The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-03

eS was by Malcolm Kirk He called at
tention during it to the fact that the
battle had only just begun; that there
We're nearly two years yet before the
people would be called on to vote on
the amendment. All the time he was
speaking he was conscious that outside
the enthusiastic circle of temperance
and Christian people was the whisky
element, sullen, angry. surprised at the
action of the legislature. venomous,
just beginning to stir itself for the two
years struggle. 1t seemed to Malcolm
that he could even that night prophesy
in some degree the satanic character of
the conflict that made Conrad one of
the fiercest centers of the fight.
But he was right in saying that the
battle had only just begun by the act
of the legislature. The weeks and
months that followed witnessed some
wonderful scenes in Conrad. Now the
women of Conrad began to show their
power, as they had already been con-
slant influence for years.
Dorothy suddenly assumed a place
she once would never have dared to
churches, recognizing her ability, came
to her and insisted that she take the
presidency of the Woman's Christian
Temperance union. that had been or
ganized short time before. She did
so at first with fear and trembling,
then with brave, joyous confidence
that amazed her and her husband, but
the Lord was leading her
1 The time passed. and the election
day drew near. Night after night be-
fore that eventful day when the people
of the state We're to vote on the ques-
ton of saloon or no saloon in their
commonwealth the woman's union held
i street prayer meetings in front of the
! saloons. Dorothy worked and prayed
necessarily. Her great beauty, spirit
ualized by her suffering. had wonder
full influence. Many young ranchman
went away from those prayer meetings
vowing to vote for the amendment.
The saloon men would come to the
doors of their places and eye the
groups of kneeling mothers and wives
in sullen amazement. They had cause
to fear for their unholy traffic when
| the women of the state We're thus on
their knees, calling ON God and heaven
/, to help the cause of "home and native
land" Us!
The afternoon of that election day
Malcolm was suddenly called out to
"The Forks" to see Philip Barton He
had been steadily failing during those
tao years, and Mrs. Barton sent for
Kirk in haste, and he went, supposing
it might be for the last time.
1t was after dark before he came
back to Conrad. Philip Barton had
died that afternoon, unconscious at last
of the prayer that Malcolm had offered
by the side Of his heartbroken mother.
God of mercy" cried Malcolm as he
entered the street that night grant
J that this days work in our state has
killed the power Of this enemy that has
killed this boy and broken this moth
ers lifer
The election wss over, but no one
could predict the result. AS Malcolm
came up the street it was crowded with
men and women The Christian Tenn
perance union had been at work all
| udy. II uiN SeINeu Il Tree luuCil 10 all
the voters and now was holding pray
err meeting in front of Valmer's place
The crowd filled the wide street and
overlooked the broad sidewalks. Free
whisky had flowed all day. The crowd
was full of men who had been drink
ing, and they were now in a condition
| to quarrel
Dorothy was kneeling in the center
of the women. Malcolm forced his way
UP to the edge of the sidewalk in front
of the saloon. He had never loved his
wife as he loved her now. Her face
was glorified by the Spirits work with
in. He was conscious of an unusual
disturbance behind him, coming from
the saloon. There We're shouts and
oaths and pistol shot. But still he
J continued to gaze at Dorothy, who as
/ calmly as if in her own room kneeled
there while the confusion in front Of
the saloon increased. And never again
In all his life will Malcolm Kirk feel
| the satanic venom he felt that night in
the rum power which on that eventful
day faced the prayers and the homes
of the women of Kansas.
TO be Continued