562 



lift up our eyes and see the fields white for the 

 harvest with more than seventy times seven thousand 

 added to prohibition territory every few mouths? 

 What must those women who started praying in 

 saloons with their crusade so many years ago think 

 as they see the changed conditions of to-day? 

 "We are living, we are dwelling, 



In a grand and awful time. 

 In an age on ages telling — 

 To be living is sublime! 



In the very same mail with Gleanings comes the 

 June 4th issue of the New Republic, and I see the 

 big Brunswick Balk-Collender Co., the largest manu- 

 facturers of bar-fixtures in the United States, has 

 quit the business, and sent its formal notice that 

 " We will discontinue the line absolutely." Why, 

 your statement about the Lord not answering prayer 

 for victory over the saloon sounds to me almost 

 blasphemous after reading a newspaper item like 

 this. But that is not all. On the next page is 

 another item saying that in Ohio under the glorious 

 privilege of the initiative and referendum it is so 

 blessed as to enjoy, the Anti-saloon League has more 

 than 200,000 signers on its petition for statewide 

 prohibition ; and the question will be voted on next 

 November. Praise the Lord for Ohio's initiative and 

 referendum! I most earnestly pray that the enemies 

 of God who have so long held Indiana in political 

 sla\ery without the rights of freemen that exist in 

 the other states of our country, shall by some means 

 be overcome, and that we too can get the initiative 

 and referendum. When we do, then we too can 

 submit the question of statewide prohibition. Until 

 we get the initiative and referendum our case is 

 hopeless. We asked the legislature last winter to 

 submit the prohibition question, but as usual the 

 request was refused. Of course the people's vote 

 must be campaigned, for even under the initiative 

 and referendum the people may vote down prohibi- 

 tion; but the initiative and referendum gives the 

 chance to make a campaign for prohibition, and we 

 can get that chance no other way. Gleanings 

 ought to boost the initiative and referendum at every 

 opportunity because it helps prohibition. 



Greencastle, Ind., June 4. Dane S. Dunlop. 



My good friend, I own up and stand re- 

 buked; but at the same time I wish to ex- 

 plain that when I referred to prayers un- 

 answered I had in mind the matter of li- 

 cense and revenue, which Lincoln consented 

 to under protest. While the people of the 

 United States knew exactly what he said 

 and what he meant, this " shame and dis- 

 grace " to the American people has been 

 permitted to go on year after year for forty 

 years, notwithstanding our prayers and 

 protests. Our innocent wives and children 

 have suffered and starved for forty years 

 just because the common people, such as 

 you and I, were afraid to stand up and 

 demand that this Achan, with his wedge of 

 gold, should be cast down and out. Yes, we 

 have abundant reason for thanksgiving, for 

 " God's kingdom is coming," even if it has 

 taken us long years to wake up and work 

 as well as pray. 



While we are considering this matter, I 

 notice that Dr. Miller says in Stray Straws 

 for June 15, " I plead not guilty." That is 

 true, doctor, and we rejoice over it; but, 

 notwithstanding, it is true that we Ameri- 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURI 



cans have permitted this thing to go on for 

 over forty years. 



IOWA'S EMANCIPATION, ETC. 



The Iowa legislature has just passed a law repeal- 

 ing the " mulch law," also a resolution submitting 

 an amendment to the constitution of the state, al- 

 lowing equal suffrage. As most people know, Iowa 

 had statutory prohibition ; but owing to non-enforce- 

 ment thereof it was unsatisfactory, and what is 

 called the " mulch law " was passed some twenty or 

 more years ago. This " mulch law " provided that 

 certain communities, generally counties, could, by 

 circulating what became known as " saloon consent " 

 petitions, disregard the prohibition law, provided a 

 certain per cent of the voters signed it. The num- 

 ber of saloons was limited to one for so many of 

 population, and the license was, I think, left to be 

 fixed by the city authorities where the saloon should 

 be allowed. 



In communities where the foreign-born population 

 held the balance of power, as they do in some 

 parts of the state, the " mulch law " was an im- 

 provement in practical results over prohibition, for 

 in such communities prohibition was a dead letter, 

 and booze was free and uncontrolled. But the sa- 

 loons near the edge of the " wet " territory were 

 always a curse to the adjoining " dry " territory, 

 because it is so easy for those so disposed to go by 

 team, by auto especially, and by train, and, after 

 filling up themselves, bring back some in jugs and 

 bottles. " Stolen waters are sweet," so that liquor, 

 thus obtained, no doubt tasted better to some than 

 if they could step into a saloon any time at home 

 and get a drink. 



Billy Sunday held meetings in Des Moines last 

 fall. After that, if I mistake not, an " anti-saloon " 

 petition went around, and Des Moines went "dry;" 

 then the drys got busy in the legislature, with the 

 result as stated. There is a strong prospect this 

 time of the legislature making extra provision to 

 enforce prohibition by state marshals appointed so 

 as to be independent of local sentiment. There is a 

 statewide demand for enforcement, which is what 

 prohibition has always needed, and lacked in so 

 many instances. 



It is commonly expected that equal suffrage will 

 carry. Prohibition goes into effect Jan. 1, 1916. 



Dunlap, Iowa, March 9. E. S. Miles. 



god's KINGDOM COMING. 



From the Cleveland Plain Dealer I clip 

 the following heading: 



DRYS WIN OUT IN EAST CLEVELAND, CAST 1543 



VOTES FOE PROHIBITION UNDER BEAL LAW; 



212 AGAINST. 



T submitted the above to Ernest, and 

 asked him what it meant that a part of the 

 great city of Cleveland should give such an 

 astounding majority for prohibition. He 

 said one reason for it was that East Cleve- 

 land is made up mostly of resident districts, 

 and that, no doubt, even the saloon-keepers 

 and brewers themselves do not want saloons 

 in the vicinity of their homes. 



THREE CHEEKS FOR ALABAMA ; GOD's KINGDOM 



COMING. 

 The Alabama Supreme Court has declared consti- 

 tutional the law forbidding papers or magazines to 

 print advertisements of liquor. This is important, 

 because it deals with the right of the public to de- 

 termine what a paper shall print. The point was 

 that, so long as the liquor interests could advertise 

 largely, they could control the policy of the news- 

 papers. — Rv^al New-Yorker. 



