Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-01
AN APPEAL TO LABOR.
Address Issued by the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union.

Address Issued by the WOman's Christian
Temperance Union.
CHICAGO, November 30.-The following
address was issued by the National Wo,
mans Christian Temperance Union to-day
in accordance with u resolution adopted
at the recent Minneapolis Convention. II
is addressed to "All Knights OF Labor
trades unions and other labor Organiza
tiOns."
"To all working men and women, broth
ers and sisters of common hope: We
come to you naturally rs our friends and
allies. With such of your methods rs in
volye cooperation and the ballot-bOx We
are in hearty sympathy. Measures which
involve the compulsion of labor, the de,
structiOn to property or harm to life Ol
limb we profoundly deplore, and We be.
lieve the thoughtful and responsible among
your ranks must equally deplore them
As not only base i'll themselves, but great
hindrance TO yonr own welfare and sue
cess We rejoice in your broad platform
OF mutual help, which recognizes neither
sex, race nor creed. Especially do we ap-
preciate the tendency of your great move,
ment to elevate women iudustrially Il
their rightful place by work; recognizing
them rs officers and members of your so
cieties and advocating the ballot in their
hands as their rightful weapon of self-helI
in our representative Government.
"As temperance women we have beer
especially glad to note your hostile atti-
tude toward the saloon, the worst foe OF
the woman and of the workingman and OF
the home. We read with joy of the vow
made by the newly elected officers of the
Knights of Labor at the Convention in
Richmond. Permit us to ask your care.
ful consideration of this statement of our
belief:
''The central question of labor reform il
not so much how to get higher wages rs
how to turn present wages TO better ac.
count. For waste harms most those who
can least afford. 1t is not oyer-prOductiOu
so much as under-consumption that grinds
the faces of the workingmen. Fourteen
hundred millions annually drawn, chiefly
from the pockets of the workingmen by
saloon keepers and cigar dealers, means
less flour in the barrel, less coal in the
cellar and less clothing for the laborer's
family.
The life insurance statistics prove that
while the average life OF the moderate
drinker is but thirty-five years and half,
that of the total abstainer is sixty-fouI
years. The successful explorers and sol,
diers, the famous athletics, pedestrians,
rowers and shots are men who do not cob.
web their brains or palsy their nerves with
alcoholic drink. We believe that the work
of our societies, resulting in laws by which
nearly One-half the children Of the United
States are being taught in the public
schools the evil effects Of intoxicating
liquors upon the tissues of the body and
the temper of the mind, merits your earn
est cooperation. We believe that the
study of hygiene, including knowledge
of the most healthful foods and the dis.
covery that these are of the cheaper and
non-stimulating class, with o careful con
sideratiOn of the scientific methods by
which in tha preparation of food little
can be made to 60 long way In home
economies, are well worthy Of your atten
ton.
''We ask your attention to the White
Cross pledge Of equal chastity for man and
woman; of pure language and pure life.
We ask your help in our efforts to secure
adequate protection by law for the danght.
ers Of the poor and the rich alike, from the
cruelty of base and brutal men. We ask
your helpin our endeayors to preserve the
American Sabbath with its rest and quiet.
We call your attention to departments Ol
evangelistic temperance work; work
for railway employees, lumbermen, herds.
men, miners, soldiers and sailors; also tC
our efforts to organize free kitchens and
kindergartens and bands Of hope; to sup
ply free Libraries and reading rooms, tenn
perance lodging houses and restaurants
and to reach ont helping hand to fallen