The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-06-03
v. 6. 7. j. WORK

Following is the annual report Of
c. l. Collins. superintendent Of the
Florida Anti-Saloon League, made be-
| fore the recent convention meeting in
Jacksonville:
| In submitting my report for the year
ending January 81, 1910, permit me to
paraphrase the opening paragraph Of
the report Of our honored national su-
perintendent at the recent Chicago
| convention. He said:
"One year of toll and sacrifice and
service-and by Gods help success
lies Immediately behind u.s. What we
have written. we have written. The
record is signed and sealed, and we
leave it in the hands Of Him who takes
note Of the falling sparrow. While
the results may not be all that the
most Of US could wish, they are greater
than during any like period in all the
past. The future is full Of promise;
new friends and new forces are en-
listing for the war. The enemys
progress has been checked and turned
backward. They are desperate, def
ant INSCRIPTIONS, filled with the
wrath that begets deeds Of violence.
Their appeal is to the criminal and
lvicious-the creation of their own
IndnOlWOTk, the OHSpTlnS OIL lnelT Oe-
humanizing traffic. Their past tri-
umphs are mother to their present
downfall. The success of evil brings
the overthrow of evil. The conduct Of
the traffic itself has always been our
chief asset"
| What DR.. Baker said of the national
situation is true, too, of Florida.
| 1t has been a year of surprise and
Ichagrin and desperation for the liquor
lcrowd. They thought they had us on
the hip They scoffed at our claims
that the legislature of 1909 would
submit prohibition to a popular vote.
And last April, their cohorts from the
wet cities Of the state marched up the
hills at Tallahassee and then marched
ldown again. They entered the historic
capital, with their Doodle and their
booze. They walked right in and
turned around and walked right out
again" That legislature was not for
sale, and the liquor crowd had no other
argument but the highest market
price to offer. 1t took but seventeen
days to whip them in Legislative halls.
From that day to this, your officials
and employees have used every honor
liable means, have given their most con-
secrated endeavor and have used their
utmost diligence, every moment, to
prepare for the gigantic struggle of
the coming summer and fall.
We gladly render account of our
stewardship today. We have directed
the fight from Escambia county to
Monroe. and have been in the thick of
lit ourselves at many points as our
manifold duties would permit. 1t has
been strenuous year-but a happy
and blessed year. The glory belongs
70 hoe arih
it, 1T belongs to Him.
He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never beat retreat;
He is sitting out the hearts of men
Before His judgment seat.
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him!
Be jubilant my feet
Our God is marching on
It is difficult to adequately estimate
, the work of the year. 1t is impossible
to tabulate it in figures. Some facts
can be given and some figures shown,
: and these indicate such unceasing &C
, tivity as 1 feel confident you will ap-
\ prove
Our Working Force
\ Six people have been in our employ
= for full service and a seventh for Sun
\ lday service. Each one of these has
given unstinted, faithful service. There
+ lis not a laggard in the employ of the
/ league, and each has shown those
Qualities that make for useful service
las we'll. 1 would especially commend
Jour office force, for 1 am certain that
no state has a more efficient or devot-
ed office force than we.
Headquarters
By direction of the headquarters we
left. last August, the temporary and
undesirable Offices we had occupied for
over a year and secured rooms in the
new and modern Bisbee building
where our surroundings give every
facility for the best work.>The loca-
ton Of the building, in thd hear,
of the best business section of the city
] is all that could be desired, and makes
O lus accessible to our friends at all
times.
z Territory Covered
81 Our employees worked personally
- during the year in all but three of the
lforty-seven counties of the state.
When the books were closed for the
year all bills were paid in full, and
there was not a dollar Of Indebtedness
against the league.
The new year has opened we'll, fl
@ nancially, but such campaign as we
shall be forced to wage this year will
demand very large expenditures. The
liquor interests are fighting for their
very life. They have unlimited mil
lions on which to draw. A conserva.
tive estimate of their income in Flor
ida last year is s15,O00,000. While we
need not match their campaign FUND
dollar for dollar, we must have ar
ample fund, and l urgently recommend
that this body request the people o,
the state to provide fund of not less
n than $4,000 for the coming campaign
1t is the critical period in our Florida
|. fight. We win or lose this year for 6
n generation to come.
The Campaign Ahead
And now comes the real struggle
the battle royal. 1t is remote con
Y tingency. The decisive battle is irrev.
ocably scheduled to occur on the stt
day of next November. And
Down from the forest trees of yellow
: pine,
Up from the Everglade.
Out from the city's dusty, crowded
streets,
From the country's shade,
All over blessed Florida there starts {
song,
To arms! To arms" It IS a battl,