Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-12-16
The Temperance Cause is Gaining.

The Temperance Cause is Gaining.
Since the first of this year saloons OF
the United States have been closed at the
rate of forty day, declared General Su-
perintendent P. A. Baker, in his biennial
address to the convention OF the Anti
Saloon League of America in Chicago last
week.
at is difficult to measure the work OF
the last two years" said Mr. Baker. "The
concrete results of two years OF this holy
crusade may be estimated with reasonable
correctness:
"That during the year 1908, more than
eleven thousand saloons were voted out
OF existence, and through restrictive
measures and better law enforcement
more than four thousand more we're
forced to close their doors; that since
January |, 1909, saloons have been closed
at the rate of forty per day; that forty-one
millions of the people are now living IN
prohibition territory; that 10 per cent OF
the United States are now living in the
United States forbidS the licensed liquor
traffic, tells only part of the visible re-
suits.
"New and powerful friends are every
where gathering to our Anti-Saloon
League standard. We are just beginning
to learn how to direct the battle, to wisely
handle our resources, to make every dol
lar of money, and every ounce OF energy,
count the most.
1--WE are creating a new brand OF poll
tics and politicians we are making ii safe
for public officials to do right: we are
are magnifying the oath Of office; we are
teaching men that public office is public
trust; that there is no political future for
the man who abandons conscience when
he enters the public service; that the laws
represent the combined average OF public
sentiment of the people, which cannot be
ignored without peril to the one who does
if.
"Our movement is doing more to usher
in the new patriotism than any other one
agency aside from the church itself.
"We have not yet seriously attempted
to enlarge our constituency among class
that needs only TO be reached TO be won.
mean the country people. The yeo-
manry of this country are right at heart on
the liquor question. They have saved to
the "dry" column most OF the counties
and states that have voted. They have
done this in spite OF the fact that the IL
quor people have flooded them with lit
erature as false as sin, but as plausible as
Satan, and while We, for lack of funds or
lack OF management, have utterly de-
faulted at this point, except for a little
sporadic effort at election time.
Country churches and country school
houses should be utilized midweek as
well as Sundays by our own and volun-
teer speakers under league direction, TO
capture for the greater struggle this wait
ing constituency.
"The great labor movement OF this
country and the world is yet to become
great spiritual and religious movement.
Organized labor is fundamentally holy
crusade. In many instances it is bung-
lingly conducted and sometimes is at war
with its best friends, but it is struggle
toward light and justice and square
deal.
at seeks to correct great wrong, and
il is not strange that il often blunderS in
the effort. 1t is striving for principle Of
right and righteousness, but all the while
as body, refusing to give due recognition
to the source of all righteousness. The
forces with which it grapple are so gi
gantic and far reaching that the struggle
is an unequal one without the aid of Christ
life and the Christ spirit.
"This liquor problem is the church's
problem and the church must solve it.
The church cannot turn it over TO any
political party. 1t is not the province OF
political party to inaugurate moral is
sues; that belongs to the church. In a
government like ours, which is governed
by parties, il is the duty OF the party in
power to crystalize into law the moral is
sue created by the church and then en-
force that law. Beyond this it has no
function touching purely moral issues.
"The reason is that political parties are
opportune and will discard policy when,
in the Judgment of its leaders, the discard
ing of il will make votes for the party.
The church is dogmatic and can march
squarely up to a proposition and meet de-
feat again and again until it is settled ac-
cording to the ten commandments and the
sermon on the mount"