The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-20
A Famous Society.

On the night of the 22d of April, 1877,
three well-known newspaper reporters
we're sitting in the Tenth street police
station, protessediy in search of criminal
items, but in reality talking temperance
in default of news. One of the trio was
somewhat addicted to drink, and the
other two we're urging him to reform and
unite with some temperance orgauiza-
ton. He said that he knew of none
convenient. "Well, said one ofthem, an
active temperance man, eve will start
one here now" every WE'LL" said the
other, and no sooner said than DONE
The reporters and police officers who
happened to be present met and effected
an organization, electing the station.
keeper president and reported of the
Washington Star secretary. Seven per-
sons signed the pledge and joined the
society as original MEMBERSHIP three
reporters, three policemen and the sta
ton keeper. The next step was to de-
termine on name.
The society referred this important
matter to the temperance advocate who
had given the initial impulse to the Or
ganization. AS it happened, three or
four days before this casual gathering
Mrs. Hayes had declared her determina-
ton to Danish wine from the state din
ners at the White House. Her decision
had been discussed by the group earlier
in the evening and generally approved. 1t
occurred to our temperance friend, there
fore, that it would be proper and timely
to christen the organization 'The Mrs.
r. B. Hayes Temperance Society" of
Washington. eve ought to give the
lady our moral support" he declared
"None know better than we the intem-
perance which prevails in official and
fashionable society, and the example set
at the White House should be encour-
aged and supported" The sentiment
met hearty approval, and the name sug-
gested was unanimously adopted.
Just at this moment it happened that
q poor fellow who had been the worse tor
liquor was released. He was seized upon
and urged to join the society. 1t was
said by the founder who, as the CORES.
pondent of no less devoted Democratic
sheet than the Hartford Times could not
be expected to read President Hayes
title clear, that as eight men elected Mr..
Hayes it was eminently proper that
eight men should elect Mrs. Hayes as a
patron of the society. The stranger saw
the logic Of the argument for reform, aud
thereupon Joined the pledge, and associ-
ated himself with the other seven as an
original member. And this was the
origin of the "Mrs r. B. Hayes Temper
ance Society,""
The meeting ma'!e paragraph, on
barren night, for each Of the reporters,
and it duly appeared the ext.morningin
the Washington and Baltimore newspa.
pers. One of the the reporters furnished
it also to the agent of the Associate
Press, who sent it all over the country.
Next morning the members woke up TO
find their club, if not themselves, famous.
As have said, the anti-wine decision of
Mrs. Hayes was fresh in all minds and
the telegraph announcement of the for.
nation at the federal capital of tenn
perance society bearing the name and
presumably having the approval of the
Presidents wife came at the precise time
when it would be likely to attract wide
attention and remark.
It is unnecessary to 60 in detail into
the subsequent history of the society.
Finding themselves famous, the men,
bers, or rather the news triumyirate who
formed the active working nucleous.
managed to keep the society in the
public eve until it assumed really aston.
ishing proportions. Large meetings
under its auspices were held in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and subsocieties were
granted charters on one application in
many parts of the country. Mrs. Hayes
naturally inquired into the character of
the organization, and found that back of
chaff it was in sober realitity accom-
plishing much good, and thus permitted
the continued use of her name.
The society grew and prospered, until
in an evil hour it met tragic end. The
three newspaper men had constituted
themselves q Committee of Agitation.
But unfortunately, one of the agitators
became himself agitated, at paragraph
which appeared in Philadelphia news
paper. The Presidential party had gone
on an excursion near the City of Broth
erly Love, and reporter, in giving an
account Of the proceedings, had said
that Mrs. Hayes had INDUCED in beer
or wine. 1t was rule of the Committee
of Agitation that nothing should be pub
lished without the unanimous vote Of the
three, but this information concerning
Mrs. Hayes so shocked hisreporter that,
without consulting his colleagues on the
committee, be furnished to several cor
respondents and the agent of the Associ-
ated Press note to the effect that the
Society had adopted that night a resolu-
ton that "Mrs. Hayes was as big fraud,
as her husband"
The dispatch was bombshell. Mrs.
Hayes was, of course, very much annoyed,
and promptly communicated to a gentle
man that the report of her indulgence in
liquor was entirely unfounded. The
two remaining members of the committee
met and voted that the telegraphed re-
port was unauthorized and false. But it
was of no avail. The society had COM
mitted suicide. The ''keen bright sun
light of publicity" was turned upon it,
and its unique characteristics were in q
measure exposed, and "the Mrs. R. B.
Hayes Temperance Society" is no more.
I relate these memoirs as the founder
tells them to me.
A correspondent tells good story