The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1916-12-01
LETTER FROM FORMER
PAWPAW YOUNG MAN
TO THE TRUE NORTHERNER:-

raised IN raw raw, van Duieh SouHty
Michigan. / have always had an
especial pride in Van Buren, county,
because of the fact that it is the old
est dry county in the State of Michi-
gan. / am especially grateful to the
citizens and voters of Van Buren,
County, in that they took such early
steps to see to it that the many young
men and women of that County, in
Guiding myself should be brought up
in a community where they could
never see the Haunting doors and the
temptations Of a licensed saloon,
whose main purpose is to make money
by trying to nullify the benign in
fuences of the home life. Who knows
God only knows, how many Of those
young men and women who are now
making a success in business, living
sober lives and have happy homes,
surrounded by wives and children, all
of whom are united by that closest Of
ties, Christian love, might have been
living a life of drunkenness and shame,
a disgrace to their parents and assocl-
ates, if it was not for this early inter
est taken by the people of Van Buren,
County for the moral and Christian
uplift Of its citizens.
/ myself, shall never forget the
little home upon the hilltop, just
south of the depot, where a sainted
mother and father during the years
of my childhood, instilled into my
mind and heart those great principles
Of Christian living and Christian love
toward all mankind And | praise
God, that because Of the manhood of
the Christian voters Of Van Buren,
County there was no open saloon 20
counteract the influence of that home.
| remember the deep interest | al
ways took in the enforcement of the
local option law while | was studying
law in the office of David Anderson.
then Prosecuting Attorney of the
County, now Judge Anderson. l never
forget the deep interests which he
took in the enforcement Of that law,
and the interest which he always took
in me in trying to instill the great
ethical principles of the profession.
And then there was Judge John r.
Carr, at that time upon the bench;
how well | remember the interest |
took in following his rulings, especi-
ally when he was trying local option
case He was a grand and noble
Judge, who always dared to stand for
the protection Of the home against
the ravages of the saloon. | remem-
Der how enthusiastic ! became one day
because Of his attitude on temperance
that ! went into his chambers and
asked him for his photograph. He
desired to know what | wanted of his
picture. | told him is was because Of
my great interest in his attitude to-
ward the liquor question, that | was
greatly interested in him, therefore |
desired his picture so that | could keep
it. He gave it to me, and | have it
in my Possession today, and / never
look at it but what think of the ser
vice he rendered for Prohibition and
sobriety. 1t is because of just such
men as Judge John r. Carr and David
! Anderson and the hosts Of others like
them that has saved many a young
man and woman from a drunkards
| life and a dIunkards grave.
And then Van Buren, County can
well feel proud of the fact that she
was the nucleous from which the Pro
hibition wave took its start and swept
through the state until many other
counties Joined the ranks and now |
read that at the recent election has
swept the State Of Michigan itself.
That Michigan has now adopted State
wide prohibition i am certainly proud
/ am now a citizen of the state of
Georgia and am loyal to her interests
and state of which the whole Union
can be proud of. We can all thank
God for the attitude of the South on
this great question, as the south is
now nearly swept clean of the saloon,
and now that the north is so rapidly
joining hands with her in this great
fight we can we'll look forward within
the next few years to Nation wide
Prohibition, when this whole nation
shall be swept clean of this foulest
and blacklist of institutions. But not
withstanding my loyalty to Georgia,
/ have to break out once in a while in
singing, Michigan My Michigan"
and now ! can sing it with more fer
vor than ever.
send greetings to my former
friends and acquaintance in Paw Paw
and surrounding country. God bless
her and may she always remain true
to the noble standards which she