The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-03-02
THE STATE TEMPERANCE ALI.
ANOE,

convention In the city OF Albany on the
2lst inst, and held pleasant aud profita-
BILE sessions for two days. Immediately
after the adoption of the report Of the
committee Oh credentials, (Which report
included the usual quota of delegates
from the State Woman Suffrage Asso-
ciation), the following preamble and
resolution was introduced and adopted:
WHEREAS, The State Temperance Alliance
and Union are different organizations that
have essentially the same objects in view;
and,
WHEREAS, The State Temperance Union at
Its last annual session have expressed desire
to merge that organization into the Alliance;
therefore,
Resolved, That the State Temperance Alli-
ance is ready and willing to welcome the Un-
ion back and TO extend to its members the
right hand OF fellowship and membership in
this Alliance. G. W. DIMICK.
A committee, consisting of Messrs.
Heroy, Elkins, and Conser, was ap-
pointed to confer with like committee
from the State Temperance Union,
which, after due deliberatiOn, presented
the following preamble and resolution,
which was unanimously adopted by the
Alliance:
| WHEREAS, Differences have heretofore ex-
listed between the State Temperance Alliance
and the State Temperance Union, each organ
lied for work in the cause of temperance; and,
WHEREAS, Each organization has sgnifed
willingness to unite upon the broad principles
OF temperance; therefore,
Resolved, That the two organizations be, and
by the adoption of this resolution are, hereby
united, and that the Temperance Union be-
come part of the Alliance
Resolved, That the delegates OF the Union be
recognized by their credentials as members OF
the Alliance, and be received upon equal terms
with members originally delegated TO this
| body. L. FLKISs. Chairman.
Readers of the New NORTHWEST, and
members of the Alliance that convened
in Salem four years ago, will rememb Der
the arrogant self-assumption that begot
the organization known during is feeble
existence as the Estate Temperance Un-
iOn." Determined that women should
have no place in the council chambers
of temperance, a minority, amounting
in all to about thirty-eight members, re-
solved either to break up the Alliance
or rule the Woman Suffrage delegates
out. Failing in the last, they became
utterly lawless and seeded In the num-
ber above stated, "hired a halr' and
proceeded to organize the "Union. ="
Strong opponents of Woman Suffrage
were appointed to draw up a constitu-
tion which should forever bar out those
who favored it. Resolutions denounc-
ing politics in temperance were adopted,
and then, after appointing committee
on political action" the organization
that had hoped to extract the teeth and
claws from all who advocated equal
rights, by refusing them a hearing, and
build for itself an imperishables structure
upon the ruins of tie Alliance, ad-
journed to meet in June following.
The June meeting was tolerabIe suc-
cess as to numbers, and, Enlightened in
their thoughts beyond all doubt of vic
tory" the leaders silenced the voices OF
women, bigotry grew more blatant, as.
sumption put on bolder front, and the
liquor traffic hourished and grew. The
second meeting convened with dimin-
ished numbers-women who respected
themselves and men who respected them
refusing to act as delegates in many
places. Attendance at the third and
fourth meetings grew 'small by degrees
and beautifully less," it being long be-
fore this apparent that the wayward
child was hOmesick and signing for pa.
rental care and protection. Finally il
could no longer restrain it's audible
whimpering, but asked to be again re.
ceived into the parent organization, anG
like wise and loving parent, the ALI.
ance, after keeping the prodigal awhile
on probation, acceded to its humble re.
quest. There was no dictation of terms
no alteration in the constitution or bv.
laws of the Alliance, and none asked
The Union merely Expressed its desire
to merge its organization into the ALI.
ance," and raised not even the ghost o.
scare at the apparition at which it.
members had taken such ludicrous anC
unseemly flight.
Calmly, dispassionately, and with due
decorum and courtesy, the question O.
the ballot for woman as relating to tenn
perance was discussed at the recent
meeting, and the time but four shor
years ago when J. Quinn Thornton at
tempted to bully and browbeat those
who earnestly and zealously advocated
the enfranchisment of woman seemed
to be hidden in the decades of bygont
era. Then women who plead for politi
cal consideration were treated will
every discourtesy which a vacillatins
president would permit, and were dubbed
by the doughty chairman of the com
mittee on credentials, whose name il
given above, as "old hens with thei
feathers set the wrong way" Now re
ports say:
This discussion on Woman Suffrage elicitet
the most earnest debate of the session, the la
dies rallying to the defense OF their views will
: a zeal and with power that doubt not con
9 vinced all that whether right or wrong the,
were honest in their convictions and terribl,