The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-04-27
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF lNTEMPERhNcE.

Chicago Children Wage a Drink War
Minors Enlisted by the Thousands
to Drive the SALOON From the Res.
idence District.
The children of Chicago have been en-.
listed by thousands in fight to drive the
saloon out OF the residence districts. The
boys have turned from shedding, skating
!, and other sports of the season and the
I. girls from dolls and parties to a crusade
of reform, and formidable army OF
young people, ranging in age from ten to
twenty years, is engaged in what is de-
clared to be the most practical temper
ance movement ever undertaken in q
great city.
These useful crusaders, instead of trav-
cling far in dangerous lands to rescue To-
calities from unbelevers, as did their pro-
totypes in the middle ages, will join in
efforts to reclaim their own homes and the
homes of hundreds of thousands of others
from the influence OF liquor selling. They
plan to secure 100000 names to petition
to the City Council to submit to the vot.
ers of residence wards the question Of
local option.
The Young Peoples Christian Temper
ance Union has been engaged in reform
tional headquarters of the society, but it
has never before inaugura1ed so ambitious
work. Thirty of the 200 square miles
of Chicago's area are now prohibition ter
ritory and twenty more are under local
option, all by reason of the annexation
acts, so that the crusaders have nearly
$50 square miles to redeem from the grip
of the saloon.
Miss Eva Marshall She =, the Presi-
dent, and Mrs. Matte Co ~ Squires, the
Corresponding Secretary OF the national
organization, aided by the local division Of
fcers, have mapped out plan OF campaign
that is comprehensive in its sweep, and
that has already begun to show large re-
suits. They have interested all the Chris
tian young peoples societies in the city,
and in addition many children who belong
to no organization, and have fired them
with zeal for the temperance cause.
An instance of the enthusiasm inspired
among the younger workers is furnished
by the following letter, received from
Norwood Park boy:
Dear Miss Shontz-I am eleven years
old, so I cannot sign the ward option Pc
tition. want to do something to help
kill the, saloon, so have decided to make
a house to house canvass of the town for
names to the petition. My playmates,
Clarence Cook, will help me. Norwood
Park has only l50 voters, SO we cannot
promise many names, but will get all we
can. We got thirteen this afternoon. why
not organize boys in other parts OF the
city to make house to house canvass 1or
names"
The letter is signed by Russell F. Klet-
zino. Clarence Cook also writes, and says
he "hopes he can teach the people how
bad the saloon is" and promises to come
to the Women's Temple some day and see
Miss Shontz and her assistants. These
communications are similar to scores OF
others the last few weeks.
Preliminary work has been going on tor
several months. The names and addresses S
of society presidents were secured, and the
plan laid before them. Then they were IN.
yited to the monthly business meeting, OF
the temperance organization IN the lec'
ture room of the First Methodist Church,
at Clark and Washington streets; the
first Thursday evening of each month. =,
One feature of the campaign ls the the
pledge by 100 young people to secure looQ
names each. These persons have been pu1
in charge of certain districts, with com
mittees and subcommittee to assist them,
each leader being individually responsible
for the completion of his or her list.
It is estimated that 5000 workers are al
ready in the field, and that if they Gontln-
ue for four months as they have begun begun
the 100000 names will have been seeurea: SEE u
These workers represent 200 churches OF
the various Protestant denominations, and
some of the Catholic churches. The Good
Templars have furnished both money and
canvassers to the cause.
More prohibition territory, for Cmca-
co." has been adopted as slogan OF re-
fourth of the voters Of the city, haye signed signed
the petition, it will be taken to the Goun-
ell, Where the reformers will assemble in in
force for to see that it is acted upon. Then
the sht will bsr be carried apS rassa ntS ths aa Y;d # S
SeSnitelv def settled which ones prefer tenn
The crusaders have obtained formal
opinion from Attorney Charles 4. Holden
on the feasibility of their plan. He IN
dorses it as the most practicable one ever e,:
proposed by the temperance people OF Cni'
cago.