The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-09-09
LOCALIZED EVlLS--NO. 70.
(written for the News-Democrat.)
BY JOHN DANNER


Several weeks ago there appeared in
the News-Democrat an account Of
some contentious and differences OF
opinion among the members Of our
local w. G. T. U. Both parties are
made UP of some of our best Chris
tian women, and, IL is not to defend
the one or chide the other that this
matter is referred to in my regular
article on '1egalized evil"
From what / can learn, 1t Is more
a di.ierence of opinion as to the real
object of the organization than 1T ls
of the personal dislike on either side.'
Some appear to think that the great
object of the organization Is to keep
up the Industrial school, others the
Noon Rest. These are both good, and
should have the hearty cooperation
of all the members of the w. G. T. U.
In last weeks Union Signal, the or
gan of the national w. G. T. u, the
question is asked What is the w. G.
T. U.," and this paper goes on to say
''It is an organization of Christian
women banded together for the pro-
lection Of the home, the abolition OF
the liquor traffic, and the triumph
of Christ's golden ruie in custom and
In law"
This is doubtless the correct inter-
probation of the object of the w. G. T..
U. workers. We we'll remember when
Mother Stewart" of Hillsboro, Ohio,
now Of Springfield, started the WON :
ems Crusade" The old lady is still
living and is about 80 years old. Her
great object was to destroy the dead
ly saloons" or liquor traffic for bev-
erage purposes, and to this day she
clings to the same idea, above all other
questions. The crusade led to the or
ganization of the w. G. T. U. and the
laMented Frances Z. willard, wEo
was SO long the noble national presi-
dent of the organization, was uncom-
promising in her efforts to educate
the people against all forms of legal
! ization of this ruinous traffic, ana
favored and helped all parties that
worked in this direction, and in all of
Miss Willard's speeches and writings
we find she was the uncompromising
foe of all forms of tax and licensd
laws for said traffic, and consequently
opposed all political parties that up
held any form Of legalization for said
traffic.
Mrs. Lillian N. M. Stevens holds the
same views on this great question, as
did her illustrious predecessor. Both
good presidents were also the advo-
Gates of woman suffrage, which every
Christian man should also endorse;
but who ever heard of saloon man,
brewer or liquor seller, being in favor
of woman suffrage, not one.
Now, this being the prime object
of the organization of the w. c. T. u,
other minor and auxiliary objects
would present themselves for their
support such as the Industrial school,
the Noon Rest, and various other kinds
of work, all of which will find friends
among the w. G. T. U. workers. be-
cause they all lead up to the matt
question, which is the "abolishing OF
the saloon"
But 1t should not be forgotten that
the main object Of the w. G. T. U. has
been from the first to help abolish
the whole traffic for beverage purposes
Therefore, every member of said or,
ganization should feel that the great
object in view is to help to prohibit
the further legalization of the liquor
traffic for beverage purposes, and tc
lend helping hand to the Anti-saloon
workers, and Prohibitionists of all or.
ganizations, and at the same time pro-
test against the legalization of this
unholy traffic, whether it be under the
banner of high license party or q
party that upholds the unconstitution'
al Dow tax law in Ohio.
/ | am fully aware that this sinfu
business has got such grip on the
dominant political parties Of our ma
ton, that it requires considerable NOR.
al courage to oppose this great tide
of wickedness. The power behint
the throne" which is the legalizet
liquor business. has no more respect
for q woman than 1t has for man, II
they dare to oppose its wickedness
This was plainly seen few years ago
when the late Frances e. Willard and
other noble Christian women from the
w. G. r. u. went to both the Demo
cratic and Republican national con
ventions with long petitions to cham.
pion the cause of temperance, but
these good women were insulted IL
both conventions, their petitions
trampled under foot, and spit upon.
The w. G. II. u. is the greatest or,
SduizdtloH dlnoh6 WoLhcu III tuS Woiit
and the prime object Of said organiza'
tion has always been to aid all partie:
that oppose the legalization Of thu
liquor traffic, and help all organiza
tions that openly proclaim to the
world "the saloon must CO."
The history of this great reform
has clearly shown that it takes mer
of nerve to stand up against this great
legalized>iniquity in the United States
and therefore we should not think II
strange IL many of the good womer
in the w. @. T. U. are almost afraid
to say they oppose all parties thai
continue to legalize this great nation
al iniquity.
can only say to all these goot
women, be firm and very courageous
to carry out the prime object Of YOU
.s..A \ n. l..