Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-08-09

with concert. They also furnished
the Introductory at the evening lee
ture. In both appearance the boys
showed rare combination of per-
sonalities, voice blending and rhythm.
Their various productions were heart
lily applauded, but none more than
the readings given by one of the
number.
Many automobile loads of people
came from Greenville, Ionia and
Grand Rapids in the afternoon to
hear William Jennings Bryan talk on
the subject "War and Its Lesson"
Mr.. Bryan stated that he had been
influenced in his life work by four
great pictures more than by any 9th
er things. These pictures he said
were Bodenhausen's Madonna" How
endens Breaking Home Ties"
Verestschagin's "Apotheosis of War; y
and Munkacsy's "Christ Before Pill.
ate"
In speaking Of the pictures and
their effect on his life Mr.. Bryan
said, "The first made me a woman
suffragist, the second an advocate of
total abstinence and the last two an
advocate of peace. The first picture
| found in an art gallery in Chicago
over thirty-one years ago, just before
my first child was born. | purchased
it and hung it in my home where it
was a constant inspiration TO me and
my good wife, until our son married
and claimed it for his own. After
it was gone we bought another as
nearly like the first as possible.
1--WE trust the women to become
the mothers of our children; we trust
them to feed and nourish them; we
trust them to cloth them, and tuck
them into bed; we trust them to teach
our children and defend against
harm, then why should we not trust
the mothers to help make the laws
governing our home and national life,
and thus popularize the basis of our
government. The woman handles the
home life, the school life and the soul
life of our children, she is the part
ner in the home and finances of the
family. The man gives himself to a
woman for life then why not trust
to her the ballot.
Statistics show that over ninety
eight per cent of the inmates of our
penal institutions are men and less
than two per cent women. This is
one strong argument why women
should be given the ballot. They need
to liberate the men from illiteracy.
The voter needs intelligence and and
Another reason for giving women
the ballot is that man is known by
the company he keeps. You will find
every man or industry that profits by
vice and ignorance arrayed in an or
ganized mass against suffrage. If
the wicked can combine for the benefit
of themselves. why in the name of
heaven cannot the righteous unite
for the sake of community uplift?
The mother has a right to protect
the environment of her child.
"The second picture now "The
Breaking of Home Ties" BY this
picture my mnid has been constantly
influenced against the liquor traffic in
the United States. My first fight on
this issue was when / was a colonel
in a Kansas regiment. / urged the
abolition of the canteen and the ban
ishment of liquor from the army. /
began then to sign pledges and have
continued it all my life. | will keep il
up until the abominable stuff is ban
ished from the nations borders.
"In the third picture | see the rep
of the devastations OF
war. Human skulls cover The grcuno
and millions of vultures are gathering
to the carrion. | am reminded of the
tremendous cost of war. Four mil
lions of dollars a week, more than the
entire previous cost of war is the
total piled up against the warning ma
tions of Europe. One Billion three
hundred millions of people, or three
fourths of all the poulation of the
world are now in bloody conflict.
With this before my eyes | cry for
peace among nations. This brings
me to the fourth picture, which is
directly opposed to third. Christ Be
fore Plate From this picture / draw
the conclusion, and / believe am
right, that the nations at war have
builded upon the philosophy Of PLATE
instead of upon the philosophy of
Christ. And herein / find my great
est argument for peace"
Charles Stelzle introduced his sub
ject of Tuesday evening, "The Call Of
the New Day. or the "Church and
the Man Outside" with the assertion:
81 believe in the church implicitly.
Men are just as religious in their
minds as women. Women have had
a better opportunity for work in the
church. The men in the bread lines
of the cities are receiving no help
from the church. Their primary help
comes from themselves and the ranks
Of the men of the world.
'In my investigations of many
years find that the common laborer
the self-respecting, workingmen have
less to do with the church as they be-
come more intelligent. The people
who work short hours and at good
wages are farther from the church
than the laborers. Why? Let me
answer by giving you an illustration.
While in Brussels few years ago
visited the famous Peoples Palace.
There / found thousand men and
women at noon time and at evening
assembled and eating their meals.
While they ate, lectures were given
,n economic, social and other prob
ems. To the rear Of the room, and
by curtains was large
picture Of Christ. When
was shown this picture | asked the