The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-02-01
CHAPTER Nv.

he spent much of his time in the after
moons studying the social and civic life
of the town AS the first Sunday OF
was TO speak again on the attitude OF
Christ 10 some aspect of modern socie.
ty. he determined TO select the saloon
as one of the prominent features of
modern life that would naturally be
noticed by Christ and doubtless be de-
nounced by him as a great evil
In his study of the saloon question he
did thing which he had never done
before, and then only after very much
elaboration and prayer. He went into
the saloons themselves on different oc-
casions. He had never done such a
thing before. He wanted to know from
actual knowledge what sort of places
the saloons were. What he saw after
dozen visits to as many different
groggeries added fuel to the fame of
Indignation that burned already hot in
him. The sight of the vast army OF
men turning into beasts in these dens
created in him loathing and hatred
of the whole Ubiquitous institution that
language failed TO express. He won
dered with unspeakable establishment
IN his soul that civilized community
10 the nineteenth century would toler-
ate for one moment the public sale Of
an article that led, on the confession OF
society itself, to countless crimes
against the law of the land and of God
His indignant establishment deepened
yet more, If that were possible, when
he found that the license of $500
year for each saloon was used by the
town TO support the public school sys-
tenn. That, TO Philips mind. was an
awful sarcasm on Christian civiliza-
ZION. 1t seemed to him like selling
man poison according to law and then
taking the money from the sale to help
the widow to purchase mourning 1t
was full as CHASTITY as that would be.
He went 10 see some of the other :
ministers, hoping TO unite them in n
combined attack on the saloon power
1t seemed TO him that if the church as
whole entered the crusade against
the saloon il could be driven out even
from Milton, where 1T had been so long
established. To his surprise. he found
the other churches unwilling to unite
IN pubic battle against whisky men.
Several of the ministers openly de-
tended license as the only practicable
method of dealing with the saloon. All
OF them confessed it was evil. and only
evil but under the circumstances
thought il would do little good to agi-
tate the subject. Philip came away
from several interviews with the min
listers sad and sick at heart.
He approached several of the promi-
Rent men in the town, hoping to enlist
some of them in the fight against the
rum power. Here he met with an IN
expected opposition, coming in n form
he had not anticipated. One prominent
citizen said:
"AIr. Strong, you will ruin your
chances here If you attack the saloons
In this savage manner. and I'll tell you
why: The whisky men hold a tremen-
dous influence in Milton in the matter
of political power. The city election
comes off the middle of next month.
The men up for office are dependent
for election on the votes of the saloon
men and their following. You will cut
your head off sure if you come out
against them in public. Why, there's
Mr. and so on Che named half a
dozen mem in your church who are up
for office in the coming election. They
can't be elected without the votes of
the rummles, and they know it. Bet
ter steer clear of il, Mr.. Strong. The
saloon has been a regular thing in NIL
ton for over 80 years. Ii is as much
part of the town rs the churches or
schools. and tell you it Is power!'
What" cried Philip. in unbounded
establishment, do you tell me, you,
leading citizen Of this town of $4,000
infinite souls. that the saloon power
has it's grip TO this extent on the civic
and social life of the place, and you
are willing to sit down and let this
devil of crime and ruin throttle you
and not raise a finger to expel the
monster? Is it possible? 1t Is not in
Christian America that such a state of
affairs In our political life should be
endured."
Nevertheless" replied the business
man, ''these are the facts. And you |
will simply dash your own life out |
against wall of solid rock II you try |
to fight this evil. You have my warn |
ing"
"May | not also have your helpT
cried Philip, hungry Of soul for COM |
partnership in the struggle which he |
saw was coming.
at would ruin my business to come |
out against the saloon" replied the
man frankly.
"And what is thatY' cried Philip ear
nestly. "It has already ruined far
more that ought TO be dear to you.
Man. man, what are money and bust
ness compared with your own flesh
and blood? Do you know where your
own son was two nights ago? In one
Of the yilest of the vile holes in this
city. which you, father, license to an
other man to destroy the life Of your
own child | saw him there myself,
and my heart ached for him and you.
1t Is the necessary truth. Will you not
join with me TO wipe out this curse in
societyY
The merchant trembled. and his lips
quiyered at mention of his son. but he
replied:
Il cannot do what you want. Mr..
Strong. but you can count on my SYM
patty II you make the fight" Philip
finally went away. his soul tossed on a
wave OF mountain proportions and
growing more and more crested with
foam and wrath as the first Sunday Of