The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-05-07
THE PRESS FOR
TEMPERANCE
IS THE TITLE OF A PAPER
READ AT w. g. T. U.
MEETING
AT FRIENDS CHURCH
BY Eliza D. Fl. Mendenhau and Print
ed by Request of the Union.
AT FRlENDS' CHURCH

The following paper was read be-
fore the w. C. r. U. at a meeting
held recently in this city in the East
Main Street Friends church, entitled
"The Press for temperance
The Press For Temperance.
In addressing temperance conven-
tons there is discouraging consci-
BUSINESS that probably no.one is pres
ent who does not already agree with
every thought to be enunciated.
Our temperance lecturers and ora
tors speak at rare intervals and to
limited numbers.
Our temperance papers and maya
zines go mostly to the homes Of those
already interested IN the work.
While these do an untold amount of
good "among the brethren,' they
are not gathering new converts and
new workers for temperance as they
ought to do.
1t is our fifteen thousand daily
newspapers, speaking to more than
twenty million daily readers that can
carry our message most effectually
into every home. There is now en-
ough public opinion to back us and
there are enough sound temperance
men to open the editorial pages to our
pens, if we have our message ready
for the people.
The slow coming of this great nat
ional reform IS not due to the slow
stepping of Jehovah but to the ma
nations luke warmness and to her
greed of revenue.
Richmond could speedily close her
fifty saloons in the same way that she
got her new railroad-by bringing the
question AS a single issue to be voted
upon without respect to party-by the
people. True to their instinct for civ
lie righteousness we do believe the
body of our citizens would vote
Crank and file' for temperance.
All this cutting off of the Hydra s
heads and this weary trimming of the
Up as tree would then be past. Sim
ply because there would be no Hydra
to multiply it's heads and no Upas
tree to drop it's poison.
Our church members and our min
isterial associations cannot hope to
equal or to outwit the low cunning of
the saloon element. They have not
been reared in the school of treachery
and deceit, nor. can the God fearing,
law abiding element always stand dis
comfted and defeated the sa-
loon man leering a whole year ahead.
But if they could be entirely victori-
Gus it would be at the cost of per-
petual vigilance and there are nobler
uses for our time and our talents
"The Saloon must 60
We commend the consideration of
the Initiendum Referendum to our
committee on civic Improvement. 1t
would mend slippery ways for I'M
wary feet, build bridges to moral and
financial success, illume the moral at
mosphere, rear happy homes and win
not only the respect but the support
Of the people of Richmond.
But if there is to be no quick deliv-
erance from this evil temperance
corner in every paper would enlighten
the people in all our towns and cities.
If every county in every state had
its w. G.. G.. r. L. organization and if
each Union had live press commit
tee, it would accomplish wonders, nor
need we be discouraged with the num-
bers, the zeal and the organization we
already have.
Let this organization remain as it
was organized and as Frances Willard
so strongly advised simply band Of
mothers, with no political connection
or aspirations, federation Of hearts
and hands to guard the interests of
the home, so that every mother in the
land can find a place amongst us and
however we may differ in creed or
politics we can be one in our organi-
zation and our work for the protec-
ton of the home.
There is need of great wisdom
the kind that cometh from above
promised literally to them that ask
of God. There is need of kindness and
courage, courtesy and moderation in
this press committee work
There is no necessity to draw upor
the Imagination nor multiply our ex
pletives.
There is already curse upon tn.