The American Issue (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 1, 1911 Page: 4 of 30
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Religious Newspapers and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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the American Issue
Mrs. Cora D. Hammett, President Woman's
Christian Temperance Union
Thirty years of his-
tory proves the Wo-
man’s Christian Tem-
perance Union to be
the most persistently
effective organization
against the liquor traf-
fic that the world has
known. This organi-
zation has carried on
a system of education
among the youth of
all this land upon the
pernicious and iniqui-
tous effects of the use
f alcohol in any form,
and the evil and sor-
row and economic
MRS. CORA D. HAMMETT, wastc entailed upon
President Oklahoma W. C. T. U. tIle individual and the
community through
the saloon. 1 he results of this education are becoming
apparent. Laws have been secured in every state i.:
the Union but three, which give the people the right
to vote by some political unit of territory on the saloon
question, and the young men educated under the teach-
ings formulated by the W. C. T. U. are coming to the
voting places, and there behind the curtain, in the pres-
ence of God and their own conscience, are registering
their wish upon this moral issue. The result is mighty
discouraging to the liquor people.
Probably in no state in the Union has this organi-
zation been more directly on the firing line than in
Oklahoma. Under the direction of its president. Mrs.
Cora D. Hammett, the Oklahoma Union has brought
all the power of its fire tested forces to bear in every
campaign, with terrific effect.
Mrs. Hammett is a leader of remarkable abilities,
patient, preserving, consecrated, fair minded, an ad-
mirable presiding officer, capable of securing and main-
taining harmony among all factions, self-sacrificing to
the last degree. It is no wonder that she has inspired
suen confidence in the membership of the organization,
that she was able to enlist the entire force of the
state in the recent campaign. How they worked—
How they prayed. Following the example of a safe
leader, the local unions in every county united in har-
monious action, and it was action. They distributed,
hand to hand, an immense amount of valuable liter-
ature. They undertook personal interviews to an
amazing number. They gave addresses that will not
soon be forgotten, and their work on election day
meant success. Wonderfully blest was the cause in
Oklahoma through the Oklahoma W. C. T. U. and
through its able president. Mrs. Cora D. Hammett.
H. T. Laughbaum, Assistant Superintendent
and A tty. Oklahoma Anti-Saloon League
H. Thurston Laughbaum, a native of Ohio, came
to Oklahoma five years ago, to assist in securing pro-
hibition for the two territories when they should be
combined and admitted to the Union as a state, and has
been more closely identified with the movement than
any other person in the commonwealth. He assisted in
the organization of a constitutional convention, which
submitted the Prohibition clause to the people of both
territories, and was extremely active in that remarkable
campaign which culminated September 17, 1907, and
resulted in the adoption of prohibition by a majority
of 18,103.
During that campaign, Mr. Laughbaum spoke in
every county, traversing the state from end to end.
He was called upon by Governor Haskell to formulate
a suitable law, vitalizing the Constitutional Clause, and
that law was enacted by the first legislature in very
nearly the same form as prepared. The passage of the
law by the first legislature was largely due to his indi-
vidual effort, as lie furnished a brief on every clause.
In March, 1909, lie was appointed special law en-
forcement attorney by the governor, and held that
office until the close of the administration.
He took an important part in the campaign of
1910, in which the liquor forces were again subjected
to an ignominious defeat.
Mr. Laughbaum has had special charge of the
League’s interests in the second legislature, the special
session of 1910, and the third legislature, just closed,
and has rendered invaluable service, protecting the
law against most vicious attacks in every session. Mr.
Laughbaum wrote the law which has just been enacted,
modifying the original act in accordance with the ex-
pressed wish of the people; so that to him, chiefly, are
we indebted for a law which has been highly commend-
ed by friends of prohibition throughout the country,
and as cordially condemned by our enemies.
Mr. Laughbaum possesses rare qualifications as a
legislatix e leafier. He is a man of high principle, un-
swerving integrity, of pleasing and cordial manner,
and enjoys the acquaintance of most of the public men
of the state. He is a lawyer of reputation, and a loyal
supporter of the church and the league, and is the pres-
ent Moderator of the
Synod of Oklahoma
of the Presbyterian
church.
About April 1, Mr.
Laughbaum will sev-
er his connection
with the Oklahoma
Anti-Saloon League
and accept the posi-
tion of assistant su-
perintendent and at-
torney for the Anti-
Saloon League of
Washington w i t h
headquarters at Se- ***• LAUGHBAUM.
, Asst. Superintendent and Attorney
Oklahoma Anti-Saloon League.
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Cherrington, Ernest H. The American Issue (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 1, 1911, newspaper, March 1, 1911; Westerville, Ohio and Oklahoma City Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc942228/m1/4/: accessed April 17, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.