The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-23
Prohibition Victory in Atlanta
BY PRESIDENT E. o. THAYER, Of CLARB
UNIVERSITY.

AAoAAoAOAoA f1OloIy III htldutd'
BY PRESIDENT E. o. THAYER, Of CLARK
UNIVERSITY.
Victory for the right was the glorious
result on Wednesday, November %, of
the most remarkable contest against the
liquor traffic ever waged in this or any
country. 1t was remarkable in respect
to the character of the contestants, tae
methods of conducting the campaign,
the intense enthusiasm aroused, the
great obstacles overcome by the temper
ance side, the arguments of facts brought
out for use in similar campaigns else
where, and the Incidental results brought
about, which are hardly less valuable
than the main point gained. Let us
look at each of these points carefully.
There was a very clear line of demar-
cation between the men arrayed on
either side In the temperance phalanx
were drawn up all the clergy, white and
colored, the leading lawyers, physicians,
business men, and skilled mechanics
On the anti-Prohibition side were the
brewers, wholesale and retail liquor
dealers, owners of real estate rented by
saloonists, the Kimball House lessees
and the employees, and, as usual, all the
lower elements of the city. OF course,
| there were few respectable men, but
none outside of the classes mentioned
took any prominent part in the cam
paign. The Young Mems Prohibition
Club, one thousand strong, was born in
prayer meeting eff the Young Mems
| Christian Association, and enrolled many
| of the best men of the city. The tenn
perance speakers were clergymen, United
States Senators, judges, and professors; /;
on the liquor side, two small justices, a
/ few merchants, and several colored poll
ticians. The audiences of the one, num-
bered by thousands, were composed of
the best white gentlemen and ladies of
the city and the cultured and respecta-
BILE colored people; while the other con-
sisted of few hundreds of men inter
ested in the sale or use of whisky and
the lowest elements of the colored popu-
lation. So marked vas the difference in
the appearance of those who wore the
blue ard those who wore the red that it
excited general comment.
The methods of conducting the cam
paign, on the part of the Prohibitionists,
are worthy of study by all engaged in
such work. The organization of the
temperance forces was perfect, and every
move was made with military precision.
The Prohibition Club was divided into
companies and squads, each with its
officers, and all knowing their special
duties. The work was so divided among
committees and subcommittee as to
secure the most prompt and efficient
service. Every statement or argument
published by the liquor interest was met
the next morning with an appropriate
reloinder. A statement came out one
day that the agitation had already in
lured business, and Immediately ap
peared card stating that business wa:
unusually good, signed by nearly all the
leading business houses. Then came {
wall from nineteen doctors that the sicE
must have whisky, which was followed
by card from forty of the oldest anc
, best physicians, stating that they wer,
satisfied with the law. Then the leading
, architects denied over their signatures
that the prospects for building wer,
destroyed, and several firms engaged il
manufacturing building material wht
had been reported by the liquor men a
''shut down" requested to be allowed tt
t state that they were running to the
i fullest capacity. Again came oolefu
stories of the ruinous effects of Prohibi
, ton in other States and In surrounding
, towns of Georgia. This was followet
1 by perfect avalanche of letters iron
!. reliable sources, gathered by the "Com
. mittees on Facts" showing that th
: abolition of the liquor traffic had bee
! everywhere a blessing. Other commit
! tees secured the registration of indiffei
! ent votes, and paid the taxes of tn
4 poor. Others were on the lookout fo
. illegalities in registration and voting
/ and, in short, every avenue was opene
: by which the hosts could march to viz
= tory. On election day the ladies opene
. lunch-rooms at various points, and fe
! thousands of Prohibition workers an
' voters Almost daily throughout th
r campaign women's prayer meetings wei
e held in the churches, where earne.
% supplications went up to heaven f
! victory to the right. The gracior
: answer to these prayers made Thank
r giving Day joyous occasion in Chri
a tian homes.
a Another remarkable feature of tt
- contest, was the intense enthusias
i manifested This was manifested n,
Il only by the earnest work already d
- scribed, but by the crowds that eEel
AZ night and on Sunday afternoon file
- Sam Jones great Gospel Tent"
- one occasion, while DIR. FELTON, W
speaking, six hundred colored voter
headed by a band, marched into Il
tent. while the FIVE thousand present $
up a deafening shout that lasted for Sc
eral minutes. Men said such scenes
excitement had never been know hel
Al, l1%@ -.n1fffaal "a
FL The election was the topic of covers
ad ton everywhere, absorbing every 9th
It. question. A proposition to enter up
re- any new undertaking was always n
ne with the reply; mo use trying 70
'iy anything till after the election, 4
"a, registration was several thousand larg
nu than in any Presidential eiectle
ne showing the great interest taken IN
on struggle. On the night before t
ey election the whisky men organized
'ut immense torchlight procession, a
marched great body Of poor white a
degraded colored men to vacant dep
sh- where they fed them and drugged th'
he with liquors till morning, when To
ri were taken to the polls and voted il
Tas solid column. The celored churches,
at counteract this movement, kept toT
Fho house. al night, with wholesome fe
his and good advice, and sent great co
IN panies Of voters to the pollssingIng sol
tie of triumph. As they marched alo
aer their neat appearance and inteilig'
As faces were in striking contrast to
ne poor fellows from their aH-night
= bauch at the depot All day long
y. contest ragged Everybody was Ia
most intense excitement; free carrial