The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-11
WHITE RIBBON ECHOES


The Newberry W. I. {. L. <e,l' ,
nice box Of clr!hing and provisions
10 the '';.>oi If Hope" in Cc!umbi:
!or IHGnN~oN;nG.
Dr. Geo B. Cromer gave 4 Very
fine lecture IN the Church OF the Re- ;
deemer on temperance Sunday. The
collection was for the benefit Of the !
". c. T. I. and is was generous.
S17.24.
Rev. Mr.. James preached a most
excellent sermon on temperance. Nov.
20, Worlds Temperance Sunday.
All the ministers in town were asked
to preach on this subject and they
we're glad to do so.
The L. T. L. had ''Rummage
sale" at which enough was realized to
pay pledge for State work.
The Deciding Vote.
There lives in Western State a
humble old lady whose interest in
politics is confined to the single fact
that her son was elected a number
Of years ago member of the legisla-
ture, and has several times since been
reelected. What he has actually done
in the legislature she does not know.
She has no doubt that he has done all
that good boy, grown to be a great
man, ought to have done or could do;
and one good thing he did, at least,
to justify her confidence.
When the legislature assembled in
the autumn Of 1906, the son visited
his mother, and chided her good-nat-
uredly for not reading the speeches
he had sent her. She had saved them
all, and knew just where they were;
but she confessed that she had not
been able to read them all, or to un-
derstand very we'll what she had read.
"But you re going to make speech
this year that I shall read, every
word" she said.
"TeI me which one that is, and
I'll be sure to make it, said he.
"It's the one on the anti-saloon
BILL" said she.
"Oh, that one!" he said, :, ome-
what confusedly.
eyes; I know it will be good one.
My boy, you know what liquor did
for our home years ago. I have pray
ed all the years that my son might
grow up to save other boys from his
fathers fate; and this is your op-
portunity. I know you will be true
= to it."
"Well, mother" replied the son,
ct don't know that I have much con-
fidence in these efforts to make men
good by legislation. You can't very
we'll do more than regulate the liquor
traffic. The attempt to prohibit it al
together always fails. I don't know
that can make speech in favor of
that bill.''
But these arguments fell unheeded |
on he ears. She did not take them
seriously. She thought her son jok-
: ing, as was his wont.
"Oh, know you like to tease me.
she said, "but I know you'll vote for
that bill, and speak for it; and I shall
read every word Of your speech, and
I shall pray for you every day, that
God will bless that speech and make
it win the fight"
The son had, indeed, expected to
speak on the bill, but on the other
side; and he never had doubted, nor
had his political friends, which way
he would vote; but the weeks went
by. and the fate Of the bill hung in
the balance, and he kept his own coun-
sci. It was assumed, however. that
he would vote against the bill IN the
end, and so his silence caused no un-
easiness to the liquor men.
HI know Why you are waiting,
wrote his mother. "You are waiting
to make your great speech when the
great fight comes. God bless you my
boy! I am praying for you. How
proud am Of you!'
It was that letter that put all
doubt aside. When the lines began to
TIGHTEN and a deadlock was threaten
ing, he first voted on an amendment
which forecasted his final action.
That vote brought surprise to the