Pulaski County GaArchives History .....WCTU, Hawkinsville 1935 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 29, 2004, 3:35 pm WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION HAWKINSVILLE ORGANIZATION ENLARGED IN MANY WORTH-WHILE ENDEAVORS During the month of November, 1909, Mrs. Nell Burger, a national lecturer, came to Hawkinsville and made so strong an appeal she readily organized a local Woman's Christian Temperance Union, composed of sixty-five ladies with a few extra as honorary members. p. 135 At that time a dispensary was being operated under a special legislative act similar to the precedent which Ben Tillman established in South Carolina. The sponsors for this change from licensed saloons claimed a dispensary was, to quote their own words, "the best method of handling the liquor problem." As soon as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized it put itself on record as being opposed to the dispensary. This stand was taken for the reason that a government-owned and managed sales place was simply a liquor business which set at naught the principles which the organization felt honor-bound to maintain. Under the leadership of the first president, Mrs. A. A. Smith, aided by an advisory committee consisting of six members, J. P. Brown, J. J. Whitfield, J. J. Harvard, A. T. Fountain, M. C. Pate, and Dr. A. A. Smith, encouraged by a large number of representative citizens and supported by the pastors of the Methodist and Baptist churches, J. A. Matthews and H. C. Bucholz, plans were formed for abolishing it. Probably the membership of no organization ever gave a leader a more loyal backing or cooperated with each other more unselfishly in every move from the initial calling of an election. A flush of dawn had barely tinged the horizon when the polls were declared open. About twenty members of the W. C. T. U. were present. Soon it became evident that a threat which had been whispered around would be carried out. Two wagons decorated with red (the color dispensary advocates chose for their badge) and filled with Negroes drew up on the Lumpkin Street side of the courthouse. By twos and threes the white men who brought them led them to the voting place and voted them for the dispensary. When those ignorant, unkempt blacks made their appearance, every woman burst into tears. One, with rare presence of mind, began to sing, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee," and others joined in. After a while black men were seen to refuse to be escorted to the courthouse grounds. To hear women singing hymns and to see them crying, with heads bowed, called for more daring than a number of them possessed. A few white men underwent a like change of mind. The drawn faces and weak-kneed movements of others indicated that it was no trivial matter with them to register a vote in favor of a business religion condemns. Wearily and exceedingly anxiously the day dragged by. Then the returns were brought in and the count was announced showing that the dispensary had been outlawed. A shout of joy burst out. The courthouse grounds were thronged, and it is doubtful that "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" ever echoed farther or more fervently over the city. A prayer of thanksgiving followed. A praise p. 136 service was held at the Methodist church in the evening, and, tired as were the men and women who spent the day in working, watching and waiting in prayer to close the dispensary, not one was absent. The citizens who voted against the dispensary were elated by promise from the authorities that with the vote of the public the doors would not be opened after the day of the election. Difference of opinion sprang up. Legal technicalities were thrust forward, and the county liquor store was operated as long as letter of law permitted. This campaign, like all others of the same type, was a tragedy in some respects, but it was also marked by much that was singularly broad-minded and big-souled. For the intervening space until Georgia outlawed the liquor traffic the W. C. T. U. carried on an arduous, unremitting struggle. The membership gave of their own private means and solicited contributions to pay a special officer to maintain the law. At times, always upheld by their pastors and the prohibition elements, the executive force was compelled to act on a moment's notice to prevent infringements and cunning evasions of law. There were some few occasions when this body was overruled by means of hair-splitting of terms, but not once did it swerve from the position that the law should receive a consistent observance from the citizenry and an enforcement from officials. When the 1912 session of the legislature convened and every available influence was being brought to bear to free Georgia from the bonds of the liquor traffic, the Hawkinsville Union gave its aid unstintedly. The Hawkinsville Union was a pioneer in stressing the value of making the teaching of temperance principles a part of a child's school life. This organization was the first in the State to entertain county teachers in an endeavor to win their friendly cooperation. The methods used in school work have been commended and adopted by other counties. The greater part of the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union is done quietly and cannot be enumerated or itemized, since it is held as sacred work. The record of such acts is expressed in worthier conduct, steadied feet and balanced lives. Its achievements need no blazoning, but are recognized in a higher standard of individuality and a finer type of citizenship. The Hawkinsville Union is still carrying on with a courageous principle that refuses to compromise in the face of obstacles and disappointments. Additional Comments: Extracted from "HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY GEORGIA" OFFICIAL HISTORY COMPILED BY THE HAWKINSVILLE CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION PRESS OF WALTER W. BROWN PUBLISHING COMPANY ATLANTA, GEORGIA (1935) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/pulaski/history/other/gms117wctuhawk.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb