Local temperance union urges voters to unite and keep Benton County dry

— An affiliate of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union met near Gravette last week to discuss opposition to the ballot measure that would allow retail liquor sales in Benton County.

The WCTU is the same organization that fought against alcohol and other social problems in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. It is still going strong today, but on a smaller scale.

The WCTU is a nondenominational organization of Christian women who banded togetherfor the protection of the home, the abolition of liquor traffic and the triumph of Christ’s Golden Rule in custom and law, according to Sherry Wood, president of the local affiliate.

Historically, the organization was at the forefront of the eighthour workday with 15 minute breaks, the vote for women, and women’s’ shelters. It has also worked against white slavery and child pornography, Woods said.

Today the organization works to educate the public about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and drug use and addresses other social issues such as gambling, she said.

The local affiliate formed about three years ago, according to Dan Merkley, who hosted the meeting in his home, along with his wife, Jeannie Merkley.

Dan Merkley said his mother had been involved in WCTU in California and his family wanted to have an affiliate in Arkansas.

The group near Gravette is the only WCTU left in Arkansas and is an affiliate of the Southern California chapter. It has 12 members, including nine women and three men, who serve as honorary members.

Keep Tax Dollars in Benton County hired an outside company to collect over 41,000 signatures to petition and get the retail liquor sales measure on the ballot. The local organization, which has support from members of the Walton family, has raised $525,000, according to Ethics Commission records.

In comparison, the local WCTU has a budget under $1,000. At last week’s meeting, the group planned ways to get their message out, such as a Facebook page, advertising and putting up roadside signs. They have already contacted over 200 churches and have a model of what alcohol does to the liver and the brain to display.

The WCTU is not about forcing people to believe something but rather providing information to help people make good choices, Wood told the group.

For those that say morality can’t be legislated, Wood questions when they are going to repeal the laws about robbery or stealing.

While those in favor of allowing alcohol sales in Benton County may argue that those who want to drink still do so, Wood pointed out that having easy access to alcohol will allow people to drink more than they would have before.

“Does anyone seriously think we don’t eat more McDonalds and fast food since they came to ourtowns? It will be the same with alcohol,” she said.

To those who are in favor of keeping tax dollars in Benton County, Wood said she doesn’t want the “blood money” if it leads to abused and neglected children and families in jail.

“Do you think I would want money from that?” she said.

In addition, the county will have to spend more money on law enforcement, judges, jails and neglected children, Wood said.

While dissenters may argue that prohibition didn’t work, Wood pointed out that the WCTU is not lobbying for prohibition. She also says that, while criminals may have taken drinking underground during prohibition, it took until 1970 to reach the level of drinking per capita in 1919.

The group provided statistics based on the 2008 Uniform Crime Reports provided by the Arkansas Crime Information Center showing that where liquor is available and sold, per capita, there is 107 percent more murder, 299 percent more robberies, 122 percent more assaults, 35 percent more driving under the influence and 102 percent more vandalism.

In addition, the statistics show 60 percent more law enforcement personnel are needed in wet counties.

While the wet counties included in the statistics include large cities like Little Rock and Fayetteville, there are many more rural wet counties to balance the numbers out, Wood said. There are 35 wet counties and 40 dry counties in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Departmentof Finance Administration website, www.dfa.arkansas.gov.

The statistics also showed eighth grade students in wet counties were 45.7 percent more likely to score below basic on math and 59.2 percent more likely to score below basic in literacy in the Benchmark exams.

As the meeting came to a close, Dan Merkley led the group in prayer, acknowledging that the group’s efforts may seem like a drop in the bucket, but asked God to multiply their efforts and help them do what was right because it was right.

The WCTU will hold its next meeting on Oct. 19. For more information on the local affiliate of the WCTU, call 228-1842. To learn more about the national organization, visit www.wctu.org.

News, Pages 1 on 10/10/2012