People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1893 — W. C. T. U. ti. “Jack the Ripper.” [ARTICLE]

W. C. T. U. ti. “Jack the Ripper.”

Editor Pilot.— ln your last two issues the members of the W. C. T. U. of Goodland have been somewhat roughly handled by one “Jack the Ripper.” As an organization we cannot, in justice to ourselves, allow those charges to pass by unnoticed. Your correspondent has wilfully and maliciously misrepresented this body of women, who, to the best of our knowledge, never did him harm even by a thought. He calls us to answer to Mm as to what disposition we made of

the funds “gulled fro;. an innocent public,” by fair work, etc. Mr. “Jack,” when the K. of P., the I. O. 0. F.. the W. R. C., the churches and all other organizations are compelled to hand in a like report to you, xcc are ready with our report, as we do nothing that will not bear close investigation. As to attending the conventions, our delegates are elected in regular order, and their expenses are met in the same way. 0! shame upon you to resort to such methods as you have to gain a livlihood. Military prison, indeed! Who deserves to be placed within its walls? Til veterans would be so indignant, however, to see the walls of that institution give shelter to such a moral coward as you are that you would be in danger of your life. As to our children being neglected, we are more than willing to place them side by side with those whose mothers never neglect them and have them catecised as to moral and intellec-

tual training, feeling assured that they are fully up to the average. By the way, we might make it a public affair, and charge admittance (we are great on the money question, you know. “Like to gull the innocent public”). We consider this a scheme of the “schemers.” We are not to blame because your party was so badly defeated, and you are not appointed to fill an important government position, for instance, “guard of a military prison,” where those undutiful wives are to be placed for insubordination. Our husbands love us devotedly. They would walk over plowshares to make us happy and we are proud to be known as the wives of such men—

ilhe best men of the town. We did not accuse you of the crucifixion of Christ, but would say that you need not to have lived at that time to become such, as you crucify him afresh every day you live. None of our members have dropped out of our ranks, save one, by death. We have 31 members, composed of the very best women of our town, and they include the wives of our lawyers, ministers, tradesmen, farmers, etc. You evidently did not know of what you were talking when you made changes falsely against them, which, if made to anyone of their husbands, would have deprived you of a few locks of that beautiful hair, which adorns your cranium, or disfigured your handsome countenance. You ask us to cite you one example set by us that an intelligent community would follow. The present ladies of Kentland had their dining hall on the fair ground last year. We were not the originators of this scheme, however, as over forty counties in Indiana have booths upon the fair grounds conducted by the W. C. T. U. We carried our own knapsacks, of course we did, so do you. Verily, consistency thou art a jewel. Shame upon a coward who would resort to such means to make himself famous, who would deliberately misstate and manufacture, to produce an article for a weekly newspaper, slandering the women of your own town. Go home and hide your face until you lose some of your own vileness, and then you will not see so much vileness in others, for “to the vile, all things are vile.” As to the good we have done, please, Mr. “Jack,” show up your own past record in that line before rou make such demands from others. And if you should continue to report for the Pilot alease give your town a good showing and make your items more correct as there have been several false reports before. We will close with the following statement of the man hired o take care of things on the Morocco fair grounds: “This Is to certify that the W. C. T. U. hare paid ms in full for my services as teamster. Also that they left the entire charge of the eating hall to me during the night, they being entertained by the ladies of rocc o.—yT. A. McCdrry." We have answered you at some length, but out of regard ;o the organization, and considering you of too little importance o notice, we decline to notice you farther. Goodland W. C. T. U. Sipans Tabules are always ready. ;