The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-06-25
A ONE MAN
CRUSADE
BY M. QUAD
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1913, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

tStry Bruce stevens spent TOUR Gays
in the town of Newbern as q part Of
his vacation.
and political ring in the town.
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 Ia
cahoots with the tough element.
The justice Of the peace was the
keeper Of 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's" he
asked Of merchant of the town who
was a representative of the better ele-
ment.
"And get boycctted and driven into
bankruptcy? was asked in return.
els it as bad rs that?'
'The gang has us by the neck and
has us scared. We have no leoder."
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 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."
II didn't know that there was any
there at ALL" smiled the minister
"Well. you'll he 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
tan nor sinner. While he criticised
| the former for lack Of backbone, he
| plainly told the latter that the crisis
| had come. The 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 crusade
he must not expect any active help from
them. They We're thoroughly cowed.
This is to be Il one man crusade"
he answered them. II did not expect
your aid, and so I'm not disappointed"
| 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"
"Yes?"
II am going for your crowd tooth
and toe nail"
"Why do you call it my crowd?" was
asked.
Because it is. There are violations
Of the law every hour Of the day, and
you stand by without interference.
You drink in every saloon. and yor
comrade with every lawbreaker. It's
the same with your deputies and the
constables. It's got to stop. Yon have
got to do your sworn duty"
Another reformer struck the town.
eh?" 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. It
seemed incredible.
The Rev. Mr.. Stevens visited the JUS
tice in his saloon and said:
Its for you to enforce the law. and
here you are among the lawbreakers!
The others are depending upon yon to
dismiss any complaint made against
them. What course are you going to
takeT'
"None Of your business"
The next day the minister complain.
ed of nine saloons which had violated
the law. Each one of them gas dis
missed Inside of twenty days tse old
Justice was out and a new one in.
There were ordinances against Sun-
day sports. They had not been on
forced in five years. They came to
the front now. No more baseball or
horse racing.
Beat the meddler up" was whisper-
ed, and shake purse was made up
to reward n scrapper for doing It.
He started out with great ardor to
make two minute Job of it. but it
lasted only half that time. The min
lister knocked him out with jab on
the jaw and then had him arrested and
fined for disorderly conduct
Then a public meeting was called at
hall, and the minister did some tall
talking. He put heart into the decent
citizens so strongly that they came
out boldly to his support, and the OPP
position saw that their cause was lost
One thing more The Rev. Mr.. Ste
vens from his pulpit raked the citi-
zens Of Newbern as they had never
heard minister talk before. They
owed duty to God and to man. They
must show up at church, whether they
were Christians or not The Sunday
school must be resurrected There
must be church work. Religion and
i