Cheyenne record., 1916-12-28
cHALLENoE OF A BIG TASK.

CHALLENGE OF A BIG TASK.
| A few paragraphs from the address
Of Miss Anna A. Gordon, president Ma
tional w. C. T. u, at indianapolis. Ind,
November II, 1916:
"Exultant praise fills our hearts as we
meet in our forty-third annual conven-
ton. These are glorious fruition days.
| We praise God for the resistless sweep
| Of statewide prohibition on November
Z, 1915. Michigan victoriousl Ne
braska victorious! South Dakota vic
| torious! Montana victorious! Alaska
victorious! Washington beat the brew
ers and held her law! Colorado beat
the brewers and held her lawl Arizona
beat the brewers and held her law!
Arkansas beat distillers and brewers
and held her law. Idaho, already
blessed by statutory prohibition, voted
three to one to place prohibition in the
bedrock of her state constitution. In
seven Of these eleven states women not
only worked for victory but helped
vote 1t fn-on election day. Great
Britain recently presented to the gov
ernment memorial more than eleven
miles in length for national prohibi-
ton during the war and six months
after. There were over 100000 sig
natures to the huge petition. Mrs.
Humphrey Ward, one Of its influential
indorsers, lately said, There will be
new wind blowing through England
when this war Is done.' This same
prohibition wind has blown the liquor
traffic out Of nine of Canada's ten prov
inces, from far northern Newfound-
land, from the vast areas of Russia
and its near neighbor Roumania it is
whistling over the banks and braes of
bonnie Scotland; it is driving before
it the liquor makers and liquor sell
ers Of sunny France; it is felt in the
restriction Of the traffic In Germany,
Italy and other European countries. It
bids fair to reach the proportions of a
prohibition cyclone that in the present
generation shall drive the commercial
lied drink evil from the entire world.
MANY members of the w. G. T. q.
who at the recent general election
were first voters cast their ballots
for the presidential candidate on the
prohibition party ticket. Yet as an or
ganization we are not partisan. We
rejoice that one of the chief citizens
Of our hostess city, ex-Gov. ]. Frank
Hanly, presidential candidate on the
Prohibition party ticket, received $780,
600 votes. We thank Mr.. Hanly and
Doctor Landrith for their intense cam
paign to help focus the attention Of,
our nation on the paramount question
of prohibition for our republic. We
also heartily thank the voters of all
parties who at the ballot box in state
or national elections registered their
convictions in favor of prohibitory
law and its strict enforcement. We
are all one in u supreme effort to Sc
cure federal amendment for prohi-
bition. Statewide prohibition victories
nave been secured only when people Of
all political faiths have united. Our
campaign for federal amendment
must be conducted on the same omni-
partisan lines.
During a prohibition campaign the
hearts of the busy toilers are cheered
and upheld by the enthusiasm such an
effort creates. There is unity of action,
fervor of spirit, joy of service and the
thrill OF coming victory. Election day
comes. Victory is won. What next2
Too often the cnmpaigners consider
their work is well over. They think
they have earned the right to rest on
their laurels and to enjoy the results
OF their arduous labors. There could
not be a greater mistake. Let us never
for one moment indulge the fancy that
prohibitory law can accomplish the
miracles Of enforcing itself. Popula-
n ahnr fy,
moving days. If public sentiment for
prohibition and for total abstinence Is
kept at white heat the vast area now
under prohibition can everywhere and
always resist the attacks of our strong
~ organized foe. The same fervor of
spirit which aided in securing q pro-
hibitory law must with equal ardor be
exerted to enforce 1t. The chorus of
humanity must bs kept up to prohibi-
ton concert pitch. Unity of action is
still necessary.
This year for the first time 1000, 900
women have voted for president of
the United States. The II suffrage
states, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah,
Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona,
Kansas, Oregon, Montana, Nevada and
Alaska, together with Illinois, where
women vote in presidential and munich
pal elections, have total of 81 cleo
toral votes.
CLOSELY studying the strategy of the
liquor forces Of our country-through
their Journals and the output of their
publicity bureaus-and noting the vast
sums Of money they expend to defeat
suffrage elections, we are convinced
that more than any other forward step
OF the Temperance forces they fear the