Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-04
CONDITION Of tine aeFosm N clva
'dao,. raak,on Rs.. and Do1o,oia.

Reform club was Organized. The neuclus
OF the organization was composed of half q
dozen men, from which the club has grown
to membership of l4O. One hundred and
forty men who formerly drank more or less,
have pledged themselves to practice total
abstinence. What mass Of misery and
Voc In the aggregate 10 thus averted, and
what corresponding amount Of true, genu-
inc happiness is gained to the individuals,
and their families, who have forsworne the
madening bowl and its concomitant wretch
edness for true it ID, that misery, sorrow,
ruin, despair, death aud hell lurk in tine
path Of the destroyer, alcohol. s
The club has adopted constitution and
bylaws tie foundation of which is the
Murphy pledge. No membership fee is re.
quired, and thus far. no assessments have
been made upon the members to meet cur
rent expenses. The sum of eighty dollars
has up to date been expended in paying
necessary expenses, such as rent, fuel, oil,
chairs, furniture and for services Of janitor.
This sam has been raised by voluntary con-
tributions from the members of the club.
Books, pictures, furniture and papers have
been donated 10 the club by ladies and gen.
tlemsn Of Yankton. who are friendly to the
temperance cause. The money set apart by
the Ladies Temperance Union, realized
from the tableau exhibition in the Congre.
gational church. We are informed, has been
appropriated in the purchase of carpets for
the club hall on Cedar street. The wisdom
Of putting expensive carpet in this hall i,
questioned BY quite q number of the re-
formed men, for the reason that it will be
almost impossible to take proper care Of a
rich carpet in free hall, situated as it is on
the ground floor on 4 level with the side
walk. Especially will this be apparent in
rainy and muddy weather. Besides fine
carpets will not correspond with the plain
chairs and table, owned by the club. Office
mating would be more appropriate. Again
the sum Of fifty dollars in the hands of the
club might be more usefully employed than
in buying carpets or other furniture not ab-
solutely required. The current expenses of
the club must be met; janitor must be
employed and paid. and sometimes an un.
fortunate victim TO alcohol when raised
from degradation needs little pecuniary
assistance outside Of passive sympathv-re-
quires something more substantial than pre-
cept and advice, in which case, money in
the treasury is more convenient and can be
made Instrumental in more practical good,
than if tied up in fine furniture and elegant
carpets. Palaces cannot be reared in day,
and those who expect to. prosper in life
must practice economy and live within their
means. As with individuals, so with So
cieties, clubs and in all the varied relations
of life.
Another consideration arises in viewing
the financial aspect Of the club, and that
consists in the fact that many members OF
the club are transient members-here to-day
and away tomorrow. Many haye already
left Yankton some are on the river and
others have scattered into various localities
so that in reality not more than half the
members of the club are permanently 10.
Gated in Yankton. OF this half the majority
are poor men and unable to pay any large
amount of money for the support of the
club. 1t may be said that they can pay lib
orally to the club, because they have hereto
fore pandered liberally to the saloons. All
but their families should now get the bene6,
of what they save instead of the club. Blu,
it is not the intention of the writer to enter
into arguments in this article, further than
to present facts, and in presenting facts it i,
done to inform the public as to how the
club is sustained. 1t has received nc
money from any source, except from it.
members. The subscription taken up in
the Congregational church went to the TEN.
perance alliance, and not to the Reform
club. The main idea is to provide suit.
able place for reformed men to hold meet.
ings, and in which to meet for friendly in
tercourse-a place where men may pass an
idle hour more pleasantly aud proftably
than in saloons or on street corners. There
should be no lavish and extravagant expen.
diture of money for the purpose of display
Carpets and fine furniture are appropriate
for parlors but out Of placs for public hall
located as the Yankton Club hall is located
The Reformed club of Yankton:.as a temper.
ance organization is success-more 70 than
any previous temperance organization ever
instituted in Yankton. A few men have
violated their pledges, but there is ground
for encouragement in the fact that nearly
all the hrrdest drinkers who have signed
the pledge are adhering to it manfally, and
seem determined to free themselves from
the slavery Of appetite. 1t is but the exer.
else Of reason and common sense that they
should be firm in such purpose, for sobrie.y
leads to prosperity and happiness, and
drunkenness leads ON surely to disgrace,
despair and death.
What is necessary in order that this re.
form movement shall become permanent