Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-06-05
HERE'S A NEW STORY.
1T is FOR THE SPECIAL BENEFIT OF
PRoHIBITIoNISTs.
Blessed Is the Man That Takcth Home the
Truths Thereof, Resolves to Correct the
Error of His Ways and Turn Over a New
Leaf.

Time-Monday evening.
Place-Close by.
Occasion-Meeting of the Prohibition
committee
X. Y. Smith has the floor
Gentlemen of the committee, / am
not in favor of giving any aid whatever
to this paper for the reason THAT the
right man is not at the head of it. We
might as well face the facts-the editor
is not AN honest man, and this reflects
on us as Prohibitionists This man owes
a large bill to his grocer, owes his
butcher and milkman, and man who
does not pay his bills is not an honest
man. Therefore I oppose any movement
ON the part of this committee to help
this paper. If we as committee decide
to send out paper to hopeful voters,
let us send our national paper.
The short but vigorous speech was
applauded by nearly every member of
the committee, and the matter was about
to be dropped when James L. Thompson
arose and secured the consent of the
chair to ask the last speaker few ques-
tions.
"Mr. Smith, you knew this editor be-
fore he began to publish Prohibition
paper? Was he out of employment when
he undertook this work?'
"Why, no. He had good job, and
he was a fool to leave it. -
"No doubt, but did you ever hear that
he was a dishonest man before he began
the publication of the Prohibition pa
PERI"
"No, sir, I never did. In fact, l have
been greatly deceived in the man, for l
always had known him as being perfect
ly honest in all his dealings. -
"Were you not one of the men that
induced him, or rather encouraged him,
to begin Prohibition paper?''
II do not remember about that He
talked to me about the matter, and cer-
tainly thought that a man could make
a good living i'll publishing Prohibi-
ton paper.
"Do you think that he has any money
laid by today?"
ooh, no. He is always hard up and
often has to borrow money to get ou.
his paper %
'Do you take his paper:'
"Oh, yes. I have taken the paper
from the start.
Pardon this personal question, but
have you paid for it?''
"Why, really, do not know just ex-
actly how my subscription stands, but l
am certain that do not owe over So"
'That's all Now, Mr.. Chairman, l
agree with my friend Smith that we
should face this whole matter squarely
and fearlessly. Three years ago we, the
Prohibitionists induced IL man who had
a good paying position, and who had
saved by his work several hundreds of
dollars, to begin the publication Of
weekly Prohibition paper. We promised
him our hearty support in the venture.
For about a year all went we'll, but
soon after a good many of our people
sent in with their God bless YOU
please stop my paper Others took.
the paper but forget to pay for it. Then
the struggle began. The printers had to
be paid every week; the paper bills had
to be met. To save expenses the paper
was cut down in size, and the editor
spent most of his time in collecting
money to get out the next issue Conse-
quently the amount of original matter
got less and less, until more subscribers
stopped taking the paper, for they said
they could get larger paper for 81.
"Then local creditors began to crowd
the man. He has been sued many times
to my knowledge, but he made every
effort fn lyoop tha fr-c,,hla fn 1,i,,,ca1f
not permitting his faithful wife to know
Of the heartbreaking struggle that he
was going through. Finally the grocer
refused to give any more goods to this
family, and it was then that he had to
confess his condition to his wife. She
volunteered to go to the Office to help
him and save the wages of one man.
Later his daughter went to work in
the Office and in a few weeks time mas
tered the art of setting straight matter
for the paper. For the past six months
these three faithful souls have been
working early and late to make ends
meet, while we as Prohibitionists per-
NIT the sacrifice to go right ON.
"This afternoon this devoted and self
sacrificing wife called at my Office and
said she had come without the knowl-
edge of her husband to see if something
could not be done. With tears stream
ing down her face she told me the story
Of sacrifice and suffering Neither she
nor her children had been able to attend
church for months for the reason that
they did not have proper clothing to
wear. She, who had been brought up
in home that never knew want, has
been actually compelled to suffer for
the need of the common necessaries of
life found from her that they owe
less than $500, and from the mailing
list, which have with me, find that
over So, 900 is now due them for sub
scriptions l Ihave examined this list care
fully, and my blood boils with indigna-
ton for the cowardly manner we, the
Prohibitionists, have treated this man.
We are 23 in this committee tonight,
and out Of this number only 13 are sub
scribers to this paper, and only two Of
that number have paid for it :"
"But," spoke up Mr.. Smith, ''the 50
l owe is only small sum. and will go
but little way to pay a debt of $500"
'That is true, Z" replied Mr.. Thomp-
son, 'but there are over thousand Of
Won and IL yon all Maid vOur hills this