Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-09
W. G. T. U. ADDRESS.
(By Mrs, Miles, Co, fres.l

review the past and plan for the COM
ing year, provid ence has dealt kindly
with us. Though disaster by FIRE and
hail has swept our pralries, bereav-
rnents' sable mantle rests upon but few
of us to-day To those we extend the |
hand OF sympathy. The zeal, that rouh-
lie daunteth not, that adverse watersl
strengthen that jealousy, malice, and]
envy furnish, and that zeal that sur-a
mounteth all obstacles, is the wealth.
of our own w. G. T. U. l am convin-9
ced more and more that like great re-
ligous REVEALS, temperance reviyals|
are spasmodic, that people who get
really convinced of their duty and step
in the tide of this great reform move
ment are in harmony with its rythm
Of advance. If not, they lose couragd|
at the least "tiff' and pull for the shore
as politicians express it are "weaN|
kneed" and have to be pulled along i'll
they go. The time is when every pa
triot mother should stand erect in thel
battle for the right, "For God,' and|
their home in Dakota. We believed
that our earnestness IN our work and
our persistent efforts have helped to
arouse tho voters OF this county to
deeper sense of their moral RESPONSE
bilities. 1t is our pleasure to see our
men gallant to our wishes and confid-
ing In our views as how best to wage
this warfare Of the home against the
saloon, with the weapons already III
their hands. The prohibition conyen-
ton, held in April last, recognized
three OF our best workers as the best
known in the county, and placed them
on their staff of council. Our county
executive committee honored the con-
stltutional executive committee by
formulating 40 plans of work for our
selves, but united our energies with
theirs in our common interests. In
July the Farmers Alliance honored as
as an organization, in asking us as
such, to cooperate with them In the
campaign work. This met our hearty
response. Thus, hand in hand, shout
der to shoulder. stalwart manhood
and irrepressible womanhcod, move in
a grand phalanx; strong, formidable
as truth, headed by the white guldon
Of prohibition. 1t has been our pleas
Ite to conduct the organization of two
new unions, one in Franklin town
ship known as the Franklin union, on
the 10Th of May; and the other at Dale
Center on the 21st of July; Thus adj
ding II new members and 8 honorary
members TO our numbers, making
nine unions in working order at this
time.
Dear Sister 1t is 10 trivial RESPONSE
bllity we assume when we pledged to
"do all in our power when it is with
in our province to make opportunities
and in a measure control circumstan-
ces embodied in our name is more
sentimental than we are wont to feel
The knot of white ribbon that we
wear binds like the sweet influence
of the Plelades" Its influence is
greater than we realize. Wear the
emblem Of purity over your heart, and
let your thoughts, words, and actions
harmonic with your badge. AS we
revert our minds, we feel justly proud
OF the generous acts, and great achiye-
ments Of our unions. The two saloons
that detiantly held forth in Alpena
were effectually routed, through the
persistent urging OF our sisters of their
husbands for action. The vigil you
have kept in your respective localities
has been a barrier to the invasion Of
our subtitle foe. There are rumors
atloat that On the line of Sanborn and
Jerauld, there is place where malt
liquors are Eept, sold, and drank. Can
the fact be substantiated? The sever
al departments OF work have not been
pressed as they might have been. had
not the one thought OF constitutional
prohibition claimed our attention.
After the campaign closes, trust each
line of work will be pressed forward
with renewed vigor. There has. been
some work done in several depart
ments, as we will learn later. We
would like to see Jerauld county the
banner county, for the Demorest con-
tests.
The subject OF finance for county
work should receive. your earnest
thought and action. Your president
for the coming year perhaps can lily
afford to meet AL her own expenses
without help as the past year has been
done. AS Intelligent workers let US
work inteiligently, Let Us inform
ourselves as to the needs Of the work
and act accordingly. would like to
see our local unions plan their work SO
:Is to have money in their treasury to
pay or partly pay the way Of delegates
80 represent them at district and terri