Mower County transcript., 1903-02-18

Just beginning Is 75{ir itiself 70 fhs two 3
years struggle Il seemed TO Malcoms
that he could even that night prophesY
inSsome degree the satanic characterof
the conflict that made Conrad one 81
the flercest centers Of the fight. 81
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 q con-
stant influence for years.
Dorothy suddenly assumed place
she once would never have dared to-
take. The women in all the other.
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 a short time before. She did
50 at first with fear and trembling:
then with q brave, joyous confidence
that amazed her and her husband, but
the Lord was leading her. +: -
The time passed, and the election
day drew near. Night after night be-
fore that eventful day when the people
Of the state were TO vote on the ques-
ton OF saloon or no saloon In their
commonwealth the woman,'s union held
street prayer meetings in front OF the
saloooA Dorothy worked and prayed
fneessantly. +: Her great beauty, spirit
ualtsed BY her suffering, had wonder
fua influence. Many Joung ranchmsn
went away from those prayer meetings
vovinG to vote Tor The amendment.
The saloon men would come to the
doQea Of their place4, and eye the
groups Of. kneeiing mofhsts and wives
81 suIlen Amusement The5 had csanse
. feAr Tor their unholy trsmc when
Ne women Of tie stsaAs were thus ou
their knee@ callln9 "a God and heaven
70 Aeapt ths cause o( 'hsms and native
hnd" I s.:..ss L. n :is.,s>;s: 4 - 81 n.
Ths. afternoon Of that. election day
Aalcon 'was euddenly ealled: out to
1he totke' toseee Philip Barton. Hs
Ind been steadily failing du11ns those
two pears, and Ars. Barton sent Tor
Kirk in haste. and he went suppoeing
It might be for the last time. - . Il
=: It was after dark before he came
back to Conrad. Philip Barton had
died that afternoon. unconscious at last
OF the prayer that Malcom had offered
by the side Of his heartbroken mother.
"God Of mercy" cried Malcom as he
entered the street that night grant
that this days work in our state has
killed the power of this enemy that has
killed this boy and broken this moth
er's Nfey' =
The election was over, but no one
could predict the result. AS Malcom..
came up the street it was crowded with
men and women. The Christian Tenn
perance union had been at work all
day. 1t had served a free lunch to all
the voters and now was holding q pray.
er meeting in front of Valmers place. !.
The crowd dlled the wide street and
overf1owed the broad sidewalks. Free
whisky had flowed all day. The crowd
was fun Of men who had been drink
Ing, and they were now In . condition
to quarFeL g4 !: ':. # 3. i. / /
Dorothy was kneeling In the centel
OF the women. Malcom 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 glorifled by the SPIRITS work with
In. He was conscious of an unusual
disturbance behind him. coming from
the saloon. There were shouts and
oaths and a. pistol shot. But still he
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.
l lzo ss ooaruu1n.l
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