Ella A. Boole

From the beginning, temperance was viewed as a woman's cause. Women had traditionally been cast as protectors of the home, and alcohol abuse threatened family life. But dealing with the problem solely within the household proved to be ineffective. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was founded in 1874 by a group of women who wanted to make the alcohol problem a public concern. Members took the battle onto the streets in marches, protests, and rallies. They even lobbied lawmakers in Washington, D.C. The WCTU eventually achieved its ultimate goal of bringing about national prohibition. But by the late twenties, the threat of repeal loomed over every dry's head.

Ella A. Boole was president of the WCTU from 1925 to 1933. The following selection is from her book, Give Prohibition Its Chance. By the time it was published, it was obvious to...