PUSSYFOOTERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15976, 19 November 1919, Page 9

PUSSYFOOTERS.

ADVANCE GUARD IN BRITAIN,

WOMEN SPELLBINDERS

(London Daily Mail.) Wlii'ii first—and last—l met •• Mr “Pussyfoot 5 ' .Johnson, a serene calm' permeated his headquarters in Fleet Street. A solitary girl-typist, tapping away, alone intruded on the peaceful quiet of the scene.

It was a- very different headquarters the other afternoon—all bustle and business -and visitors, not to mention an apparent two or three hundred per cent, increase in the office staff. Clearly something was “doing. 55 Mr Johnson, large-handed and hearted in his welcome, first of all' professed himself satisfied with the tale of himse’f and his doings, as published in The Daily Mail, then presented Dr. Henry Beach Carre, vice-chairman of the Executive Committee of the Anti-Saloon League of America, and professor of theology at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Carre is one of the four Pussyfoot leaders who have arrived in England for the forthcoming “dry 55 campaign. Another leader. Miss Green, was in an ante-room, while two others, Dr. Poole" and Mr Henry, were fulfilling engagements elsewhere. A SCOTCH STORY, The Pussyfooters, in fact, axe in England, and more are .coming, . “the best speakers, 5 ' as Hr Leif Jones says, to “spellbind" 5 the British public into saying good-bye to its beer. Dr. Carre is a quiet, sallow man, with a big bald head, and he does not wear black bone spectacles. He served in the French Y.M.C.A. during the war. Since then he has acted as European Survey agent for the League. “We are not interfering in any way in these countries, 55 declared Dr. Carre. “The, local temperance organisations must work out their own schemes, 55 “Then what are you doing? 55 “Just telling them how America voted herself dry and the advantages that accrue therefrom. 55

At this phase further talk was 'interruppted by Mr “Pusseyfoot” Johnson receiving a postcard from Scotland depicting one Scot' saying to another: ‘ ‘E[i, Sandy i Hae ye heard o’ Jack MacIntyre? He went hame sober last! night and his anld dog bit him.” Across the card was written: “Go and drown yourself.” Mr “Pussyfoot” Johnson had to pay 2d on receipt of the card, which was unstamped. “We then went on discussing European events. “Dr. Carre, the chief argument againdt you in England is that you entirely and systematically ignore the moderate man. * You ‘drys’ seem to thrive on extremes in your arguments. What of the moderate drinker who forms the vast majority of the ‘wets 1 of this country? ‘PROHIBITION’ THE ONLY WAY.’ “We are sorry for him and her. Prohibition is the only way. We’ve been waiting for a man, all .these years, to solve it other wife. Can’t be done. The moderate man must be willing to demy himself the pleasures of alcohol in the interests of the community as a Whole.” “Is it not possible that in banishing drink you take more happiness from the world than you give in return?” “Quite impossible.” Dr. Carre then drew a vivid picture of a world of bliss, of holidays and motor-bars and sunshine for all as against this world- of “booze and shadow,” “Alcohol never did any

saan any good/’ he "went on. “Oura was a moral victory across the water, and wo are sending- you the best we have.to convert you. Yes, wc shall pay their salaries. The Rev. William Poole and Mr Henry and others will draw about .£6O a month/' “So that, the funds of the Anti-Saloon League are directly behind the European campaign?” “Yes. But you want to remember that neaxdy all those ftmds were collected in our churches. I. am told by your leaders that our church methods will rot be possible here. That is a bad blow to our cause. You see in America we wore allowed to preach regularly, and then to hand subscription cards round the church. Despite everything- that has been said about ua our methods have been clean and open. Our slogan is; 'Agitaition, legislation, law enforcement.' Our millions will henceforward he applied to agitation in Europe and law enforcement in our own country.” As I rose to go, I was surrounded by four or five “dry” women, one of whom. Miss Greer, Y.M.C.A., is going- to Scotland to “talk to mothers” and “discuss social problems.” In a word, the “Pussyfooters” are here—and no one heard them approach.