The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-26
DEATH RATTLE FOR BOOZE HAS BEGUN STATES HAYNES
 W CLOSING HIS ARTICLES
Illegal Traffic Under Control Prohibition Is Now Law Of Land and Band Of DwindIing Claque Cannot Drown The Voice Of Truth, Says Prohibition Commissioners in Passing Death Sentence On Intoxicants

shielded from the storm and stree ot the world, whose quiet like knew only the devotion to God, family and home The daughter of farmer gov- ernor of Ohio, she lived in my old home town of Hillsboro. Some of my mst cherished recollections centre around her. As a mere boy it was often my privilege to take her, on oc- casional Sunday mornings, in my fathers carriage. from the Methodist church where she worshipped to her home. That home, the old Governor Trimble mansion, is still standing known throughout the world today as a temperance shrine.
 And the fame of that gentle wom an, Mrs. Eliza Jane Trimble Thomp- son. has spread the length and breadth of Christendom. Millions have known of her as Mother Thompson, leader of the Crusade Women's Christian Temperance union, essentially the foundation of all the great temperance reform movements which have resulted in national prohibition in America. q
 On the evening of December 2S. 1873. pr. bio Lewis, a lyceum lec- turer of Boston. staying in Hillsboro a day beyond his appointed time, de- livered a temperance address in which he related that his mother and several of her friends had united in prayer for liquor sellers of his native town until they gave up their busi- ness.
 You might do the same thing in Hillsboro," he said, If you had the same faith" Then, turning to the ministers and temperance men about the platform, he suggested that he ask the women of the audience to signify their opinions. The men nodded assent, and 50 women or more stood up in approval of the idea. The lecturer then asked the men if they would support the women in their undertaking, and so or 70 men arose.
 After this heartening demonstra- tion pr. Lewis turned to the pastor of the local Presbyterian church and requested him to meet on the fol- lowing morning with the women and w. x. McSurley, willingly agreed, and his church became known as the old Crusade church.
 'TOmroolery., saiHd the Judge.
 Mother Thompson was not present at that meeting. but her children were. They returned home fired with zeal, and to her related their experience, adding that she had been placed on some of the committees for work the next day. The convers- ation disturbed Judge Tompson. the husband and father, who was rest ing on a sofa, and, rousing up. he asked. What tomfoolery is all of that !"
 The children stepped out of the room and Mrs. Thompson explained what had been done.
 If the Lord would show me-" she added, that 1t was His will for me to visit places where liquor is sold and drunk, should not shrink from it."
 She was somewhat troubled and hesitant this frail. retiring-even timid-little woman when her hus- band asked her the next morning at breakfast if she were going to the church.
 "children," said Judge Thompson, noting her agitation, you know vexing questions. Instead of family prayers this morning. let her alone to make her decisiCn."
 She went to her room and, kneel- ing. had opened the Bible to read when one of her daughters came to the door
 Look" said the child in trem bling voice as she handed her mother small opened Bible. See what my eyes fell on. It must be for you"
 Mrs. Tho mpson took the opened book and sat down to read the won- derful message of the great T ann contained in the One Hundred and Forty y-sixth Psalm, which from that day has been called everywhere the Crusade Psalm. As she read, she afterward related, the Spirit told her; This Is the way; walk ye in it.; and peace and calm came into her soul and she no longer had doubt as to her duty.
 She went quickly to the church and there was unanimously selected as leader The men retired and she mounted the pulpit and presided.
 They made their plans tC appeal to the druggists. the hotel proprietors and the saloonkeepers. Then, after prayer. they formed in line. two by two and marched out of the church singing the hymn, Give to the Wind: Thy Fears"
 Seventy Women in Battle.
 They came, 70 gentle, timi6 women going into battle against g nations vice, into the chill Decem' Der sunlight of the village street Their first step into the outer ail curious who had come to wonder and. perhaps. to scoff. Their tim idity left them at the church door and in its stead there came into theil hearts the calm courage of great resolution. Down the village street they made their solemn way tt drug store. hotel and saloon, to sing plead, to kneel in. the dust of tho pavement or the sawdust sprinklec on the floor, and pray.
 The day was Christmas Eve. 5( years gone by with the coming ot next December. and my paterna grandmother was among them. IT time their prayers prevailed. Hills boro became dry and the Crusaders had begun their lCng and toilsomt march on Washington.
 At that time the prohibition movement was in the second of foul successive stages that marked it: advance to nationwide success, Dur ing the first stage the liquor prob lem was met in haphazard and in adequate fashion by a multitude oi regulatory laws, state and local. Int saloon, however, remained legalized and so long as ito was tolerated drinking and drunkenness increased
 The second state might properly be characterized the local option period Residential districts, villages. town ships, cities and counties fought fol and obtained the right to decide by majority vote whether they were for or against the legalized saloon. Large areas were voted dry, and these sec tions soon demonstrated the economic social and moral advantages over communities dominated by 'he liquor traffic.
 1t was a natural step to the third station, or the application of the local option principle to entire states. As commonwealth after commonwealth outlawed liquCr, the liquor traffic sensing its coming peril throughoui the nation, apparently threw judg- ment to the winds and endeavored by endless artifice to nullify the law in the dry communities. By this action lI;=-= ===--=---.,
 nOOrYNY~ AMYN II