The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-09-09
A ONE MAN
CRUSADE
BY M. QUAD


He found one-half too many saloons
for town of its population.
He found the sheriff Of the county
and his deputies and the constable tu
cahoots with the tough element.
The justice of the peace was the
keeper of a saloon and passed drinks
over the bar, and he protected his own
sort when it came to legal troubles.
"Why don't you do something?' he
asked of merchant Of the town who
was o representative Of the better ele
ment.
"And get boycotted and driven into
bankruptcy? was asked in return.
"Is it as bad as that?"
"The gang has us by the neck and
has us scared We have no leader"
A few weeks later, when ready to
take up his ministerial duties, Mr.. Ste
vens asked to be sent to Newbern.
"But we have a minister there" was
replied.
But he has lost nearly all Of bis con-
gregation."
"Yes, the reports from that parish
are not at all cheering, and l believe
Brother Baker would welcome trans
fer. You know it's one of the hardest
towns In the state"
81 have spent four days there"
"The cause Of religion Is reported as
very lukewarm."
81 didn't know that there was any
there at ALL" smiled the minister.
"Well, you'll be appointed to the
place. hope you may stir things up"
The Rev. Mr. Stevens arrived He
started out with a sermon that jolted
and Jared. He spared neither Chris
tian nor sinner While he criticised
the former for lack of backbone. he
plainly told the latter that the crisis
had come. Tue crisis meant decency
and reform without any shame about
It, After the sermon he fingered to
talk with members of his congregation.
He found them looking forward with
great timidity. If he started a crusade
he must not expect any active help from
them. They were thoroughly cowed.
"tThis Is to be a one man crusade"
he answered them. "I did not expect
JOul dANt, anu oO III hOt ulotPPplhtOtt.
Monday morning the crusade open
ed. Mr.. Stevens visited the sheriff,
and. without any beating around the
bush, he said:
"Sheriff. am the new minister"
"YeSY'
81 am going for your crowd tooth
and toe nail"
"Why do you call 1t my crowd?" was
asked.
Because 1t is. There are violations
of the law every hour of the day, and
you stand by without interference.
You drink in every saloon, and you
comrade with every lawbreaker. It's
the same with your deputies and the
constabes. It's got to stop. Yon have
got to do your sworn duty"
Another reformer struck the town,
eh2" was the insulting reply.
The sheriff went from saloon to sa-
loon and laughed at the reformer and
said there should be no interference
from him. Within two weeks he was
removed and another man named by
the minister was in his shoes. The
citizens of Newbern were stunned II
seemed Incredible,
The Rev. Mr.. Stevens visited the ius-
tice In his saloon and said:
ITS for you to enforce the law. and
here you are among the lawbreaiersl
The others are depending upon you to
dismiss any complaint made against
them What course are you going to
! take?'
"None of your business"
The next day the minister complain
ed of nine saloons which had violated
the law Each one of them was dis
missed. Inside OF twenty days the old
justice was out and new one In
There were ordinances against sun
day sports, They had not been en-
forced in five years. They came tc
the front now No more baseball OF
horse racing.
Beat the meddler up" was whisper
ed, and a shake purse was made ur
to reward scrapper for doing it.
He started out with great ardor tc
make two minute job of it, but II
lasted only bali that time. The min
lster knocked him out with a jab OF
the jaw and then had him arrested and
fined for disorderly conduct.
Then a public meeting was called al
hall. and the minister did some tai
talking He put heart into the decent
citizens so strongly that they came
out boldly TO his support, and the op
position saw that their cause was lost.
One thing more. The Rev, Mr.. ste
vens from his pulpit raked the citi
Eens OF Newberu as they had neve
heard a minister talk before. They
owed duty to God and to man. They
must show up at church, whether the!
we're Christians or not. The Sunday
school must be resurrected. Their
must be church work Religion ant
politics must mix until every office II
the county was filed by decent man
The devil had had possession of New
bern long enough. Now he must b.
Knocked down and dragged out.
There was no devil there yea
a.