The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-09-03
THE CRUSADE AGAINST DRINK
PROGRESS MADE ny CHAMPIONS
FIGHTING TIE RUM DEMON.
The Deciding vote---How Mothers
Prayers and Confidence Had
Their Decisive Influence in the
Maxine of m Iaxv

Then Decisive Influence In the
Making Of n Law.
There lives in a Western State a
humble old lady whose interest In
politics is confined to the single fact
that her son was elected number
of years ago a member of the legis-
lature, and has several times since
been reelected. What he has actu-
ally done In the legislature she does
not know. She has no doubt that
he has done all that a good boy,
grown to be a great man, ought to
have done or could do; and one good
thing, at least, he did to Justify her
confidence.
When the legislature assembled in
the autumn of 1905, the son visited
his mother, and chided her good
naturedly for not reading the speech
es he had sent her. She had saved
them all, and knew just whore they
were; but she confessed that she had
not been able to read them all, nor
to understand very we'll what she
had read.
But you're going to make
speech this year that shall read.
every word" she said.
Tell me which one that Is, and
I'll be sure to make it," said he.
TITS the one on the anti-saloon
BILL" said she.
"oh, that one!" he said, somewhat
confusedly
"Yes. know II will be good
one. My boy, you know what liquor
did for our home years ago. have
prayed all the years that my son
might grow up to save other boys
from his fathers fate. And this Is
your opportunity. | know you will
be true to II.
well, mother" replied the son,
"I don't know that / have much con-
fidence In these efforts to make men
good by legislation. You can't very
well do more than regulate the liquor
traffic. The attempt to prohibit 1t
altogether always fails. don't know
that I can make speech in favor OF
that bill"
But these arguments fell unheed-
ed on her ears. She did not take
them seriously. She thought her
son Joking. as was his wont.
ooh, I know you like to tease me"
she said, but know you'll vote for
that bill and speak for it. And
shall read every word of your speech
and l shall pray for you every day.
that God will bless that speech and
make 1t 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 kent his own
counsel. 1t was assumed. however,
that he would vote against the bill
in the end, and so his silence caused
no uneasiness TO the liquor men.
81 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! l 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 deadlock was threat
ening, he first voted on an amend
ment which forecasted his final ac.
tion. That vote brought surprise to
the friends of the liquor cause.
And when the bill came up on its
third reading, he spoke. He did not
see the members of the House, but
| he saw an old woman. reading his
speech through SpeclacleS tDdI re-
| quired frequent wiping, and IL was
a speech that carried conviction.
The vote was so close that any one
Of dozen things might have turned
the scale; but among the stories told
in the committee-rooms, after the
| bill became a law under which sew
eral hundred saloons were Obliged to
close, is that here related. 1t is the
true story of the way mothers pray.
ers and confidence had their decisive
influence in the making of q law
| Youths COmDaniOn