The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-07-19
TEMPERANCE AND NEWSPA-

So far rs our observation goes, and we
have watched the matter with some
care, newsDapers cannot rely on the cur
rent temperance sentiment for great
degree Of friendship or support. What
Is called the temperance party IL as
tickle as n March wind in its attach
Inents. A paper may be ever 80 true to
the cause of temperance and yet never
receive any sort OF recognition at the
hands OF the temperance party as q par
~. Let some humbug concern start up
like Van Benefits ProhibitIOnist, and
1t receives support and encouragement,
while the local press, which does the
real work in the communities, goes un-
recognized. There are dozens of local
papers in this state which have done
and are every day doing more for tenn
perance than the PrOhibitIOnIst ever did
or ever will do, which are oftener Gen.
sured than praised. In the campaign for
the prohibition amendment, some years
ago, there was q little scabby temper
ance paper at Lawrence which claimed
and received the support Of the temper
ance people OF the state, receiving con-
tributions and patronage, while many of
the county papers which did twice as
much for the cause In that fight as the
Lawrence concern were given the go by.
This Is one of the weak points in the
temperance fight in this state. We have
often thought this grows out
Of the fact that many engaged In tenn
peranee work are fanatical specialists.
or men Of one idea. aud must have q pa
per Of that sort or they are not happy.
II the money which 10 spent Oh humbug
temperance papers like the one
IN Lawrence TO which we
have alluded. or which is now being
spent on the bowling Mr.. Bennett, were
judiciOusly spent in circulating permaa
nent and respectable county papers,
twice as much good would he done.
The same remark will apply with much
force Ia temperance lecturers. The work
Tor temperance is mostly d0Re by local
effort. Ii the temperance people have
|
to he extended Ia those who do the real
work. The newspapers "a a rule get
| more kicks and abuse from the noisy
temperance people than they do favors
Let paper hut differ with them, and
the cry ID at once raised that il is be-
trayIng sour cause" This cry Is often
raised by men whom the papers know
TO be arrant humbugs, who are simply
riding temperance as n hobby, but
they attract attention and the temperance
people stand agape. The temperance
work Is run too much by fits and starts
Its opponents are sOlidifed while the
temperance leaders are too often shoot
Ing bird shot with very scattering
gun, often firing into their own ranks
while the opposition use fire arms which
carry TO the spot.
We have been led 70 these remarks by
noticing a good deal of the useless work
which Is now being done by sO-called
temperance leaders. and because q grsaI
many meritOrious temperance county
papers are tagging for subsistence while
the notorious Van Bennett. who changes
his coat every change Of the moon, il
getting fat on the tenn
perance effort of the state. We do
not make them because We have any per
sonal complaint 10 make. They do mol
apply to this paper, because we neveI
counted anything especially on the SUD-
port of the temperance people, and
therefore have no grievance. We have
simplK attempted to point out one d
the errors Of the temperance party
which it ought to correct. 1t ought
TO strengthen good many home paper
who can help 1t, and will help il
rather than 10 scatter its efforts in &
direction thai will do no good. 1t is tn,
home papers 1t must rely on. and no
the so-called temperance organs.