The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-10-11
THE SENATE INQUIRY.
testimony Of Miss Willard Before tho
Committee on Education and
Labor.
Aims and Methods or the National Won.
ems Christian Union Explained.

The National Women's 6hristian Temper
ancc Union were given q hearing before tho
Senate Committee on Education and Labor
at New York. Miss frances J.. Willard. Of
Chicago, President OF the union gave u
condensed statement Of the organization
It's growth and methods OF work She
said the union Is often called the sober Sec
ond thought OF tho crusade in tho winter
Of 1871, and which, through prayer and
persuasion, resulted In closing 20 aoonA
The society comprises thirty-four States
and three Territories and organizations
with over 1000 local societies aud fol-
lowing OF over 1900 Experience had sug-
Eestcd the advlsabiity Il dividing the
work OF the society into dep artinents. ana
In every case where q special department.
of work has seemed to ie called Tor some
woman has been ra i ed to stand mt the head
OF such depart mdht Fir.t In the order OF
evolution standsfhe dcpai tmentof sHered-
lty,' which aims to teach women who come
Together III companies the relation OK
parental In III cnccs and natal inheritance to
the drink habit Ee,idcs his department IL
that Of 'IIyocnic," Mhica aims to give y
better understanding OF the methods OF
daily living, esl ecally regarding food,
cleanliness. exercise, ventilation, anu the
whole physical conduct of life. Under the
educational division OF the work, scientific
instruction stands first, its subdivisions
being Sunday-sehools, juvenile unions,
temperance literature, influencing the press
conference with ecclesiastical, Sunday
school, educational and medical associa-
tions, and relative statistics The scicn-
tiic instruction embraces the Introduction
OF text books into the public Sc ools, set
ting forth the nature and effect OF alcohol
on the system. Sunday-school work aims
to give the thus saith the Lord" regarding
the use Of Intoxicating liquors as bevcr-
age. The department OF juvenile unions
endeayors to teach children the duty of
total abstinence by a regular course OF
study--scientific, ethical and governmental
A military feature Is introduced tor boys,
aud prizes offered for the best essays IF
forts are made to gain the cooperation of
eccles astical bodies, and whenever synod
or conference Is held some repre- sentative
Of the society is usually present. The De-
partment OF Relative Statistics cndcayors to
collect the best and latest statistics regard
ing paupeiism and crime. and present the
same to the people until such time "a the
Government shall appoint u committee to
take the matter in han.l
Mrs ". G. buell. spoke OF the department
of Influencing tho Press and said that,
recognizing tho power of tho press, the
union has during the last four years endcav-
orcd to enlist the press by securing columns
to be edited by women appointed by the
union of the locality. or to secure the nser-
tion OF extracts from standard authors OF
scientific temperance works and from the
Writings and speeches Of prominent men
nni women.
Mrs Mary II. Hunt gave IN account Of the
efforts OF her department to introduce text
books into the public schools OF the coun-
try, giving short account OF legislation
in Michigan, Vermont and New Hamp-
shire, which gave to their States a law
for compulsory temperance Other ladies
present and in charge of departments cx-
planned the working Of each department
and its purpose The ladies present We've;
Miss Frances T. willard. of hicago, presi-
dent: Mrs. Caroline T. Buell., Ia Hampton,
CT, Corresponding Secretary: Mrs Mary Ia
Burt Brooklyn, President ct the New York
state Union; Mrs Mary H. Hunt, Hyde
Park. Mass, Superintendent Of the Depart
ment o Scientific Instructions; Mrs Z. 9.
Afford, Brooklyn Secretary of the Scientific
Department.: Mrs Frances ]. Barnes New
York. Superintendent of the Depai tment oi
Young Womens Work; and Miss Annie A.
Gordon. Avondale, Mass, private seeretar,
OF Miss Willard