The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-12-08
LOCAL OPTION
ELECTION TO Be
Held IN SPRING
Six Members of the Mems
Club Plan Dry Contest
Churches to Take Part.
COMMITTEE OF FOUR
TO HANDLE CAMPAIGN
Fund to be Asked to Wage Stiff
COntest-Drys Say They
Will Win. Eas

Six members of the Mems Club met
at the Centenary Methodist Church
last night and definitely decided te
hold a local option election in this
county in the spring.
1t was decided to enlist the sup
port of the Protestant churches, and
an effort will be made to induce the
colored religious organizations also to
assist. w. H. Stubblefield Jr., in
speaking of the need of a campaign
fund, said: at is necessary for US
to whip the 'nigger preachers and the
'niggers' into line. The 'niggers' are
for our cause. Two met me on the
street the other day and asked if we
were going TO hold an election in the
spring. When | said we were, they
wanted to know if we didn't need a
little help"
Mr.. Stubbleield, Otto Kochtitzky
and Rev. J. C. Handy were the prln-
cipal speakers. All of them expatlated
upon the need of prohibition in Cape
Girardeau County, and made sugges-
tions for prosecuting the campaign.
Mr. Stubblefeld urged the impor-
tance of campaign 1und. He SAID
Il would he an easy matter to get sub
scriptions along Main street and
broadway. A committee, composed OF
3. F. Davis, Prof. w. w. Martin, Rev
j. }. Clopton and Mr.. Pollard, was Sc
lected to effect a union Of the Protest
ant churches that are in favor OF pro-
hibition. This committee will work IN
conjunction with the Mems Club and
the Citizens Committee.
1t was pointed out that a majority
of DR.. Clopton's congregation were
wet, but he had volunteered his active
services in the local option campaign
1t was at DR.. Clopton's suggestion, the
speaker said, that the minister be CIV
en- a prominent part in the campaign
Those present at last nights meet
ING predicted that prohibition woul(
sweep the county. Banker Stubble
field suggested that a public audlto
rum be built from public funds, ant
he also advised that moving plctur'
campaign be waged in the interest O
the cause. Collections will be takel
ND each Sunday at the various church
es cooperating in the movement ant
this money will be used to keep VI
interest in the campaign.
"Why, go along Main and Broad
WAY" he said, "and in three hours w
can have subscribed sufficient none.
from the merchants to defray the ex
ppnses of a campaign" He then emu
merated all the merchants who, IN M
estimation, would give "ten," and cam
70 the conclusion that this would be
very popular subscription.
He then added that the "nigge
preachers" and the "niggers" could b
lined up for their cause and be OF
GREAT aid to the movements. "Why
the other day, two 'niggers' stoppe
me on the street, and asked me whetf
er | was going to get busy IN tn
spring and 1 answered yes. Why, MI:
tab Stubblefeld, you'll need some hel
wont you? l told them that l woul
let them know if their assistance wa
needed"
Stubblefield then related his exper
ence with a ''boozr Fighter" who hs
been introduced to him by Rev. Ben
berg. pastor of the German Evange
ical Church, about var ago. I'll
man was brought to me with the r
quest that l provide transportation Il
him to st. Louis, and when | smell'
the odor of beer on his breath, l
buked him for spending his money 4
booze. At the same time l thoug
this was good lecture for Bemberg."
This caused the chairman OF {
meeting to inject few remarks abo
his efforts of trying to enlist the .
of Rev. Bemberg for the prohibiu
cause. "He's a German, he cal
speak any English, he hasn't go