of the worst places in the
Union for intemperance; towns not
larger than Ottumwa having over
one hundred saloons in them; but
since the Inauguration of Reform
Clubs, in 1872, 10000 people had unit
ed with them, out of an aggregate
population Of little over 100000.
These clubs still maintained their or
ganization and were doing more for
the cause Of temperance than any
thing else. He compared the work
of temperance reform clubs to the re-
lief of Washington (Which was
threatened with capture by Early
while Grant was laundering away
before Petersburg) by Sheridan and
the hu-ling back Of the discounted
hosts of treason. His peroration
was eloquent and effective and had
very visible effect on the audience.
He then called for signers and DR..
Lathrop, Con Lewis, Nose Koontz,
H. l.. Waterman, Fred Nichols and
r. L. Tilton came forward and took
the pledge. Lathrop was Immediate
ly called out and mounted the stage.
His speech was short but effective.
He said the "way for q man to quit
drinking was
TO QUIT
which fact touched the question in
the right spot. Tapering off won't
do, as q man invariably gets the last
end the biggest. Tilton also was
called out and made some very ap-
propriate remarks which were loud
ly applauded by the audience. After
this the pledge was circulated through
the audience, and 2Os signatures were
secured, making the total signers
now number 1,7OO.-Datly of the 10th
Last night was tho sixth meeting
held in the city, counting two on Sab
bath, in the interest of temperance re-
form. On this occasion the usual or
der was reversed and gentlemen &C.
cupied the front seats while the Ia
dies took places in the rear where
rowdies and boys usually "most do
congregate" at public meetings, and
the change proved to have been a
wise and good measure, for there
was good order and not single boy
whistled or hissed during the contin-
uance of the meeting. Besides the
small children were excluded and
the hall was packed with fully 100
adults.
The usual singing exercises were
gone through with and Rev. l. p.
Tetee offered prayer. Mr.. Drew
made his appearance foe minutes be-
hind time, and announced that Mr..
Getchell, of Des Moines, would speak.
His address lasted about fifteen min.
utes and was devoted mainly to a
statistical review of the liquor bust
ness, showing its bearing upon socie-
ty in q criminal point Of view. He
said 100000 men died annually from
the cause of Intoxicating drink, $780,
600 annually became moderate drink
ers who gradually graduated into
excessive drinkers, and 80 per cent. of
the crime and pauperism Of this
country was directly tracesble to the
use Of intoxicating beverages. His
address was listened to attentively.
Mr.. Drew followed in half hours
address, in his usual effective style,
which we shall not attempt to report.
To feel the force OF his addresses you
must hear them. He somehow,
while not being a smooth or very ell
oquent speaker, has about him q
magnetism and enthusiasm that car
ries everything before him. We
think that it is the intense earnest
ness and determination to succeed
that gives him his influence more
than anything else.
Upon the close of his address q |
song was sung and signers were call
cd for. A goodly number responded
to the call, among whom we noticed
as prominent citizens,S. B. Evans, ed
itor Of the Ottumwa Democrat, Hon.
E. II. Stiles, DR.. S. B. Thrall, Frank
Madden, T. r. Buckley and w. H.
Farmer. After number more had
signed the pledge, whom we did not |
recognize, a commercial traveller, q |
stranger, came forward, took the
pledge and made brief address, say
ing that he had never been so effectu-
ally convinced before of the sin Of
moderate drinking, and from this
time on he should be guilty no more,
and he hoped that every one present
would sign the pledge, He should, |