The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1917-05-18
Campaign Plans

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The following interesting paper was
written and read by Mrs. Edwin Clark
Of Medina, at a meeting of the Wom-
'an's Christian Temperance Union, held
at the Church Of Christ, Friday, May 4
! Webster gives the definition Of a
,ompaign as the time an army keeps
the field. in action. We can recall the
days of the great crusade, when there
had been no unusual activity in tenn
perance circles. But suddenly, with
out warning, the crusade began, as il
i by magic. Armies of women, deli
cate, cultured home women, filed the
streets Of the cities and towns OF
Ohio, going in pathetic procession
from the door of the home to that Of
the saloon, singing, praying, pleading
with the rumseller, with all the elo-
quence of their mother hearts. Out
of this great campaign Miss Francis
Willard received her crusade baptism,
and five years later, in 1879, 2 was
elected president Of the National Un-
ion. A multitude Of memories, both
grave and gay, overwhelm one who at
Etempts toschronicle Miss Willard'sjife
in its years Of white ribbon leadership
but a campaign begun and fostered by
such mother hearts can never fail.
But there are some important rae
tors to consider in any campaign, no
matter along what lines we are fight
ing Education, agitation and leader
ship. Emerson says "There are al
ways two parties in the state-one
which advocates reform, and another
that is willing to have conditions re-
main as they are" But the man or
woman who takes the pains to enlight-
en- themselves, will from natural
causes become interested and awake 20
che party bent on change, and SO all
these years we have seen these two
great forces at work, until looking
back over the past 20 months and for
ward to the year 1917, we note some
victories won and confidence in future
policies.
The temperance transformation OF
Russia, the complete abolition of az
cohol in the United States navy, the
outlawing of the liquor traffic in "a
states; these and many other victor
les have given marvellous impetus "a
the movement for the banishment Of
John Barleycorn from the business and
social and political life of the civilized
world.
Total abstinence is no longer a rid
iculed fanaticism-it safeguards the
soldier, the sailor, the aviator, and the
crew of the submarine; it gives clear
brain to the railroad man, the attn.
lete, the autoist and the industrial and
agricultural worker; it says the firsl
man to be taken off and the last mar
to be taken on is the man who drinks
Total abstinence declares that ever
moderate drinking is an untold risk
Total abstinence has increased, in tel
years, the sale Of milk in New YorT
City, so per cent. Total abstinence
recently so controlled the state CON
vention of Georgia bankers that, II
the interest Of efficiency, they resolved
to exclude wine from their future ban
quets. Over forty years Of educa.
ton and agitation by the Woman'E
Temperance union have helped to give
the nation a federal child bureau, with
a distinguished woman, Julia c. Lath.
rope, at its head. Good, patriotic
men are realizing the vital need. Of
woman's work in the larger home
the nation. /,
Gov. Capper has paid Mrs. Hutch
inson beautiful tribute closing with
these words: every Kansas boy and
girl growing to manhood and woman
hood In state free from the saloon
indeed the entire country, owes to Elf
abeth Hutchinson an everlasting debt
of gratitude, and the greatest monu-
ment that can be erected to her mem.
ory, or that of others who fought with
her, will be represented by the happy
homes that know not the heartache
born of the saloon"
It would be like dynamite under the
saloon, if, just where he is, the MN
lister would begin active work against
it; if, just where he is, the teacher
would instruct his pupils; if, just
where he is, the voter would dedicate
bis ballot to the movement, and SC
on through the shining ranks of the
great powers that make for righteous.
mess, fren father and mother to kin
dergarten toddlers; if each were this
day doing what each could do, just
where he IS.
Let us notice some Of the ways ir
which the local union can participate
in campaign for national, constitu.
tional prohibition. One very impor.
tant campaign point is to teach the
voter how to mark his ballot. Ignor.
ance and carelessness in this particu
lar are just as disastrous to our cause
as opposition voting. Keep the public
posted through the columns Of the 10
cal paper. The value Of personal worl
cannot be overestimated. Keep tht
question Of national prohibition before
the people in every way possible, al
the time. Don't apologize for th'
liquor traffic, nor the fight you make
| a., a ct nual.uhndv know that liz