Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-11-10
TEMPERANCEWOMES.

Scenes at the Annual Meeting In Washing
tor of the Women's National Temperance
Union.
From the Washington Star.
A central and conspicuous figure in this
assembly was the president, Miss Francis
E. Willard, of Chicago. Miss Willard is
Lady fast advancing toward middle life,
whose prepossessing face indicates that she
must have been beautiful when o young
girl. Mrs. Foster, of Ohio, referred to the
fact that Miss Wizards honored mother
was present. and, suggested that she be in
| vited to the platform. She asked also that
Misses Clara Barton and Susan B. Anthony,
who were present be invited to the plat
form, paying glowing tribute to each of
these ladies'. Miss Clara Barton was in
troduced by Miss Willard as the Florence
Nightingale of America. Miss Willard then
introduced Susan B. Anthony, referring to
her long service in the cause of woman.
After Miss Anthony sat down scene
followed. such as was never seen in any
convention before, and could never be wit
messed in any convention except woman's
convention.
Mrs. Morris IN "a delicate. looking lady, be-
longing to the Indiana convention, rose in her
seat, and as she advanced toward the plat
form said I rise to question of privilege
| privilege which I know you will all grant,"
Ascending the platform she said very earn
| estly: Il want, in the presence of this flag,
referring to the Stars and Stripes, which
every breeze loves to kiss, in the presence
of this picture of this great man (Garield)
who in the proudest moment of his life
turned aside to kiss his mother and his wife,
| SO in the presence of these three women
Miss Wizards mother, Miss Barton and
| Miss Anthony, representing motherhood,
representing all that is angelic in woman,
and representing us, to kiss Miss Anthony"
and suiting the action to the word Mrs.
Morrison pounced upon Miss Anthony, and
| before the lady was aware had pumped a
kiss on her mouth which made ''smack"
that could be heard all over the church. The
action was generally approved, evidently,
for no one objected to the question of
privilege"
| Miss Willard, then, rising, said that the
| good women of Illinois had brought her
mother with them, but they had brought
her here, and when the western delegation
stepped off the cars last night her mother
was there, and she had been told, was the
| brightest of all Of them. Her mother, she
said was entering her seventy eighth year.
Then, taking her mother by the hand, Miss
Willard said, with trembling lips and brok-
en- voice, Here is the dear heart that new
er failed me-" She then paid an eloquent
tribute to the aged mother that stood beside
her. The scene in the church was remark
able; not an eye was dry, and many ladies
| actually cried aloud at the touching scene.
When Miss Willard had concluded, the
aged mother, with voice trembling with age
and emotion, said: Ladies of the conven-
ton, I thank you for the honor you have
| Maid ma and for in vifino ma tn the Mat
form" She then kissed her daughter, an
act which sent fresh thrill of emotion
through the convention,
| President Willard, however, having
choked down the feeling in her own throat
made great effort, and put sudden per-
lod to these few minutes of senti nent by
saying, in very prosy, business like un-
sentimental way: ave shall now hear the
report of the executive committee"