The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1920-09-24
EMERALD ISLE CATCHES
STEP WITH DRY PROGRESS
Pittsburgh Clergyman Revisits
Old Irish Home After Thirty
Years Absence
DRY ADVANCE GREAT
Great Shipbuilding Plants Offer
Fine Opportunity for
Propaganda

spend part OF my summer vacation in
Ulster i'll the neighborhoods OF Bel
fast and Ncwtownards, my native
town. 1t is thirty years since | first
left ireland for the United States, and
on my return after such lapse OF
time | am both surprised and amazed
at The progress that the Temperance
Cause has made in that period.
find, with ts,headquartcrs in Belfast,
an organization known as the Irish
Temperance League, which under the
extremely able sccretaryship OF Mr..
c. London Ward is doing most cffcc-
tive work. The League has splendid
equipment, and an official corps OF
enthusiastic workers. The organize
ton OF open air work has been
brought to a very high state OF per-
lection, the explanation undoubtedly
being that the secretary thoroughly
believes that in the hands OF the Man
in the Street lies the solution OF the
problem, and lie has to be convinced
with the arguments for Prohibition.
"He will not como to us, so we must
60 to him. Spend as much time and
money in organizing meetings in the
open as in halls, etc. be even more
careful in your choice Of speakers,
and the results will amaze you" 1t
is along these lines that Mr.. G. Lon
don Ward argues, and in the summer
time works with such great success.
The Queens Island is the center
OF the shipbuldng industry which
has made Belfast known all over the
civilized world There arc, | was
given to understand, upwards OF $4,000
men employed in the great yards OF
IIarland and Wolff and Workman &
Clark. What an opportunity for prop
uganda, and how splcndidiy it is utl
lied by the League. was most en-
Enthusiastically received on the Island,
and the huge gatherings OF men were
anxous to know OF the working OF
Prohibition in the United States. 1t
has never been my privilege to adj
dress more intelligent bodies OF work
ing men. With the background OF
large ship the object lesson OF the
value OF the finished article in good
business compared with TIE finished
article in the liquor business was
easily driven home and quite readily
accepted.
Royal Avenue is ono OF the princi-
pal thoroughiares in the city. At one
OF its most crowded corners outside
the office OF the Evening Telegraph
(The Tce., the paper which every
body i'll Belfast buys in the evening"
night by night large meetings were
held These have The support OF all
the Protestant ministers. Prcsbyter-
ian, Methodist and Church oil Ireland
were represented the nights | was
present. The men did not hesitate to
ask questions about Prohibition the
wages of the working men under the
new conditions, the enforcement OF
the law and the methods by which the
present position had been attained i'll
America. On one occasion the chair
man reminded me that the audience
was critical one, but, undoubtedly,
it was prepared to listen carefully to
my case.
| noticed in the Press that some of
our American visitors have not re-
ccivcd a cordial hearing i'll some parts
of the British Isles. Let ME assure
your readers that the Temperance
Cause is becoming live ISSUE i'll Ire
land and especially in Ulster, and in
all my speeches | could not have
wished for a more considerable hear
ing. | would suggest that in future
American ministers and temperance
workers visiting Great Britain and
ireland should make a special en-
deavor to call at the Irish Temper
ance League office in Lombard street,
Belfast. They will be assured OF
very hearty welcome. The general
secretary is a splendid "Inviter," one
of the best ! have struck, but who
could resist the appeal with the guar
antec of such audiences which OK
pcricnce has justified him in promis-
ing, and with all there is the bound
less hospitality of the Organization.
The Temperance Cause in Ireland
has advanced The prospects appear
bright for the future. Complete VIC
tory cannot be long delayed. When
the day dawns much of the credit will
be due to the Irish Temperance
League, its capable staff and the large
body of enthusiasts who rallied
round its banner,