Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-09-03
WOODMEN ARE
FOR AMENDMENT
MarIinton Camp Sending out
Address of Hon. A. Den
mis- Williams
ARE FOR HOME PROTECTION
Woodmen Have No Use For Licensed
Saloons to Debauch the Homes
and Wreck the Lives
of Men.

the west Virginia camps OF the
Modern Woodmen, one of the largest
fraternai orders in the world, are TAX.
ing lively interest in protecting the
homes of the state against the raw.
ages of the licensed liquor traffic.
They have good reason to do this
because Section 5 of the policies is
sued by the order reads:
''If the member holding this certifi.
cate becomes Incorporate in the use
of intoxicating liquors or In the use
of drugs or narcotics, or if his death
shall result directly or indirectly from
the Incorporate use of intoxicating
liquors, drugs or narcotics or shall he
become engaged in the manufacture
or sale Of malt spirituous, fermented,
vinous or any intoxicating liquors to
be used as a beverage in the capacity
of stakeholder, proprietor, agent or
servant this certificate shall become
null and void"
Marlinton Camp No. 1866 is taking
the lead in this matter and is sending
out copies of an address by A. Dennis
Williams, one of the most prominent
members of the order on What Wood.
craft Stands For" Mr. Williams was
one of the delegates from West Vir.
ginia to the Head Camp at Peoria in
1908 and was an alternate to the Head
Camp at Buffalo in 1911 He was a
member of the legislature in 1909 and
was a leading factor in the passage Of
the Fraternal Insurance Bill which act
has been helpful to fraternal organiza,
tons generally in this state.
In his address, Mr.. Williams says:
I'VE stand for the protection of the
home, for the elevation of our neigh.
bors, for the protection of their NOR.
ais, for relief from suffering and woe
to all mankind
Like a mighty oak, shedding its
shadows over the little grasses that
stand under its great bows, the Order
of Modern Woodmen of America
stands as a protector over the mem
bership and their families, and each
member of this camp and each mem
Der of each camp within the iurisdic.
ton, is one of the branches of the
great tree that sends forth its great
protection.
I'VE have seen the clouds of despair
and misery closing in around the home
Of neighbor as the silencing hand of
death paled the cheeks, stiiled the
voice and stopped the pulse Of the
breadwinner and protector of that
home. We have seen the wife and
mother stagger beneath the load of
grief while her babes wrapped In the
folds of her apron pleaded for bread.
I'VE have likewise beheld this same
scene in another home where the IA
Their, husband and breadwinner was
not a member of Woodcraft or any
other insurance organization because
an uncomfortable appetite that had
seized him and thrust lin into the
list of alcoholics where he could not
get protection from the organization
and his family was left to the mercy
of charity.
"No true Woodman who Is mindful
Of his obligations to his fellow men,
can fail in the great struggle which
confronts US in West Virginia on the
question OF the Prohibition Amend
| ment to the Constitution to do other
than vote to eliminate the intoxicating
| traffic from West Virginia
Ninety per cent of the criminals
Of the country trace their crime direct
| ly or indirectly to the use OF alcoholic
| beverages. In Maine there is one
criminal in the state prison to every
i,020 population From Mcdowell