Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-12
SALVATION ARMY TO
HAVE LIST OF DRUNKARDs

Now the Salvation army is getting
out drunkard's directory.
Major John Summons, general sec
rotary of the Midland Province, is the
originator of the scheme. lie began
collecting names in Kansas City as
soon as the western harvest season
closed. He took in the more i'm
portant Missouri towns, finishing
with St. Louis. He has just started
in Chicago.
What the Salvation Army wants to
know is how many persons have to
be helped because they are durnk-
ards?
Major Summons says a drunkard is
man who pcrfers beer to water
with his dinner.
1t was suggested that, going upon
this basis. the army would find
drunkards to be in the ma jority.
NO, indeed declared the officer
LESS than onc-third of the men we
help drink. And all but 10 per cent.
believe, could be kept away from
the stun if we could get Il good
chance to straightcn them out once.
Lack of funds embarrasses us. If we
had place where we could send the
worst of them, get them sober, and
make them self-supporting. l think
they would be reformed for good.
All of them tell me they know there's
nothing in drinking
will your directory of drunkards
be published?"
would mean. Some ledger stole n
A, l. IL. 4
a partial list of some of the drunk
ards i'm st. Joseph, and the thief sold
the list To liquor dealer. lie sent
an agent up to the barracks and as
each drunkard came out in the morn
ing he was 'roped in He was taken
up to the shop of this dealer and
promised six glasses of beer, half a
pint of whiskey, and two meals to
act as sandwich man for day. For
twelve hours they rolled about the
town intoxicated, bearing signs adj
vertising some special brand of rye.
Nearly all had to go to tine rock pile.
But il was a lesson To them"
Major Summons hasn't completes
his plans for reformation. But he is
certain that he can pick out a big
percentage. of the drunkards, who
will turn up good citizens.
Il don't believe in drink cures, as
they are generally understood said
he. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only
thing that will save man. The
cures may save some people for a
time. but those with whom we come
i'm contact haven't the money for
that sort of treatment. Then. too.
they have been kicked and cuffcd
about the world so much that they
haven't the courage to fight out the
battle. For that reason we intend to
have two or three drunkards go
around together. Each will lend
strength 20 the other.
But if one weaken all will fall"
Yes. | know" answered the ma jor. |
But that is the best |
plan we have yet"
He might change his home at each |
place"
While the directories are not to be |
published they are TO be printed and |
sent TO all Salvation Army barracks. |
Thus. if John Y. Smith is down as a |
drunkard i'm Chicago and he shows |
up sober in Boston, New Orleans, and |
San Francisco, his name will be rub
bed from the blue book. Then the /
Army will recommend him as sober
man in case it finds employment for
MIN.
81 suppose So" said the major,
lead pencil over a place
where white threads showed in the,
braid on his coat. But he wouldn't
To it more than twice i'm one city.
Dur soldiers are 'sharp-sharper than
my hotel clerks. They catch ON
luick And the dodgers know if they
deceive us VIC will not help them.
Ion't look for any trouble in that di-
-cction.''
From Chicago Major Summons Will
20 to Milwaukee. He will not try to
extend his directory system outside
If his district until he has covered
I'll the states of the central west.