PEOPLE'S TEMPERANCE LEAGUE

PEOPLE'S TEMPERANCE LEAGUE. "Forty men and women and some small boys" met at the Baptist Church in May 1874 to form a temperance association. Named the People's Temperance League, the group opened its membership to anyone over the age of ten years who agreed to follow the organization's constitution. Meeting were held every two weeks. Membership dues of twenty-five cents annually was charged male members while women were excluded from the assessment. A committee of ten women was organized to circulate petitions praying for enforcement of the law. (1)

On Sunday, May 10th the League planned a meeting on the sidewalk outside of the DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE. Surprised by rain, those in attendance moved inside to sing, pray and preach. This attracted others who came "attracted to the noise and smiled in sheer derision at what they saw and heard." Delos E. LYON, the officer in charge of the building, said "he does not object to pavement being used for a temperance meeting, but when the interior of the custom house is taken possession of for rant and rabble he does object and will not allow it hereafter." (2)

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Source:

1. "The Temperance Jig," Dubuque Herald, May 8, 1874, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18740508&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. "Temperance in the Custom House," Dubuque Herald, May 12, 1874, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18740512&printsec=frontpage&hl=en