The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-15
A Majority of One

Yes. voted for license two years ago.
but l tell you I'D rather die
Than TO do n again. and from this
time forth you may count on
You cali me a .turncoat?' I'm proud OF
the name II Is meant as
slur. no doubt:
But, garment or vote. 4 turn my coat
when i md II wrong side out
You see, tho a fellow has been stone
blind. IL the time does come
II isn't easy 10 blind him again. You
may sheer as much as you.
please,
But wait Till some wreck that was once
man just looks you straight
And tells YOU his soul is doomed 20
hell and that you arc the
cause. and why.
Jack Hin did that: not In just those
words. but. You know what
Jack used TO be
A handsome fellow. straight ana
strong ms ever you'd wish to
with his honest face and his great,
warm heart and his cool ana
But Jack had one faiiing-he'd drink
sometimes: all you know 10
what Il led.
Jack had Just moved back that spring
from Maine, where he'd lived
for several years.
And where, lacking temptation, nee
kept so straight that ms WIG,
even. lost her fears,
And she looked almost like a girl again.
we saw with pleased surprise.
With the soft. pink flush In her once
pale face and the happy light
In her eyes.
That was the spring, you remember
that local, option hrst came
Up at our April election. and the
county was all aname;
And then. too. of course; you remem.
That bs a majority OF one the Dues
tion was settled-wet
Jack voted "dry:" he had tried to get
But 1 Thought II would inJure busi.
ness and 1 said. Here. Jack!
It's shame.
For you; strapping young feIiow' SO
To dread this elections outcome,
whatever 1t chance to be.
Jack! You're not a child but
Go I'm like man and conquer your
self; you can do 1t; know you
And Jack said. At might: I'll try: but.
Dan. do you know and can you
tell
What it means TO fight an appetite
that Is cruel and fierce as hell?
And answered: snow. Jack. don't you
think. yourself, 'twould be
more like winning the day
TO wage. the Tight with the foe in
sight than II 1t were far away?
You know I've no use for the stun. my
self; would rather the place
Except for the business side or the
thing" and then we said good
bye.
You recall that day when the very
heart OF our town seemed
standing still
with horror, as up to the county IAN
the sheriff brought Jack Hill.
His bullets aim had been all too sure:
straight TO the mark II sped.
And the noble wife, who'd have given
her life TO save his own, was
Perhaps you attended her funeral: II
x You aid and can stiii vote
The evil one has foreclosed on you
and he'll have you. don't for
You were not there? Well, lucky for
| sight
/ OF that haggard face in the mourn
i ers' place has followed me day
and night.
1.-TWO officers guarded him. even there
he kneit and they knelt, each
He was manacled to them, wrist to
wrist; ! never could tell, IL
tried,
IA thousandth part Of the awful sense
Il of guilt that burned within.
| AS / realized that, but for my act
| that scene would never have
been.
And in every sob that shook Jacks
frame, as he knelt In hi
anguish there;
In the low. grieved notes that thu
singer sang, and the minister,
/ pleading prayer,
A voice seemed sounding, sounding, til
IL rose to horrid cry
| "A majority of one-tust one" and
knew that one was-L
1 went to see Jack In the jail; tn,
morning they took him away.
| And a sadder sight i shall never see
let 1t be what or where IT may
Il With his bloodshot eyes and his brist
ling hair. and his tall form
Il sadly bowed,
So unlike Jack with his trim, nea
II air. and his bearing firm an6
proud.
4 Wnen the SneTiH OpeHeu the nedNy 400
he spranR up quick and Wild,
Crying Dan! I tried! God knows
tried" and then he wept 1ik'
child.
And 1 wept with him; I'm not ashame,
TO tell IL: the shame would be
II ] had not wept at the cruel sigh
of his fearful misery.
lie wanted to talk and let him talk
felt was guilty as he.
But the law could give him felon
cell. and what coulS 1t do &
me?
nothing! I hadn't broken the law
j that is, not the law OF thu
land;
And the law 1 had broken scent
harder, somehow, for the worl,
to understand.
He told me all the siclSening tale o
how he had come to fall:
How his appetite. like a beast Urn
Gagged, had overleaped the wall
OF his resolution; how he drank an