The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-07-29
CITIZENS COMMITTEE =
MAKES STATEMENT


The following is statement made by
the Citizens Committee in regard to
their recent sessions with the House
Committee Of B. P. o. E., 854:
We, the undersigned, feel called upon
to make statement, through the press
of the city, to the public, both in our
own behalf and in behalf Of IN inter
ested community.
On Thursday evening, July 7th, by
agreement and appointment, = commit
tee Of about eighteen citizens, includ-
ing the pastors of all the Protestant
churches, except Mr.. Myers, OF the
Episcopal church, who was not in the.
city, called on the Governing Board of
the Elks Lodge, to make friendly re-
quest of the gentlemen of that Board
and Lodge.
First, the committee wished to know
if the report that gambling was allow
ed in the Lodge room was true, and, IL
SO, we begged the Board to discontinue
the practice, for the sake of example
and influence. The Board and other
members of the Lodge present most
positively denied that any gambling
had ever been allowed in the Lodge
rooms. So this point was dropped from
consideration.
Second, the committee asked them.
for the sake Of their influence in the
community, and for the sake of ridding
their own members from the temptation
Of the social drink, that they would
eliminate all intoxicating drinks from
their buffet. They admitted that any
member Of the Lodge who wished to
store his liquors there. could do 80, and
that his beer would be kept on leo and
served to him and any Of his 1Lodga
associates or invited guests. The com
mittee argued that, under whatever 70
strictions this might be allowed, 1t
would prove most detrimental to the
young men in the Lodge, and would
prove an insurmountable barrier to the
building up of a genuine Temperance
sentiment in our midst, insisting that
the example would be more hurtful, be
cause so many men of high standing IL
the community were members of thu
Ledge.
The Board agreed that the Lodge
would take the matter under consider
tion at an executive session and report
to US their conclusion.
On the following Sunday, by request
of the committee, the four pastors An
nounced in their pulpits the purpos
and action of tho above named commit
tee. Immediately upon this commit
tee of ladies was formed which mad
partial canvass Of the town durin'
the next two days, securing about tw
hundred and twenty-five names to
petition, requesting the Lodge to dis
continue the storing or serving OF in
toxicating liquors in any form for an!
one.
The Exalted Ruler of the Elks, Kober
Herman, on being approached by q mem
ber of the subcommittee which was
receive the report, stated that the
had decided not to grant tho request
the committee and the petitioners.
It also seems evident that considers
BILE feeling has been worked up anon
some of our friends in the Lodge. TT
committee sincerely regrets that tt
matter has been SO reported or inte
preted as to cause any unpleasant fee
ing in the matter for the request WI
made in the kindliest feeling and tt
best of spirit, with the interest OF
concerned in mind. And it is still Il
conviction of the committee that If o.
friends in the Elks Lodge would co
slider this request and petition in the
true light, that they would como
agree with their friends on the outsid
and gladly acquiesce in this effort
uplift our community, and establish
temperate, social life among all tho m
of the community thatsis higher tn
the fellowship Of the social glass.
With this statement, and the ve
kindliest feeling, we again appeal
our friends, the Elks, to corporate wi
us in helping to rid Greenwood of
temptations to and the curses tt
arise from Intoxicating beverages. I
committee appeals to you first, becar
it recognizes your great influence, a
it also appeals to all other good q
zons, men and women and the city Z
county officials, to join hands in t
united effort to make Greenwood
uoted for it's riddance of temptati'
and for it's high standard Of morals
it is for it's prosperity and hospitali
w Quinn, r Smoot,
s L Brister, CIV Edwards.
] H Sutton, VT Johnson,
] T Flanagan, ] A Wall.
e B Bell, DR. VIM Irvine
IRV Pollard, g p Elliott,
Is NJ Wilsford, e v Hughsto
p Quinn, Capt " Pillo,
s G Lenoir, H D Spraggin
W A Stinson, 8 z Prophet,
A Read, q B Stewart,