HOW THEY DID IT.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 235, 18 January 1915, Page 7

HOW THEY DID IT.

Asked as to how Arizona won Prohibition, a leading worker says: “How did we do it? By pulling together. Probably no stronger or more effective fac tor participated in this campaign than the W.C.T.U. Mrs Gammage, State Organiser, toured the State, organising iG new Unions, every one of which went immediately into active c ampaign work.” White Ribboners in this Dominion are well organised and in gvod fighting trim. During the next three years let us devote our whole energy to the crusade against strong drink. Start at once by every Union sending a delegate to Convention on March 17th. Send along with your delegate suggestions for the coming campaign. Ample time is allowed on Agenda for discussion on plans of work. When Unions resume meetings, every member, unless from sic knesss or any unavoidable cause, should be there, full of suggestions, to help forward the work. We have not yet begun to realise what c an be done by individual effort. For instance, let every member undertake to gain one new member per a>nnum for the three ye ars. We have not seen our Treasurer’s report yet, but we believe that 1914 would close with at lea>t 3000 members. If each of these gained one new member, 1915 would close with 6000 members, 191 G with 12,000 members, and 1917 (election year)

with 24,000. Then if 1916 dosed with 12,000 member?, the N.Z. kund would have capitation fees to the value of £} oo, and that would be available for 1917 campaign. On the basis of is per member, the Organising l und would have £boo. Two organisers at least < ould be constantly in the field. T his is not a Utopian dream; it could be done by every member getting one extra membci per annum and by each l nion paying its assessment of is per number to Organising l und. Our sisters in the U.S.A. have set their goal for 1915 .it 50,000 new mein hers; but then, they have a population of over 70 millions, instead of less than two millions. Can we not set our goal as every member one new member per annum? Then in regard to our paper, if every subscriber could gain one new subscriber per annum, wc should close 10 1 5 with over 4100 subscribers, 1916 with 8200, and 1917 with 16,41*). If you increase our circulation, the size of the paper will be increased. More space will enable us to furnish you with all the most up-to-date facts on the Temperance and the Woman questions. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. May every link in the W.C.T.I . chain ring strong and true. In defence of home and children may we be like the Spartans of old, “every woman a brick.” Kven if debarred by sickness or heavx home cares from personal activity in the field, we can at least ti) pay oui member’s fee, (2) take the “White Ribbon” paper, (;) lend our paper to a friend, (4) talk about Union work and temperance activities, to everyone who comes near us. We should not hear of Unions Uping if every member realised her per sonal responsibility, and what indi vidual effort can accomplish. It ihard, we know, but the Master never promi ed that the upward way should be a primrose path of dalliance. Any weakling can drift with the tide; it takes a strong swimmer to breast waves and currents. White Ribboners are brave and strong ; they never give in. and New Zealand White Ribboners will fight this campaign with a spirit that will draw victory from seeming defeat. Beaten in i<> 14. we intend m fight harder, to work longer hours, to spare no effort, to grudge no sa< rifice, till we shout Hallelujah over a victory in H)i7