Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-04
The Vermont Women and Political Pro-
hibitiOn,

The lady who calls our attention to the
communication to the Bennington Ban
HCr. copied below. informs us that 'it
voices the sentiments of the large major
ity of the ladies of the Women's Chris
lion Temperance Union of Vermont" 1t
is understood to be from the pen of Miss
Anna c. Park of Bennington.
TO the Edji0r Of the Runner:
Dear Sir: 1t may be remembered that
at the State convention held at Middle
bury last year the president of the Yer
mout Women'S Suffrage society, (WhO was
ii delegateD introduced Il resolution en-
dorsing Miss Wizards political departure,
which resolution was adopted by the
ladies', with small opposition. Afterwards,
when the full meaning OF the resolution
element, and the clause referring to st.
John was struck out. AT the annual
meeting in BrattlebOrO, Il resolution re-
affirming that OF the year before, with
some addition was presented, but the fol
lowing substitution was presented in
stead
Whereas, Undera misapprchension Of its
fun import, resolution was passed at our
last State convention, 'cndOrSing the position
OF the National President with respect to
pol teal parties" therefore
ReSOlrcd, That we desire to keep the Yer
mont w. c. T. u. free from the trammelS of
any political orgalizatiOn; in order to pre-
serve harmony among ourselves, and to Sc
cure the full cooperation Of every temper
ance man i'll the state.
This was amended by inserting after
the word "Resolved." this clause-"That
while we do most tenderly love our
national president and are loyal to ma
tional union" we desire, &c.
The substitute was adopted without
discussion, and evidently was the voice of
the convention. So you see the Vermont
ladies have set themselves right this year.
Out of more than hundred unions in
the State, only four or five voted to adopt
the Woman's Suffrage department, that
The same majority | doubt not are OPP
posed to union of our grand organiza-
| ton, with any political party.
The w. G. II. L. started out non-secta
rian and non bipartisan and remained so for
the first five years. From the outset, the
woman sutfragistS connected with the
Union, have been bound to use it to fur
Their their own aims, and little lively
| Sklrmishing on this point has been indulg-
ed in at the annual meeting. Then the
obnoxious name "Woman's Suffrage" was
dropped, and Home Protection" sub
stituted. The innocent ladies who OPP
posed womans suffrage, so called, i'm
mediately shouted for Home Protec-
ton" and many of them do not yet see
that they are identical.
! | see by the protest published in
/ your last paper, that there were twenty
| four delegates at Philadelphia who were
not swayed by the eloquence nor enthu-
! siasm Of the majority toward the committal
of the national union "to the aid and sup
port of IA political party" This is step
/ in advance. 1t brings the subjects before
the ladies in its true light. 1t opens dis
cussion. And another year viii show Il
much longer list of names of brave women
who dare to be unpopular in the attempt
to hold this grandest of moral organi2a
tious. true to their first principles of gos
pei temperance work. DELEGATE,