The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-07
WOMEN READY To PLUNGE
CITY N MORAL BATH TUB
leader II Trinity Methodist church
arose to address the audience from
her place in the pews.

~
arose TO address the audience from
her place in the pews.
Demand Clean City.
I'VE mothers are sending our sons
into the dght for freedom, into tho
army and the Red Cross work." said
she. II We mothers are to furnish
these sons and daughters, then we
have a right to demand a clean city
in which to live. II the men Of Keo-
kuk cannot keep the place clean,
then it is time for the women to take
a hand. If the officials show no dis
position to clean up then there Is a
way to make them resign"
TITS a shame to have to appeal to
the governor of the state to help us
clean up the city" said Mrs. o. W..
Weyer.
Clean Liquor, Not Ashes.
Instead Of having block lieuten-
ants to see that the ashes are hauled
away from the alleys, 1t would be a
good plan to have these lieutenants
look after moral reform"
The women can help keep the city
clean and they must" said Mrs. John
p. Hornish. "Mr. Hanna, an army y.
NJ. C. A. secretary told us when here
recently not to neglect our home
bases"
Harding Writes.
That the attorney generals once
has been flooded with mail matter
from Keokuk individuals for weeks
concerning conditions here and that
Governor W. l.. Harding has had the
case presented to him several times
recently was the statement made by
the Rev. Mr.. Matthias.
He read reply to a letter sent
keokuk citizen by the governor, IN
which the states chief executive said:
~ thank you for calling my attention
to conditions there. i believe the
matter you report will be materially
bettered."
Lawieseness In Extreme.
I'VE have 1awlessness in the ex-
IRENE in Keokuk. You are here To-
night not to learn something you do
not already know, but to givo an ex-
preston Of your opinions about the
things you do have knowledge OF"
said Matthias.
II had begun to wonder how long
we were going to tolerate the booze
situation.
"Keokuk officials know where it IL
and there is no use Of their trying to
US. It is here and they
know it is here"
They're Buying Il, Too"
A woman In the audience interrupt
ed the minister, with the Interpolation
And they're buying It, too"
Eyes, and IL they had to pay for all
hey get they would have been broke
! long time ago." responded Matthias.
rhe audience laughed. l
IT can go out and in half hour re-
urn with liquor from three or four |
places and set it here on this table"
said Matthias. Then l would like to !
place it all in one container and kick |
t to hell where it belongs"
Must Arouse Sentiment.
Whether or not we get enough |
public sentiment to carry this thing |
along and. to actually clean up the
,ity is where the matter rests now"
Matthias said.
"Will we. get enough action from
,ur public officials until the city is
;lean? Will We get half decent
'erdict from our courts?"
The meeting was then turned over
O the women by the Rev. Mr..
Matthias for an expression of opinions.
Scores Clubs.
Several social Clubs were attacked
" some Of them in the short speeches
hat were made. II have 1t in for
hese clubs" said one women, "be-
.anse they sell liquor We must
lean them UP with the rest OF the
own"
Mrs. Jack Chambers, who called the
meeting, made short address when
he session opened.
1--WE have met to organize" said
he. Things we do here tonight
hould work for the betterment of the
ity, to make it q good place In which
o live; to blot out for all time the
tain of liquor"
To See Il Through.
When some of the women were re
icent about speaking, Mrs. Chambers
rose from front bench and flung
he challenge: Come on now. Don't
e slackers. Where are the women
yho went to the court room with me?
how your colors. We've got to see
his thing through"
All over the house women began to
Use and soon there were q hundred
( them standing.
Were not going to stand by and
1t some one else do the work Tell :
8 what to do" said several Of them.
prunkards Roam Streets.
The Rev. Mr.. Edwards declared I
hat drunken men roam Main street in
ne day time and that they infest the ,
torres while in an intoxicated condi- :
on. :