Ernest Cherrington (1877–1950) was a leading temperance journalist (see
temperance movement
The temperance movement is a social movement promoting temperance or complete abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and its leaders emph ...
). He became active in the
Anti-Saloon League
The Anti-Saloon League (now known as the ''American Council on Addiction and Alcohol Problems'') is an organization of the temperance movement that lobbied for prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century.
Founded in 1893 in Oberl ...
and was appointed editor of the organization's publishing house, the American Issue Publishing Company. He edited and contributed to the writing of ''The Standard Encyclopedia of the Alcohol Problem'', a comprehensive six-volume work. In addition, he was active in establishing the World League Against Alcoholism.
Cherrington favored education over the coersive use of force to bring about Prohibition and sobriety, a position in direct opposition to that of Anti-Saloon leader
Wayne Wheeler
Wayne Bidwell Wheeler (November 10, 1869 – September 5, 1927) was an American attorney and longtime leader of the Anti-Saloon League. The leading advocate of the prohibitionist movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, he played a major ...
. Following a number of name changes, the league is now the
American Council on Alcohol Problems
The Anti-Saloon League (now known as the ''American Council on Addiction and Alcohol Problems'') is an organization of the temperance movement that lobbied for prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century.
Founded in 1893 in Oberl ...
.
Cherrington remained active in temperance activities until shortly before his death in 1950.
Early life
Cherrington was born on November 24, 1877 in Hamden, Ohio. He went to college at Ohio Wesleyan University and then became a teacher.
Cherrington was against the consumption of alcohol and the effects it had on the declining mortality of his fellow Americans. He then decided to leave teaching to become newspaper reporter and critic of alcohol consumption.
Ohio Anti-Saloon League
In 1901, Cherrington joined the Ohio
Anti-Saloon League
The Anti-Saloon League (now known as the ''American Council on Addiction and Alcohol Problems'') is an organization of the temperance movement that lobbied for prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century.
Founded in 1893 in Oberl ...
, who was the leading organization lobbying the prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century. Cherrington would then climb the ladders within the organization and find himself becoming the assistant superintendent of the Ohio Anti-Saloon League, and then finally being promoted to the superintendent of the Washington Anti-Saloon League.
References
* Aaron, Paul, and Musto, David. Temperance and Prohibition in America: An Historical Overview. In: Moore, Mark H., and Gerstein, Dean R. (eds.) ''Alcohol and Public Policy: Beyond the Shadow of Prohibition.''. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1981. pp. 127–180.
* Blocker, Jack S. ''American Temperance Movements: Cycles of Reform''. Boston: Twayne, 1989.
* Cherrington, Ernest. ''America and the World Liquor Problem''. Westerville, OH: American Issue Publishing Co., 1922.
* Odegard, Peter H. ''Pressure Politics: The Story of the Anti-Saloon League''. NY: Columbia University Press, 1928.
* Westerville (Ohio) Public Library. Leaders: Ernest Cherrington. Westerville Public Library website.
External links
Ernest Cherrington(Westerville Public Library)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cherrington, Ernest
Chrerrington
1877 births
1950 deaths