The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-30
TOWORKINGMEN AND WOMEN
Address from Officers of the Woman's
National Christian Temperance Union.
The Cooperation of the Members of Labor
Organizations of All Kinds Solicited in
the Interest of Human Elevation.

| CHICAGO, Nov. 29-The following address
was issued by the National Woman's Christian
Temperance Union to-day in accordance with a
resolution adopted at the recent Minneapolis
convention. 1t is addressed to all Knights of
| Labor, trades unions and other labor organiza-
! tions:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL W. G. T. q.
161 LAsALLE ST.. CHICAGO, ILL.,. Nov. IL. )
| ''To all Workingmen and Women-Brothers and Sis
tiers of a Common Hope:
I'VE come to YOU naturally, as our friends and
! allies. With such of your methods as involve
| cooperation, arbitration and the ballot-hox we
are in hearty sympathy. Measures which in.
| vove compulsion of labor, destruction of prop
erty, or harm to life or limb, we profoundly de-
| plore. and we believe the thoughtful and re-
| sponsbe among your ranks must equally de-
! plore them not only base in themselves but
great hindrances to your own welfare and sue
| cess. We rejoice in your broad plat
| form of mutual help, which recognizes
| neither sex, race nor creed. Especially do we
| appreciate the tendency of your great move
| ment to elevate women industray to their
| rightful place by claiming that they have equal
pay for equal work, recognizing them as officers
and members of your societies. and advocating
the ballot in their hands as their rightful weapon
of self help in our representative governments.
| AS temperance women we have been especially
| glad to note your hostile attitude toward the
saloon, the worst foe of women, aud of working
men, and of home We read with joy of the vow
made by the newly-eected officers of the
| knights of Labor at the convention in Rich
mond Va. when. with hands raised to heaven,
| they pledged themselves TO be total abstaners
throughout their terms OF Office. In addressing
| you at this time we wish to offer our sincere
congratulations upon your achievements as
practical workers in that great temperance
| reform which engages steadfast work and
| prayers. and which. we believe. involves be-
yond all other movements of this age, your hap
piness and elevation.
| Permit US to ask your careful consideration
of this statement of our belief: The central
! question of labor reform ia not so much how to
| get higher wages AS how to turn present wages
| TO better account. for waste harms most those
| who can least afford it. 1t is not overproduction
| so much underconsumption that grinds the
/ faces of the workingmen. Fourteen hundred
millions of dollars annually, drawn chiefly from
| the pockets of workngmen by saloon keepers
and cigar dealers means less -four in the BARREL
less coal in the cellar, and less clothing for the
| laborer's family. We grieve that they give
| their money for that which is not
bread. and their labor for that which
| satisfieth not Life insurance statistics prove
| that while the average life of moderate drinkers
| is but thirty five years and half, that of total
| abstainers is sixty four years. Successful ex-
| plorers and soldiers. famous athletes, pedes-
TRANS, rowers and shots. are men who do not
cohweb their brains or palsy their nerves with
| alcoholic drink.
I'VE believe that the work of societies, result
| ing in laws by which nearly one half the children
of the United States are being taught in the pub
lie schools the evil effects of intoxicating liquors
| upon the tissues of the body and the temper of
| the mind. merits your earnest co operation and
/ will prove one of your strongest reinforcements
| in the effort to elevate your families to nobler
| levels of opportunity We believe that the study
| of hygiene. including knowledge of the most
| heathful foods and the discovery that these are
of the cheaper and non-stimulating class,
| with careful consideration of scientific
modes by which. in the preparation of food. n lit
| tie can be made to go a long way In home econo-
| mics, we'll worthy your attention. We
| ask you TO aid in our endeavors to have
| taught in all departments of our public schools
| those benefcent laws OF health which relate to
wholesome living in respect to diet, dress. sleep,
exercise and ventilation, so that this teaching
| should be given to every child of the
| surest means TO its highest happiness.
I'VE ask your attention to our White Cross
| pledge OF equal chastity for men and women; of
| pure language and pure life. We ask your help
| in efforts to secure adequate protection by
/ law for the daughters of the poor and the rich
| alike from the cruelty of base and brutal men.
| Eve ask your help in our endeavors to pre-
| serve the American Sabbath, with its rest and
| quiet, redeemng it from being, now, the har-
| vest time of the saloonk keeper, when he gathers
| in the hard earnings of the wOrkingman, and we
| promise you our cooperation in your efforts to
secure a Saturday half holiday, which, we be-
| lieve, will do so much to change the Sabbath
| q
| and for worship of God.
! '.We call your attention to our departments of
! evangellstlc temperance work; work for railroad
employees lumbermen, herdsmen. miners and
soldiers and sailors: also, to efforts to organ
/ ize free kitchens, and kindergar:ens and bands
OF hope; to supply free libraries and reading
rooms, temperance lodging houses and res
taurants. and to reach out helping hand to
fallen women we'll as fallen men.
I'VE have a publishing house at 161 Lasalle
Of hoh ont
| pages of temperance literature in the last year
| and which is conducted by women; it's
| types are set by women compositors. Our
national organ. the Union Signal has
| good words for all lawful efforts made by work
| ingmen and women for their own best good.
1--WE ask you to do all in your power for the
cause of prohibition, which is preeminenty
| your cause With the dramshop and its fend-
ish temptations overthrown, what might you not
attain of thavself mastery which is the first con-
dition of success! And what might you not
| achieve of protection and happiness ia those
homes which are the hearts true resting -places!
| Your ballots hold the balance of power in this
| land of the worlds hope We ask those of you
who are voters to cast them only for such meas
ures and such men solemnly committed to
the prohibition of every brewery, dlstlery and
dramshop in the Nation; and that women may
! come to the rescue in this great emergency. Also
| as an act of justice toward those who have the
| most sacred claim on your protection. hope
| that you may your way clear to cast your
| ballots only for such measures and such men as
| are pledged to the enfranchisement of women.
"In ali this we speak to you as those who fer
vently believe that the coming of Chrst's king.
dom earth means brotherhood We urge you
with sisterlv earnestness and affection. to make
the New Testament your textbook OF political
economy. and to join us in daily study of His
blessed words, Who spoke as never man spoke
His pierced hand is lifting up the sorrowful and
benighted into the light of God. In earnest
sympathy let US go forward to work out His
golden precepts into the worlds life and law by
making, first of all. His law and life orr own.
Yours for God, aud home. and every land
FRANCES E. WILLARD, President
CAROLINE B. BUELL.. Corresponding Secre-
tary.n
Gard from Mrs Woodwork.
To the Editer of the Indianapolis JournaE