The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-07-19
memories Of Mother stewart.

In 1870, the Adair law was 50 amended
as ito give the wife or mothero of the drunk
ard the right to bring suit in her own name
against the saloon keeper or liquor seller,
for damages for selling to husband or SON."
Mrs. Stewart had now moved to spring
field, and here her active Crusade work be-
gan in 1873, when she gave a carefully pre-
pared lecture on "The Law and the Cos
pei" to a large audience, the first lecture
given by a lady in the city. At the close
she urged the ladies to encourage the
~drunkards' wives to prosecute the liquor
sellers, and to stand by them. They re-
sponded by rising vote. But when the
first case came, Mother Stewart sat alone
in the company of rough men, standing
by" the d%runkard's wife. She also stood
for her. The attorney for the plaintiff, Mr..
Rawlins, mentally contrasted the CON-
manaing presence of Mother Stewart, and
her keen and flashing eyes, her broad brow,
and whitened hair, with the cowardlv de-
PENDANT of the saloon. and asked her to
make the opening plea to the jury. No,
she could not. eyes," he said, ''you cam"
There sat the poor friendless wife and two
little boys, whose bread had gone to add
bricks to the liquor sellers mansion, and
all her mother heart rose within her, and
she answered, 81 will try"
When she was done, the defense forgot
his speech for his client, and declared ct
was infamous to bring in a female to influ-
ence the court and jury. She had much
better have been at home attending to her
legitimate duties" But the woman's
speech indicated the woman's wrong, and
an appeal to the higher court did not mod
ify the decision, though it lowered the fine.
Soon after she was implored by another
drunkard's wife to help. and Mr.. Raw
Inns said, like Barak to Deborah, "If thou
wilt go with me, then | will CO." Neither
was he not brave. The woman element
was needed. 1t was woman for the home,
the first claim Of sisterhood in protecting
that home. This is endless" thought
Mother Stewart, "Nothing can conquer, but
prayer." And nothing can conquer but to
enlist everybody. Then the notes flew to
the Christian ladies and the minister
would they sustain by their presence and
their prayers in the court room? The la
dies came and stayed; the court adjourned
for tea, the ladies did not adjourn, but
more ladies came. Mother Stewards plea
won the jury again.
One is impressed by the remarkable tact
Of this woman. She let no time be lost,
but prepared a pledge for the ministers
that they would each preach u~nannounced
from the text, Gam l my brothers. keep
er?" They only partially followed out her
suggestion, but much arousement was the
result.
A petition to the City Fathers from the
women of the city, 600 names, wa the
next bomb-shell that stirred the town.
Mrs. Stewart presented the petition, which
was that the Council exercise its power
and suppress the saloon. 1t was referred
to a committee of three, q distaier, q breo.
eE, and a tapyer.
Its grave was deep, but the end was
gained the public were waking up. A
mass meeting was arranged for on the
night of the End of December 1873. While
this preparation was going on, Mrs. Stew
art was invited by a committee from Os-
borne, to come and arouse their women.
Here the first Union or League was formed,
Mrs. Stewart writing the constitution her
self, and organizing the League after the
meeting.