The Penn's Grove record., 1923-09-28
Thirty=Seventh Annual
Convention Of W. {. I. U.
All Day Session In NJ. Z. Church.
Salem. Hon. Clyde Kelly
Principal Speaker

Hon. Clyde Kelly, of Washington,
d. c., made an excellent address and
brought many facts home to his at
tentive audience in the Broadway NJ.
f. Church, Salem, last Thursday
evening, which marked the thirty
seventh year of the Salem County
Women's Christian Temperance Union.
He made a few introductory re-
marks of the history of the organiza-
tion and the success of its undertak-
ings. Fifty years ago the W. c. I. l..
began a work which is continued to
be continued thruout the future, and
ten years after its founding was one
of the dominant factors in bringing
Churches closer together.
In this great land of ours is oppor-
tunity for all and benefits of life and
happiness which is looked upon by the
people of the old countries as the
great country of the East. He con-
trasted the progress of our civiliza-
ton with that of the ancient country
of Macedonia where they of the pres
ent day are tilling the soil with the
wooden plow and look to us for en-
ightenment and as ''the angel of the
sky"
1t is the very basis of the constitu-
tion of our United States that the
government shall presume for the
people and that document closes with
the implication that it is not separa-
ton, but the mutual pledge of lives,
fortunes and sacred honor.
The 18th amendment and the Vol
stead Act represent the very power
of the people and they are merely the
realization of movement began in
the Continental Congress Of 1916
when Benjamin Rush introduced an
act to make illegal the making of in
toXicating liquors, which was adopted
unanimously a year later. One hun
dred years later the first prohibition
resolution was introduced into the
United States Senate and with slow
but sure progress saw the victory
gained in 1918 with the ratification of
as of the As States.
The greatest issue before the Amer
ican people today is the alleged right
to violate this great precept, which is
''here to stay" The greatest trouble
experienced by prohibition agents is
from foreigners who do not under
stand America and it is alleged that
ninety per cent of the bootleggers do
not bear American names and are not
fully Amercanized 1t is conceded
that the older countries are of a more
lax nature in their laws, but upon tax
ing up their abode in this land for
eigners must abide by our laws, no
matter from whence they come, and if
they will not, should he sent back to
their native land This practice should
be in vogue after such an alien has
served a prison sentence.
Aside from this sort of corruption
we also find laxity on the part of
some of our judicial officers who are
in sympathy with these individuals
who are violators. Consequently
small fine is all that is levied upon
such as are convicted who immedi-
ately return to their old practice of
selling liquor at big profits. How
ever, it is pleasing to note that there
are some judges who have the moral
stamina to hold the American tradi-
tions sacred.
The solution rests upon the sleep
ing Churches, who must awaken them
serves 10 Cne ClmeS ana make Cnell
religion a practical religion rather
than one of Indifference. Practical re-
ligion is but patriotism and the non
voter is as much a Stacker as the
seleping Church goer All must
awaken themselves to the times and
put the true ideals and principles
foremost, starting out with the pick
ing of the candidate rather than let
the candidate take the job and then
bemoan the fact that he is corrupt.
Take the initiative and lay aside your
reticence.
An excellent example of the non
voting numbers was shown last year
in the New York State election when
Al Smith went in on a 100000 major (
ty, while there were 100000 who
'ailed to vote. Similar conditions
,xist in New Jersey, Pennsylvania
and other States as well.
The meeting as whole was per-
yaded by a splendid spirit beginning .
With the opening devotional and song
ervice which was followed by cordial
by the Salem president,