The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-02-14
I'VE Are Looking Forward,
Not Backward There are
Big Battles Ahead
RUSSELL'S EARLY YEARS
WERE SPENT in ILLINOIS
Temperance Inspiration Received al
Age of Twelve
ONCE HELD CHICAGO PASTORATE

Howard Russell was born at Still
water, Minnesota, October q, 1855.
Son OF an Episcopalan missionary, he
first say the light upon Sabbath
morning, the quiet of Gods rest day
giving little forecast OF the life OF
fighting for which he was destined.
He spent number of years in his
early youth i'll Illinois. For three
years his father was superintendent
OF schools at Galva, Illinois When
he was about II years of age, his
mother took him to Galesburg where
he heard John B. Cough, the great
temperance orator. DR.. Russell says
that from this address he received his
first inspiration for temperance work
and that young as he was, he never
forgot it,
Russell was employed on farms near
Galva for three seasons during vaca-
ton time Thus he developed the
robust physical strength which ena-
blcd him to endure the extraordinary
strains he was TO meet in his cam
paigns against the saloon.
He studied at Galcna, Illinois. and
Davenport Iowa, graduating from a
preparatory school in the latter place
in 1872. When at the age OF 2l, he
began the study Of law.
He had already spent four summers
: il, working upon a farm, had been
clerk in the government arsenal at
Rock Island, had been superintendent
OF government construction at Moline,
had crossed the plains in the saddle,
had taught school in the west and
edited county paper.
During the six years of his law
practice, he won considerable success
and was twice elected county super
intendent OF schools
He had preached during his stu
dent career and now went as Con-
gregational missionary to Kansas
City.
AS a result of series of sermons
entitled, "A Lawyers Examination of
the Bible" Philip D. Armour sent a
committee to Kansas City to visit
Southwest Tabernacle, and soon after
sent call to Russell to take charge
of the Armour Mission in Chicago.
While here he was SO stirred by the
tragedies of drunkenness that he re-
solved to give his life to fighting
against drink
When he had decided definitely to
enter upon temperance work. he at
once turned to the Oberlin Temper
ance Alliance. After several confer
cnces, this organization decided, May
"a, 1898, to initiate the work and stand
behind it until it could be expanded
into state organization. Russell in
sisted that the churches ought to stand
behind permanent anti-liquor organ
ization. He advocated an interdenom-
national and non-partisan, or rather
omni-partisan, league, which should
overcome the apathy OF the churches,
heal the discord of the temperance
factions, and nstill new courage into
the hearts of Christian people. He
advocated movement under ten COM
petent leaders to act along the lines
OF agitation, legislation and law en-
forcement, with an accompanying or
ganzation of the boys for total absti-
nencc.
Agitation proceeded and the League
soon became recognized as an inf1u-
cnce in Ohio legislation. Bad legis-
lation ana bad legislators were op-
posed, and new measures were advo-
Gated. Laws upon the statute books
were vigorously enforced.
Such aggressive measures attracted
the attention of temperance people in
all sections. Soon other states asked
for information, and began to organize
along the same lines. In 1895 plans
were progressing for an interstate
temperance convention, when call
came from the District of Columbia
League for national convention.
This convention met at Washington
in December, 1895, and organized the
American Anti-Saloon League, of
which DIR. Russell became first super
intendent.
The object of the League is best
expressed in the third article of the
constitution. which reads as follows: