Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-04-17
COLUMBUS. MISS, April l, 1886.

w lIn UulS SoIlu you u llSe VI 0hC ~ :
C. Il. Unions In the state, reported to
me up to date. | wish you to publish
this list for reference; also ask you to
mail copy ofyour paper to the presl-
dent of each Union containing this list
and letter. | desire especially to beg
the Unions to subscribe for the SWORD
AND SHIELD, that we may have a paper
where we will be sure to reach the
White Ribbon Women in all Unions.
1t is necessary to concentrate our sub
scriptions upon a paper which we all
take, in order to secure direct commu
nications, and keep informed as to. the
progress Of our work | will frequently
report through your columns the items
of interest connected with our Union in
the State Let all the sisters who can,
take the SWORD AND SHIELD.
Saturday last, | sent a circular-letter
to all the W. G. L. Unions in the State,
calling their attention to the require
ments of the Local Option Bill, urging
them to induce men in their counties to
organize at once. county town, and dis
trict clubs. These clubs to be properly
organized, that concentrated, systemat-
lied effort may be brought to bear which
will help carry the county elections
against whisky. As help III case any
county election may go in favor of whis-
Ky. sent each Union a legal form OF
writing, which they can circulate now,
securing signatures against granting Ii
cense Thus the majority of the voters
may be secured against license, even
though the vote may go for whisky IN
the election. This was thought of, in
order to save the Prohibition people the
desperate hurry and work required to
defeat the granting of license, in the
thirty days allowed by law The W. {.
I. u. women can begin now to quietly
circulate these papers and be ready for
an emergency. More than hafthe fight
depends on being thoroughly prepared
to meet it. This form ofwriting is a
result of careful legal preparation and .is
unassailable. 1t was drawn up by fine
lawyers and we deem it quite a good
thing. Any Union that failed to re-
ceiye my letter will please inform me at
once, Any Prohibitionist who desires
to use the legal form to which refer,
will receive copy BY addressing me
As the ballot is always uncertain, why
not begin before the election to get a
majority Of the voters in the corporate
towns to sign against granting license?
If the election goes for Prohibition this
will not be needed, but if it should de-
clare for whisky, how glorious it would
be to have the majority of the voters al
ready secured against license. From
the outlook, the fight in Mississippi will
be fully as intense as it was In Atlanta.
In all the counties the men are organ
izing. The liquor ring is thoroughly or
ganized and badly Scared. In Lowndes
county we have decided negro major
ity in population Our fight will be Sc
we're, as it will be in all black counties.
We have loyal workers here. Our club
Of men called the Anti-Liquor-Saloon
Society" meets every week. They are
getting ready in dead earnest They are
letters to the people as thick
as leaves in fall time. No matter how
the election goes, we will be sure of an
honest count, for we have a splendid
list of Supervisors. This counts. We
need speakers to stump every county.
We need women to influence their hus-
bands, sons and brothers to vote right
Weneed children to plead for the homes
sake. We need a big army of young la
dies who will vigorously boycott all
young men who drink or advocate whis-
Ky. These we must have. Rouse your
selves, oh people. Two great armies
arc preparing for moral conflict. Be
up and doing, else the Lord will ask in
condemnation: why standest thou
idle?"
The Arabs once deemed it sinful to
throw away any slip of paper whereon
was inscribed the name of God Let
each Temperance person deem it wrong
to destroy, lay aside or loose ony any
slip Of paper that has a Temperance
sentiment inscribed upon it. Keep
printed thoughts circulating. Let there
be an example of continual motion.
Read them carefully yourself and then
pass them around. I know a lady who
never buys country produce without
giving the man who sells, lot Of Tenn
perance items Let all our women think
IF this. When you buy eggs, butter
and chickens, give besides the money,
better than gold-tempcrance
literature. These country people are
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