The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-04-27
YOUNG GIRL
Writes a..Lstter That Should
Shame Voters Of State
Tells Editor of a jackson Paper
What Drink Has Done for Her
Daddy and Her Home.
[AmerIcan Issue. April 81


How mean and little all this talk
about liquor revenue, compensation
for liquor dealers put out of business
because of Prohibition, personal lib
erty, taxes. ETC., when the ravages OF
the traffic in home is laid bare!
How a child can overthrow all the
alleged arguments of the liquor ad-
yocates with the simple story of what
the drink traffic is doing for the
father!
All the talent and all the workers
which the millions of the brewers,
distillers and saloonkeepers of Ohio
can employ cannot break the force of
a letter written the editor of the
Jackson Staudard-Journal by girl
living in Jackson county. This let
ter sweeps away the sophistries OF
the liquor dealers as the wind drives
away the chaff.
There is that in the letter which
should shame the men of Ohio who
think t',ey should not be concerned
about this wet and dry question.
This girl puts blame for her unhappy
home where it belongs. Every voter
and especially every man who is a
parent, should read the letter and
then ask himself if he can afford to
be inactive in this years campaign.
The man who can read Miriam's pit
iful story and not have burning de-
sire to throw all his energy into the
dry fight this year should examine
himself and try to find out what is
the matter with him. Here is the let
ter, and if the misery and sorrow
which is in every line could be burn
ed into the hearts and consciences of
Ohio voters, the old state would give
half million dry majority in Novem-
her:
"Mr. Editor: You do not know me
hut 1 read your paper. We live right
at the aead of Turkeyfoot, where all
the toes meet.
"Ther9 is a road down the valley
to the pike that runs to Jackson. 1t
is a lovely road, but wish tonight
that / could ct'se it forever.
Mother and began to watch that
road lo1g bef-re dark. Hour after
hour passed, but dad did not come.
1T was very late, when heard the
wagon cross the bridge, and then we
sat and snivertd with dread, not cold,
for we knew what was coming.
when We heard the stagger of
steps on the porch, mother threw her
self on the sofa, and l opened the
door.
"Mr. Editor hat your town.
IT hate your preachers.
''I hats you for sending my dad
home looking as he did.
"His clothes are not very fine, but
he stanGs Up straight, his hair is
black, lis eyes are blue, his cheeks
are red, and love him when he is
sober Oh yes, love him all the
time.
But | wish you could see him now
snoring OIL the floor in front of the
wood fif9 down stairs.
I'VE were all so happy this morn
ing, when he started to Jackson, and
said that he would come home early |
and bring US things that we want,
and bUok for me.
What did jackson do to him?
HE came home dirtier than neigh
boz Tassel's hogs, which have to sleep
in a pen with mud floor.
"His breath made me sick when he
caught me to hug me and was glad
oh how can l say that, when dad fell
on the floor and went to sleep.
HE has not taken off his clothes,
mother is crying in her bed, as if her
heart would break, and my brothers,
poor boys are asleep, and do not know
how mad l am.
you are all hypocrites up there in
Jackson. All you care for is dads
money. Because he has good heart
you jolly him and get him drunk,
somebody does, so that somebody
else can cheat him.
HE brought me my book. He
loves me as dearly as l love him, and
he could not forget that had begged
for Little Women but he could not
stay sober for yue.
''There were bottles in two Of his
pockets, and + took them out and
broke them where brothers would not
find them, but he brought nothing for
mother.
II feel like some one ought to be
shot for running my dad, but am on
ly a young country girl, and can do
nothing, except write to you, Mr.. ed
itor. ,
Cant you do something for dad?
You write of churches and schools
and principles, of all sorts of good 9
things. like to read about the birds =
and flowers, put all that does not save
dad.
Mr.. Ed'tOr-Do something, do
something, instead of writing fine 9
things, and a lot of mothers and girls l
will love you for 1t. My name is g
MIRIAM" D