The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-03-09
Pioneer Dry Leader Recalls
Early Struggles of Church
Forces
LOCAL OPTION FIGHT FIRST
BIG CONTEST
Later Victories Gave Illinois Leading
Part in National Triumph
LONG LEAGUE HONOR ROLL
(By w. A. Smith, d. D.

All great movements i'll their early
stages, move slowly The Supreme
Power, directing the affairs of men
and presiding over the destinics OF
nations, As the long and broad sweep
OF history through the ages proves,
acts by centuries and millenniads. No
reform goes uninterruptedly forward.
1t advances, then recedes, but never
retreats back quite to its former posi-
ton. Thus, in the long run, the gen
eral march of great events is ever on
ward and upward toward loftier levels
and higher ideals.
SO has it been with the temperance
reform. The struggle for the sup
preston OF the accursed liquor traffic
has been long and hard fight. But
the end is not yet. 1t must continue
till the last brewery, the last distillery,
the last saloon, and the last blind
tiger is trampled out of existence
under the heel of an indignant human
ity and an aroused public sentiment
that is practically omnipotent. The
supremely blessed status for ourselves
and the whole world must come, for
even the gates of hell those satanic
seats of authority and power" shall
not prevail against it, The rum traf-
fc looms large among the gates of
hell 1t is basic monstrosity. 1t
is more. 1t is the acme of evil. the
climax of iniquity, the mother Of
denominations, and the sum of yillainies.
The generations yet unborn over all
the earth will be amazed that we en-
dured this damnable curse as long as
we did. This arch-anarchist OF the
ages is doomed. 1t must GO to stay
away, and in its final and universal
exit it must submit to the only terms
OF General Ulysses S. Grant at Fort
Donclson in the Civil War, "uncondi-
tional surrender.
Illinois League Organized
The Anti-Saloon League of Illinois,
after doing business in partial and ir-
regular way for a short time follow
ing its inception, was born in the way
of more formal organization Jnly r.
1898, when Dir. Howard II. Russell
father and founder of the Anti
Saloon League of America, appointed
Rev. M. H. Ewers as the first state
superintendent, which appointment
was sanctioned by the Illinois League
This was little more than FIVE years
after the genesis of the National
League in Oberlin, Ohio, juno !, 1898.
The prenatal event which had much
to do with its coming into existence in
this state, was the act on the scientific
instruction concerning alcohol in. the
public schools of this state, passed
and made compulsory by the legis-
lature after a campaign OF agitation,
and signed by Governor John r. Tan
ner, June g 1897, at the solicitation,
and in the presence of, special COM
mittec representing the Womans
Christian Temperance Union, its chief
sponsors. The legislature had ad-
journed, and the governors son,
Mack, had repeatedly declared that
his father did not intend to sign that
bill.
School Law Signed
The women became alarmed, and
sent the committee, composed of
Doctors T. d. Logan and w. A.
Smith, of Springfield, two of the omni-
denominational committee who had
co-operatcd with the women, the one
representing the Presbyterianism and
the other the Methodism of the state,
to interview the governor, and induce
him, if possible. to sign it. He re-
ceived them, and they answered and
overcame his objections to the bill,
and prevailed. They thanked him for
the hearing, and he said, I'm going
to sign it, and you may stay and see
me do it." At the request of the
ladies, the pen with which he affixed
his signature was presented TO them
as souvenir. This agitation, educa-
ton and legislation, with the aid of
other agencies, paved the way for an
advance along all temperance lines,
including the work of the Anti-Saloon
League and the ultimate goal OF Ma
tional Constitutional Prohibition,
which, at its worst, is vastly superior
TO license, or other plan, at its best.