Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-10-17
A ONE MAN
CRUSADE
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1919. by Associated Lit
erary Press.


stry Bruce Stevens spent tour days
In the town of Newbern as q part OF
his vacation
Mr.. Stevens found political boss
and a political ring in the town.
He found one-half too many saloons
for a town OF its population.
He found the sheriff of the county
and his deputies and the constable in
cahOOts with the tough element.
The justice Of the peace was the
keeper IF saloon and passed drinks
over the bar. and he protected his own
sort when It came to legal troubles.
"Why don't you do soIpethingY' he
asked of merchant Of the town who
was representative of the better ele-
ment
"And get boycotted and driven into
bankruptcy" was asked in return.
"Is it as bad as that?"
1.-THE gang has US by the neck and
has us scared. We have no leader"
A few weeks later, when ready tn
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."
Eyes. the reports from that parish
are not at all cheering, and ! believe
Brother Baker would welcome a trans
fer. You know it's one of the hardest
towns in the state"
II have spent four days there"
"The cause Of religion Is reported as
very lukewarm."
II didn't know that there was any
there at ALL" smiled the minister.
"Well. yon'll he appointed to the
place. hope you NAV stir things np
The Rev. Mr.. Stevens arrived. He
started out with a sermon that jcItad
and Jared. De spared neither Chris
tian nor sinner While he criticised
the former FOR lack cf backbone. ts
plainlv told the latter that the CRISIS
had come. The crisis meant des'emy
and reform without any shame shout
It. After tho sermon tie fingered to
talk with members Of his congregation
He found them h"king forward with
great tinidlty II he stirted y crusade
II. must nor pXMct any active help from
them They We're thoroughly cOwed.
This ~ to tx n one man crusade.
ne answered them u did not expert
v"ur AID. and 80 I'm not disappointed
Monday morning the crusade open
cd MIR Stevens visited the sheriff
and. without any beating around tue
bush. tie said:
"Sh.riff. AN the new minister"
"YesY"
~ am going for so"r crowd t"nh
aud toe nniI
why do yo,, call It my cr"wdY'' WAS
asked
"Recatise 1t ts There are violations
Ut the law every hour Of the dav. "n0
70" stand by without Interference.
You drink In every saloon. mud va"
cOlnrnde With every lawbreakpr it's
the same with your deputies AND the
"Onstables. It's got TO stop. 70" have
got to do Your sworn duty"
Another reforr,er struck the town
eh2" was the insulting reply.
The sheriff went from snlU'n to 81
loon and laughed at the reformer a'M
said there should he no ,nterf"ram'.
from him Within two WEEKS he was
removed and another man named W
the minister was IN his shoes "ils
citizens Of Npwbprn we're stunned u
seemed Incredible
The Rev. Mr. Stevens visited the tus
tice In his saloon and sold:
Its for you to enforce the law. apH
here 70" are among the iawhreak..rs'
The others are depending upo" 20" t.
dismiss any complaint made against
them. What course are you going ="
takeT'
"Nore Of your h,Isinessr'
The next day the minister complain
ed of nine saloons which had violated
the law. EACH one Ut them WAS dis
missed Inside ~ twenty days the "'d
t,lStlrp WAS out and new one N
There were ordinances against SIN
dav sports They mad nM n.4.n IN
forced IN i've years They ram~ ~
the rrunt now 40 more baseball Or
horse racing
"Roat the mpddler up" WINS whisntr-
ed and shake purse WIN made NJ
to reward scrapIn'r for doing It.
He started out With great srdos n
make q two utnute job Of T. but n