The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-09-28

now?" Mrs. Place says the schools
were larger; more was done to inter-
est pupils, such as spelling matches,
exhibitions, etc. Mrs. Buckminister
believes the system of spelling taught
| in the schools now not as good as years
ago, when the contests were put on.
The following paper was prepared
and read by Mrs. Getman:
I We gaze anxiously to see the dawn
of the elimination of one evil, then
turn and see another evil Mt our very
doors. One evil? yet, half dozen of
them, which are going to ruin the men
and women of our nation and are going
to be more difficult to eradicate than
the liquor traffic.
american tobacco for our Sam
mics; they do not like the French
weed" We were led gradually into
the trap until right here in Owosso
last Monday 1000 cigarettes were dis
tributed to the boys bound for Texas.
| would think no less of person Civ
ing boy glass of whiskey than
cigarette. ! understand the tobacco
fund movement started in England and
France many months ago and became
so popular there that the idea spread
to America. l presume it was an ex-
saloonkeeper and cigaret manufacture
er who worked diligently to interest
the newspaper publishers.
| Well, it doesn't take long to spread
anything immoral, there are many
avenues. They claim our boys need
something soothing, which only pipe
or cigarette can give. What are the
mothers, wives and sweethearts going
to have to soothe their aching hearts,
tired bodies (from extra labor) and
dry their tears? What kind of paci-
fer are you going to give them?
Prayers, hard work and more praying
that their boys will be returned to
them, not a moral and physical wreck.
can think of nothing more ridicul-
Gus than to ask Gods blessing on our
loved one; then a friend of our hands
him cigarette. Someone said, "Say
nothing against the tobacco fund; just
don't give" Silence is not golden at
this time; it is a crime. Let us fail
in trying to do something to prohibit
the manufacture of cigarettes rather
than sit still and do nothing. Those
who are addicted to the habit of using
tobacco, let them buy their own (they
will use less of it, AS soon as there
! is a demand for the American weed
across the water it will be shipped
there by the ton. By giving it to them
many will form the habit who never
would otherwise Under no consider
alton should the cigarette be furnish
ed our soldiers. Whatever Injuries the
individual impairs national efficiency.
The question comes up, why do not
our ministers take this matter up and
point out the dangers to the public ?
Perhaps they feel as l did after read.
ing in the Argus-Press the names of
different ones who contributed to the
fund-as though pail of cold water
had been dashed into my face. 1t took
several days for me to recover and
breathe natural. fully believe they
will come to the front soon, like they
always do when a moral issue con-
fronts us. -
Listen! The Americans are plan
ming to send $4,000 week to supply
100000 Belgian soldiers with tobacco.
Their wives and children are starv-
ing, homeless and almost naked. Are
we civilized? No! Better have some
Missionaries from China. They may
be able to teach uS
The meeting closed with song, to
meet in October with Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Lowell.
Resolution Adopted
The club authorized a committee to
draw up resolution which is as fol-
lows:
Whereas, the use of cigarettes is
deemed sufficiently injurious to health
to require legislative control; and
T. Whereas, many of the young men
who are called to our ,country's SER
vice have not become addicted to this
injurious practice; therefore
"Be it resolved, that the North
Owosso Farmers club is opposed to
conducting to forming the habit by
soliciting contributions for the indis-
criminate distribution of cigarettes
among our soldiers, whose well-being
is our most earnest desire"