Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-16
The Minister'S Query?
Who Is To Blame

shop with Its doors always open, was
sufficiently powerful to overhalance
influence for good, and thus the task
Of saving him under the present condi-
| lions had to be abandoned. He tried
| working in dry town. but the national
government itself is in the miserable
| liquor business, and will accept the
payment OF the $25 liquor dealers tax
from any applicant. regardless Of the
law of the state in which he intends to
SELL Then when q poor drunkard wants
to free himself from his slavieh chains
he may go from Maine to California,
from the gulf to the lakes, and on eve
cry foot Of territory over which old
glory waves her proud folds he 10
bounded and hunted by this monster
| until at last like poor Clyde he lies
down to the sleep that knows no walk
ing.
Who can picture in all its hideous-
ness the American liquor traftiof
| Human words are inadequate. Figures
daze us. We are led in our despera-
| ton to exclaim, "Oh Lord, how long?"
Gladstone said. it has destroyed more
human life than war, pestilence and
| famine combined.
Somebody is to blame. This poor
body is q murdered body and the MUIR
derer goes scott free in this great land
OF freedom. this land Of churches.
Boosting one hundred thousand pas
tors; this land OF colleges and unive.-
sites; this land that has been styled
Gods last chance for the human race"
goes on numbering other wives hus-
| bands, other children's fathers, other
mothers sons: goes on ruling congress.
| dominating state legislatures, intiini-
dating town councils; goes on throt-
ting the voice of the pulpit until God
in His righteous anger has sent our
land it's great spiritual drought. And
the pity Of 1t all is but few seem to
care.
! To You men who are before me: The
griefs, the scalding tears. the deferred
hopes, the strangled aspirations of this
| woman ought to lead every man Of
you to lay the axe Of absolute prohibi-
| ton at the root Of our license system
and rest not until the whole tree is
| burned up root and branch in the fires
| As you behold the wound will you not
| bring the healing balm? AS you wit
ness the bondage will you not seize
! the hammer and strike off the man
acles that bind this very hour SO many
citizens Of Garrett county. know
1 full we'll that criticism will be heaped
on me for saying this today. I have
weighed every word and am prepared
| for the consequences. But Will not
stand by and see a man cut down by
| liquor and witness the wreck and ruin
of home without raising my voice In
solemn protest against the liquor traffic
in Oakland, at whose door lies the re.
sponsibility OF Clyde Liller's murder.
=! I am going to say something else.
The men who run saloons are not alone
| in this. Others are responsible. When
we get to the judgment the man who
made the foul stuff. the man who sold
1t, the man who gave IT to him whei
he could not buy It. the man who 10
bondsmen for the saioonkeeper, the
citizen who. by his silence or vote. en-
dorses the liquor TRAFFIC, will all come
up with fingers streaming red In the
blood of poor Clyde Liller who fell q
helpless victim into the clutches Of
/ the liquor traffic.
| And now a word to these two pre-
! cious boys Hear me today. You arr
old enough to know what am saying
You will never forget this hour. You
| have been left without father at this
early period in your lives. and VIII
! have struggles In life and heavy bur-
dens to bear, but beg you today to
resolve down deep in your hearts never
to taste, handle or have TO do with that
which caused your poor fathers un-
| timely death. Stay with your mother.
encourage her. support her. be honest
and true, and the world will give you
place and you can mako living
| in 1t.
| And to this widow let me say: You
have the heartfelt sympathy OF this
congregation. You have my prayers.
and in your hours Of lonliness when
dark shadows gather around and iife's
| mighty storms threatens to dash your
frail bark to pieces. may you hear
above the roar Of the conflict the voics
of Christ saying: 1T Is l. be not
afraid" Peace be STILL" And the voice
that silenced the waves Of old Galilee
will still your troubled soul, until at
las; the day breaks and the shadows
. Aoo oWaV