The Clio messenger., 1918-01-04
i"The Storm Clouds Silver Lin
ing" As Mary Harris Armor
Sees 1t.

The announcement that Mary Harris
Armor, that champion disturber OF
conscience" is to give an address al
ways arouses in her audience great ex-
pectations, which, unlike some orators
of renown, she never disappoints. Like
the prophets of old, she seemed divine
ly inspired to speak message of hope
and her interpretations of present day
conditions were given as by one with
authority from on high.
Registration day was the saddest
day ever experienced" said Mrs. Ar
NOR, in introducing her subject, "The
Storm Clouds Silver Lining" 81
awoke in the morning realizing that
thousands of mothers boys, and among
them my own boy, were to be called to
the colors to defend their country. My
heart was heavy within me. Suddenly
/ remembered the admonition of the
Scriptures. In everything give thanks,
could be thankful for in these troublous
in her Illuminating fashion six reasons
for thankfulness that came to her as
she prayed through the problem with
which so many are graphing in these diff
ficult days.
81 thank God that this is not civil
war; that we stand together as an un-
divided people in this great calamity.
al thank God that believe when this
war is over, as a result of it all barriers
of class and creed, of sect and section.
will be broken down as never before.
and knit together by sacrifice, and fused
by fire, we will present to the world the
spectacle of nation absolutely indisol-
uble.
II thank God that we have unsheath-
ed a stainless sword. | believe the
blood shed by our boys in France is ho-
ly; believe we are making war on war
and that the result of this war will be
a great world federation that will es-
tablish world peace.
II thank God that my boy is just as
safe in France as in the United States
of America, for l remember that my
Lord hath said that All things work
together for good to them that love
Him. The only safe place after all,
for any man or woman is in the dis
charge of duty, for to such men and
women alone is given the promise of
> the protection of the Almighty. l did
not raise my son to be a soldier, but
neither did raise him to be a coward
or Stacker, and if he must pay the su-
preme price on the battle front, the
path to Heaven is no farther from
France than from America.
''And, finally, thank God because
believe this war will result in the de-
struction of a traffic more Infamous
than war itself, the liquor traffic"
One section of Mrs Armor's address
dealt with the food situation. II do
not believe that there is a member of
the w. G.. T. u. who could not out
Hooverize Hoover in the matter of saw
ing food" remarked Mrs. Armor, "but
/ would like to say to the President and
Congress that we are not concerned
merely because the brewers are vast
ing in beer, grain and other foodstuffs,
but we fear the knowledge that this is
being permitted by the government
will tend to ALLEVIATE the sympathy and
enthusiasm of women who otherwise
would be champion conservers. These
women think we are alarmsts when we
tell them of the serious lack of food.
They say, why. this cannot be true.
If the food condition in the nation were
so serious, the administration would not
permit food material to be wasted by
the brewers.
"All we demand of the government
is that 1T do for us the things we ask
of it as freely as we have done that
which it has asked of us.
Speaking of the need Of sending sug-
ar to the soldiers to supply to the blood
that element which the scientists say
gives courage, Mrs. Armor said she did
not believe in sending all the courage
creating sugar abroad. She thought
a few barrels ought to be saved for our
''spineless" members of Congress, and
if it really would have the effect of
making them courageous; she would
recommend forcible feeding to accomp-
iish chat much-to be desired result.
Mrs. Armor threw light on the coal
shortage, declaring that I'VE need every
inch of space in the cars that the brew
ers are pre-empting to transport beer.
Other dangers in war time that would
be minimized if the drink evil could be
eliminated from our national life were
enumerated by Mrs. Armor. "The spy
is abroad in the land and everyone
knows that drink loosens the tongues
of men and destroys their judgment.
Grave danger is there that over a din
ner where champagne is served even
without the participant realizing II,
state secrets of tremendous Importance
may be divulged."
Forcefu was the speakers warning
that the open saloon is always first
/ aid' to riots and disorders. ''It was
considered necessary to close the ga
looms at the time of the St. Louis riots.
Today we are in a world riot. Why
not close the saloons all over the land?"
? With deep conviction Mrs. Armor
stated it as her belief that before we
shall achieve victory in this great war
we must put away the great national
sin. IL believe God waits to bring us
to our knees" she declared in closing,
s'and when we can fight under a STAIN
less flag-the flag of a nation emanci-
pated from the liquor traffic-we shall
be victorious"