Connecticut western news., 1917-09-13
Letters From the People.
A CALL TO TEE WOMEN OF
 CANAAN.

While the Allied armies are fighting to make the world "safe for Demo. cracy", another worldwide fight is going on, to help win the war, and make the world an unsafe place for the Demon Rum. Women are assisting in this great fight, and Canaan women should continue the good work begun two years ago. Our clergy have re- minded us that home interests. the churches, the civic duties, and the moral and physical needs of the town should be looked after, and not neg. lected, because of Red Cross work, valuable and necessary as that work is. Soon there will be the question of wet or dry town to settle. Let us settle it right. had ne idea of writing a call for temperance this year, but had been asked by letter, and over the wire, to do something, as heretofore. in this line.
 East Canaan women are holding out hands to we women of North Canaan asking for repetition of last years work-another petition of women that we have dry town. Right here, I want to say to those few women who have spoken slightingly of the value of that petition, signed by over three hundred women, saying that it had no effect on the outcome of the mems vote, that they are very much mis- taken. Only last night (Mon. Sept. 10th) the daughter of one of the towns most worthy and important men, poli- tically and socially, called me up and said that her father declared that the splendid protest of the women last year in the form of a petition, had very decided effect on tue voters, and helped, more than anything else, in giving us dry town. I. myself, can record several reported instances, of where men, gathered in public places,
 were heard to say, that because of that petition, the town was lost to the vets. Do not, women of Canaan, neglect your temperance duties this year. We should take chance to ourselves, to work so, assiduously for our soldiers physical comfort, and let the town we live in become 8 sinkhole of moral degeneration and rottenness for our boys to come back to. Our Government, has done wonderful work for us, in fighting the Great Destroyer of Man, hood. Shall we not do our little part this year! Get busy with another peti. tion, get it out as soon as you can. East Canaan and Canaan Valley women are calling for it. They will eagerly put name after name on a petition paper. sent to them to fill out. It is not too early to begin, and right away. Dc not, beg of you, say that there is no time to help fight for decency and moral uprightness in this town. Do not say "the womens petition had no effect on the vote." I can give you names of important men members of the community who have declared very differently. We women can not vote, but to again use my argument of last year, for dry town, a decent town for women and children to live in. It is the women who buy at the stores, who help business with our own money, or our husbands money. IC is not the drunkard's money, nor the St. Jon keepers, nor the aliens money. that is wholly keeping business going in Chis town. I want you self interested business men-and perhaps few women-to remember that many women are paying taxes, and helping in many other ways to keep business. and schools and churches going in this town. Without our moral, social and financial support, am quite sure the f0yun xun1116 ffor Wa are expected to do too much of the uplift work, men too, are morally res. ponsible beings. In rum town we women are not expected to get drunk ourselves, nor let our children drink. smoke, chew or swear. Our girls are to be kept pure. our boys clear minded in spite of rum holes in our vicinity. Our Churches and Sunday Schools are tn be kept as full as possible of good young people and works, and yet quite a number of you men (some of you fairly good men tool think taat wet town will he.p business, and so you may propose tD throw moral filth and rottenness back into our midst, and expect that we women can, with OFT voteless influence, keep the community clear end sweet, and safe from the con. tamination and danger of that filth Have you any right to do this? Are few extra dollars in yrur business of more value to God and humanity than the souls of your fellow men? That a business or a coporation should pros. per financially, must we women and