The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1912-01-02
ORuNkAUOS' FAMILIES
OBJECT Or THF|R HELP
Women In Smoky City Organize
Unique Organization for Assisting
wives and children Of lncbrtntcs,
Trying Cooperation With Bars
United Press Service

Day, 1910, a woman. poorly clad, and
with face swollen with weeping. came
to the home of Mrs. Stella Masters, In
the fashionable East End district OF
Pittsburg.
II saw your name In the paper, and
how you were working to help people
made poor by drink" she said be-
tween sobs. Il didn't go to my pastor
because he couldn't do anything. I'm
afraid my husband wouldn't pay any
attention to him. My husband makes
S6 a day In the mills, but he spends
II all for drink. and today---Chrlst-
mas Day. just think OF it--he drove
our six children out on the street and
beat me. He was drunk. Is there no.
body who will do something for
drunkard's wives9 Can you help me?'
She grew hysterical and could not fin
ish her pathetic story.
Mrs. Masters, w. c. T. U. and
church worker. club woman and suf-
fragist, today said she was taken
aback By the woman's appeal, and she
realized that the fourteen years OF
her work along charitable lines had
somehow failed to hit the mark.
Right then and there she made the
resolve: "Ill do something for the
drunkards' wives and children"
A short time later the Protective
League for the Families OF Drunk
ards, the most unique organization OF
its kind in the country. was formed.
Mrs. Masters laughed when she was
asked whether the league, OF which
she Is president, had secured any
swearing of" pledges.
I'VE don't do things that way" she
said. "Aiost pledges are Jokes. They
are only made to be broken.
First we appeal TO the saloon
keeper and then to the erring one
himself. II neither OF these two ap-
reals does any good We go to the
courts. Our work Is broad In scope.
We have monthly meetings. but we
have no paid treasurer or secretary.
Our dues are only 25 cents a year. We
banded ourselves together like the
Crusaders OF old. and aim to do Just
what our name implies, protect
drunkards' families
During the past two years we have
helped fifty families. That Is. We
were successful In that many in
stances In weaving away supporters OF
families from the curse OF strong
drink.
Fifty families sounds small and
inconsequentlai, doesn't It? But Isn't
II a remarkable thing when only one
person Is turned into better paths?
We don't assume things, or so by
hearsay. Our members go into sa-
looms themselves. right up to the bar,
II necessary.
I'VE are the saloon keepers friends
and they are our friends. We work
together. They know now that we
realize they have legal right. az
least. to make their living as they do.
and the better class of saloon espers
welcome our aid In conducting re-
spectacle houses.
"Most saloon keepers aren't bad AZ
heart, and then We always have the
law to back us up In our demands.
and licenses are hard and expensive
to get II protests are filed In license
court. But We make no threats. We
talk II over with the saloon keeper,
and give him chance to mend his
ways. A second offense means more
drastic measures"
Here Is how the league goes about
its work, quietly and unassumingly.
A drunkard's wife or mother, or
some woman OF the family writes to
the league asking for help.
Ono OF the members looks into the
case. This woman detective gets the
names and addresses OF the places
where the husband or son spends his
money for drink. Then he goes TO the
mloon keeper and talks the matter
over with him.
II he refuses to act at the first ap-
rcal-which usually falls on deaf
oars-the league member tries a talk
with the drinker himself.
II this fails printed notice Is given
the saloon keeper, warning him not
20 sell to John Doe," who Ia a per-
son OF intemperate habits.
A copy OF the liquor laws OF Penn
sylvania goes with the notice, and the
saloon keeper has learned by this
time that failure to comply with the
notice means trouble getting a new
license next year.
A particularly hard fight was put
np on Christmas and New Years Day
last year to close all places where
strong drink is sold. The court re-
fused Mrs. Masters request on the
ground that It could take no action
within the bounds OF law. Nothing