Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-24
A Silent War.

A Silent War.
We make the following abstract of a
LOCKER On's" account in the Cleveland
Herald of the " Silent War;" conducted by
pen, ink and paper, at the headquarters Of
the Ohio Woman's Christian Temperance
Union -" If any one imagines that the pres
emit excitement in regard 10 prohibitory con-
stitutional amendment, now raging among
the women of Ohio, is going to die out
either before or after October next, let him
step into the headquarters of the Ohio
Women's Christian Temperance Union in
Cleveland and take look at things and he
will speedily experience a change of opinion
Everything about the spacious rooms wore
an Pm-going-to.stay air. At three great
tables sat eight or nine lady secretaries.
Seated at an ample table in the center of
the room, with various books of reference
at hand, one secretary was engaged in as
certaining the address of every pastor in
those counties of the state where no local
unions exist, and to which, as yet, no
speaker has been sent. To all such minis
tiers the secretary will forward Immediately
a copy of the amendment petition, inclosing
general letter, which asks each recipient
to put the tablets to gathering signatures.
In the next apartment is the headquarters of
the Woman's Christian Temperance League
of Cleveland, at present quite surrendered
to the State Union in furtherance of its
great undertaking, for little investigation
most convincingly showed that while pro-
hibitory constitutional amendment is the
unions first objective point, it keeps stead
lily in view another and scarcely less i'm
portant aim, namely the temperance and
Christian education Of many women and
children of the state. In the headquarters
of the league were eight women, absorbed
in as many different lines of work. A
young lady was dispatching to every ticket
agent in the state general letter calling
his attention to the unions remarkable at
tempt and asking his cooperation. Next
her, brief pen is addressing to each of
these agents copy of the petition. The
letter will tell him what to do with it. To
the presidents, superintendent and general
managers of the seventy one railways in
Ohio copies of the same letter and petition
were transmitted. This letter is plain,
direct epistle, which cannot fail to arouse
thought and interest in the minds of railroad
men concerning the subject it touches. Con-
temporaDeously with these, communica-
tion of like meaning and Importance was
mailed to the principal mining and manu-.
featuring corporations within the bounds of
the commonwealth In this case also copies
Of the petition kept the letter company. To
all these firms, to all the general officers of
the railroads, to every pastor and to the
presidents of local and county temperance
unions have been sent, for distribution or
for personal reading, copies of the unions
own publications, entitled: First, Prohibi-
49,, 7 4 la,, H..
License Laws Facts concerning them.
Third, Taxation of alcoholic beverages.
Fourth, Instructions relating to constitu-
tional amendments. Over one hundred and
fifty thousand of these documents have
found their way over the state, and will &C.
complish their mission to the people. Since
September Goth three general letters have
passed out of these headquarters to the
Ohio women. The first was call to join
heart and hand in an effort to Danish in
toxicating beverages from the state. The
second was entitled, How to go to work
and advised in short, crisp directions. How
to call conventions and mass meetings how
to plan for lectures, take collections, dis
tribute literature, enlist Christian minis
tiers how to interest persons who had never
engaged in temperance work; how to
arouse, drill and hold the children for pro-
hibitory amendment. The third cheered
burdened workers far away from the illu.
mination at headquarters pleaded for i'm
mediate and thorough organization warned
that laxity in effort, failure to discern the
time to improve the opportunity, would
lose them the battle. Fully sixty thousand
of these papers have gone forth to their mis-
sion. How much the light and teaching of
such papers is needed in certain portions of
the state is evident in the appended quota
ton from note to headquarters by one of
the eighteen lecturers and organizers work.
ing under the banner of the Ohio Woman's
Christian Temperance Union: Pm not
sorry | came. Even for this county the
unions movement is the wisest ever inaugu-
rated. l am proud of the way it is being
carried on. Even the letters | take from
the post-office bearing the unions mono
gram have in them an educating power.
The people around me look on learning. |
am connecting link between them and the
great army of noble women who have it in
their power to shut the saloons. Since
came to the county have not seen news
paper in any house, nor heard a woman
speak of the results of the recent elections,
nor of any reform movement, nor of any
subject pertaining to the onward march of
the world. | cannot find woman who
ever heard Of the Ohio Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. Most of theih have
dim remembrance of the crusade, but no
later news has reached here. Since leaving
home l have spent one night only in room
furnished with even the essential articles of
sleeping room. How would it seem to
you to be put to sleep in the loft of log
house To hang your clothing on line
ar oh I - -.
the morning, wash out of doors in a tin
basin and wipe on the family towel then
return to your room and dress your hair
crimps and all. without looking.glass, and
yet not thought cross the mind of your
kind entertainers that you lack anything p
Voices OF encouraging tone are heard from
many counties. A large supply of temper
ance publications was piled in heaps on the
floor OF this handsome parlor. In them
every phase of the liquor question is treated
One lady receives and fills all orders for
these publications. She is busy the day
long. Can anybody estimate the general
development of sentiment against alcoholic
beverages, which the reading of these vol
umes will effect the next year And the
next2 The general letters and tracts sent
forth in such profusion are the work of one
OF these women. Another supervises the
entire movement, keeping every department
up to its requirements. Still another moves
the speakers from point to point over the
field, and superintends vast correspond
ence, amounting to hundreds of letters
every week. Over three hundred amend.
ment addresses have been delivered since
October LIST by lecturers working under di-
rection of the union. Several of these per-
sons rendered inestimable service to the
amendment cause in Iowa. Among them
are Miss Frances Willard, Mrs. j, Ellen
Foster, Mrs. M. f. Goode, commandment.
chief of the iowa Band of Hope, and Hon.
George Woodford. Rev, MIR. Mott, Ger
man minister of fine address and rare abil-
ity, is bringing many Of his brethren into
line"
THERE is no greater mistake than to sup.