The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-12-08
The NETHODISTS ARE
FOR SOCIAL REFORMS
TEMPERANCE REPORT MADE AT
RECENT SESSION OF CONFER
ENCE IN DAWSON.
HIT THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC


Recent Converts.
The report on temperance and
social and moral reforms that was
adopted by the South Georgia Con-
ference at its recent session in Daw-
son covers at length the efforts that
are. being made by the Methodists of
South Georgia on reform lines.
There are many things that are
happening of such nature as to great
ly encourage us, while there are
many things which also call for great
diligence, watchfulness and prayer"
says the report. tThe Travellers Aid
Association recently gave forth the
utterance that there are $4,000 girls
who disappear annually while travel
ing. This thing is enough to alarm
US. The white slave traffic has its
agents, both male and female, and
they are ever on the alert, who
search diligently and persistently and
make travel by young ladies who are
alone dangerous, especially on great
excursions and visiting large gather
ings and resorts, The officers OF the
anti-white slave traffic have secured
nine hundred and one convictions,
aggregating fifteen hundred and fif-
ty-six years penal servitude for these
human demons; but that has not kill
ed the business. The approaching
exposition in San Francisco has al
ready caused many agents of this dia-
bolical traffic to be disseminated
throughout the land, and these en-
issaries of the Internal region are
worming themselves into the good
graces Of the people for the purpose
of entrapping its victims. There has
never been a time to demand such
, wide open eyes and prayerful con-
sideration as now. Mothers and
fathers should keep awake.
"As far as the prohibition and tenn
perance question is concerned, we
feel there is much ground for rejoic-
ing. Eight commonwealth of this
great republic have voted on the
question of prohibition the past year,
six have swung into line with the
other nine progressive states, which
had already planted themselves on
the prohibitive doctrines as promul-
gated in the Ten Commandments, for
which we give profound thanks to
Almighty God,
Beyond our own country there is
much to encourage. While we de-
plore the war in the East, as having
smanated from sources not in the
skies or beyond, but as a direct re-
suit Of the naterialistic philosophy of
some sections that is not only I'M
christian but tidsane and false, and
while we weep With the broken
hearted and sorrowitig tnes and pray
the God Of nations lay His hand on
the contending powers and cause
them to cease such fearful dEStruc-
ton of life and property, yet ther% is
enough here to make us sing paens
of praise. Amidst all this appalling
loss of life and great waste of ma
terial resources there comes the glad
news that England has shut up
French wine and German beer from
the soldiers and marines, France has
sent to the guillotine absinthe, Ger
many has turned her own siege guns
against the breweries and is batter
ing them down, and the Gear of Rus
STA has not only banished by royal
DEGREES forever all Intoxicating
drinks not only from the army and
navy, but wherever the Russian bear
ambles. Even if it took all this loss
to bring this about it will prove an
economical expenditure of men and
money.
"As to our own state, we would
report progress. The growing senti-
ment against the repeal of the prohi-
bitiOn law has become so strong that
the whisky men themselves hardly
dare advocate the repeal thereof. But
even here we must not slacken in our
diligence in the least. The liquor
traffic is not dead, nor are its agents
asleep or falling in love with good
ness and prohibition.
The breweries and the big whisky
dailies are advocating temperance
now, but we had better be on the
lookout. These sentiments are no
more digested and assimilated by this
whisky crowd than was Jonah when
taking his voyage in the abdominal
cavity of the whale. These fellows
are not even letting their guns rust.
This is no time for us to lie down
and rest on a righteous law enacted.
We know that every legislature elect
ed in Georgia since the passage of
the prohi bitiOn law had a majority of
men in it who are for prohibition.
And yet the speaker of the last house
of representatives managed either by
accident or by diligent research to
find enough whisky men to put on
the temperance committee and
smother all temperance legislation in
the committee room. We must watch
the men who are running for offices,
and not take the promise of every So
called or wouldbe reformer. but we
must try to place in Office and high
positions men who will be true TO
promise and we can only find them
among the ranks of those who are