The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-02
The CRUSADE AGAINST DRINK
PROGRESS MADE BY CHAMPIONS
FIGHTING THE RUM DEMON.
How We Raised Ten Thousand
Dollars.

30 you want TO pElut IlS sIoiy' AHN
you'd really like to know. $50.
How we raised ten thousand dollars IN this
town some years ago!
I can give you facts and figures, and I'll
guarantee them true,
But to make the tale worth telling-well,
the rest is up to you. :.
Now the art of raising money isn't taught
in many schools;
So ne hired a splendid teacher-hired the
one that teaches fools.
And the lesson that he taught us-never-
more to be forgot u..y ,,4
Wasn't How to Do the Thing but
rather How to Do 1t Not"
Years ago this town was rated as the. best
one Of its class
Waterworks, paved streets and sidewalks,
parks, electric lights and gas
Everything was strictly modern-all ex-
cept our city hail.;
That was quite an ancient structure, al
most tottering to its fall:
But improvements are expensive, n our
taxes were so great
That our people wouldn't stand for any In
crease in the rate. :,
Still we secretly were hoping that old
shack would tumble down..
Then somehow we'd have a building that
was worthy of the town.
Just about this time a handsome, oily.
progressing man
Came along with Just the incest, neatest,
simplest little plan.
"If you'll license twenty barrooms at hVe
hundred each" said he,
"You can start your city hall fund with
ten thousand dollars. See?
Issue bonds and build your hall and pay
YOUR bonds off at your ease; C.
Thus your hall will soon be paid for from
your liquor license fees" =,
Touched us on our tender spot and found
us Just as soft as x
Beautiful new city hall and not a single
cent more tax! -
Let me ecu population was about ten
thousand then,
And we had at least a hundred good, sub
stantial business men,.
Not a nicer little city, north or south, or
east or west =,
Schools and churches, we'll attended, all
we'll fed and all well dressed;
Seldom had a business failure, never had
a sherif's sale,
Not a pauper in the poorhouse, not a
prisoner in the jail
Just a sort of modern Eden till the
tempter came along.
OllCS VIC A6LCaSo w tAS
things been going wrong.
Poorhouse full and jail is crowded, church
neglected, schools run down;
Same old story, why repeat it: Just a
liquor license town. .,
Home deserted for the barroom, husband
at the "poor mans club"
Wife, who once was bithe and happy,
makes her living at the tub.
Wages 90 for beer and whisky, trusting
merchants have to wait;
Business failures, vacant, buildings, cheap
EVERYWHERE You see FOR SALE" signs,
everybody wants to sell; 49,.
lot for one in He'll"
Yes, we built the city hall, but who can
count its fearful cost?
Leave out everything but money-just the
money that we've lost
What's ten thousand dollars yearly? Count
it any way you will,
Fifteen times ten thousand dollars Will not
pay our liquor bill.
twenty-five, at least, per Gay.
Don't you see? they've got to get it, or the
business will. not pay.
That's one hundred fifty thousand that our
hundred merchants lose,
Should have gone for food and clothing,
books, and hats, and boots and shoes.
Bteter for those hundred merchants, with
their goods upon the shelves, -,
Each had gwen his hundred dolars-bulIt
that city hall themselves,
Saved their trade land saved the city; yes,
and saved the human souls
That the monster DRINK is claiming as
he gathers up his tolls. 8,
Would YOU balance that ten thousand
which they pay US year by year .
Gainst that tiny drop OF water that IS
called a woman's tear?
By what subterfuge of reason, by what
sophistry beguiled, r
Would you take ten thousand dollars Tor
the safety of your child?
There you have it in a nutshell. There 9
your liquor question square.
What's the answer? Read. the papers.
You can feel it in the air.
Ask your neighbor. Ask the ages. Place
your ear upon the ground. .
Listen closely. Don't you hear it? Don't
you hear that rumbling sound?,
Like the sound Of many waters where
some mighty torrent rolls?
IT'S the voters of the nation, n they re
marching to the polls. '
God of Battles! God of Ballots! Thou
who led the Fathers on, $50,
Lead the Sons and give them courage tu
the final victory's won.
Russell Thrapp, in The Kings Herald.