Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-06-30
VIC. I. U, COLUMN.
Law Makers And Temperance work
ers.

While the representatives. to our state
legislature we've voting on Tuesday to
open wide the saloons ON Independence
day. and to keep open theatres and
: other playhouses on the Lords day,
about two hundred brave women.
under w &. r. L. auspices, were
dclibclatng how To promote temper
ance habits among the people and to
overcome in some degree the pernicious
Effects Of the license laws which men
nave placed upon our statue. books.
Thus Tie legal representatives Of the
people are in direct and active conflict
with the chosen represe natives a, the
temperance classes. Could those white
ribbon women have decided the question
III opening saloons on The Fourth OF july
auG closing theatres on Sunday, they
would bee IA ten seconds unanimously
have reversed the action of the lower
house Of our state legislature. And
there IS no question but that these tenn
perercc women possess rs much brain,
a sound judgement, a patriotic scnt.
ment and as good principles rs the
legislators who, by a majority Of one
voted 10 make our great national hou
day a legal drunkard's day, and to
take from our Sabba;hs what litt,c
sonctty the law as to play houses had
previously thrown around them. De
uoit, to, the metropolis of our state,
hod no Official welcome for the temper
auce acies. BIZ, few mo-ths ago bad
u rou,iu9 official welcome for whole
sale liquor Dealers and is almost con-
,'anuy proadiug thc board Tor the
hme-grccliug of politicians who count
wines and liquors an essential Tribute
OF honor TO their fame Ii isa PITY
that the tables could not be turned for
a few years to see what the results
would be. Give the Christian temper
aucc women power to make our laws
and 10 regulate our pubn" oyatiuns |
and place these whisky sympathizing
men in positions Of legal helplesSne,s.
Close The saloons. Empty the beer
kegs. Shut up the brewcries and |
wholesale liquor houses. Instruct the
boys and girls more fully rs 10 the
harmfulncss OF alcohol and benefits of
sobricty. Show them the sabbath and |
the degrading tendencies of Dissertation.
open night schools, instead of saloons,
for immigrants and other foreigners. /
Give them coffee instead of whisky. .
Continue this policy for fifty years, and .
then consider the outcome. A wiser,
better, purer and happier generation
would be giving fame to America as
the land of the free and the home of the
brave. Our prisons would have fewer
inmates Oar homes would enjoy
greater security. Our public treasures
would contain more money. Our citi-
lens would be less burdened with taxes
Dur children would have better educa
ion. our wage-earners would have
more home comforts. Our churches
would have more worshipcrs. Oar
country would enjoy brighter pros
oect. More souls would be OF sure
If heaven. and there would be more
If heaven on earth.
But we are with the whisky sympa-
hizers in power and the temperance
workers comparatively powerless
What shall be done? Shrll we despair;
iay, verify. Keep up the agitation.
Hold aloft the banners of reform.
Much good has already been done.
Try aloud and spare not. Push the
,attle to the enemies gates. Make it =
lear that a large traction OF the people
re unswervngly loyal and deathless-
Y devoted 10 the principles which
make for sobriety, good order, public
Iapiness, domestic virtue, Christian
dvourf mint and a riOhtppuS life