The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-08

avert the other.
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The PRESS the other day in the course Of
some comment upon the Aroostook seces-
sion from the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union, expressed the opinion that the
official endorsement Of the Third Party by
tile Union had been harmful to the latter
organization. In letter elsewhere pub
lished Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, President of
the Maine branch of the Union, dissents
from this opinion and declares that the
Union has never been positively harmed
by any position 1t has taken" Mrs. Ste.
yens In support of her opinion cites the fact
that lin these latter years 1t has been more
and more blessed financially and numeri-
cally." That fact. however. is not incom-
patible with the assumption that the Union
was positively harmed by It's endorsement
OF the Third Party. If without that endorse
ment the Union would have grown more rap.
Idly in numbers, il its resources would have
increased faster. if today it would have been
more harmonious organization, then 1t is
fair to say that that endorsement did 1t posi-
tive harm. Whether these assumptions
would have been realized or not is impossi-
bic to say, and therefore it is impos-
sible to demonstrate whether the endorse
ment Of the Third Party was or was not in
furious to the Union. 1t must remain a
matter OF opinion. We think, though,
1t is generally accepted as the rule that the
Identification Of an association organized
primarily for purely reform work with DO
litical party is likely to prove injurious. If
such has not been the effect npon the Wo-
mans ChristianTempcranc Union then its
Gaze has been exceptional. As regards the
Caribou organization the PRESS. is inclined
to agree with Mrs. Stevens that. no matter
how non-partisan be Its intentions, 1t is like
ly to be looked upon by the public, or at least
aBortion OF the public, as a partisan organi-
zation. People will not failto note the fact
AS Mrs. Stevens has noted it-that 1t is COM
posed entirely Of Republicans, and it will
be inferred from this that 1t is to become an
adjunct to the Republican party. Democrats
and Third Party men will view it with sus
picion, and, no matter whether it be correct
or not the idea win take possession of their
minds that there are more politics in it than
temperance, that 1t is sort OF auxiliary to
the Republican organization. and therefore
Is to be stunned by opponents Of that organ
ization. On the other hand tie Woman's
Christian Temperance Union in Aroostook
will come to be regarded as an attachment
to the Third Party machine, ana Republi.
cans will be inclined to give it the cold
shoulder. Now If under these circum-
stances these two societies 90 not become
hostile rivals, devoting more Of their ener-
ges to one another, than TO the cause of tenn
perance we shall be greatly surprised. In.
deed we see signs that ho,tii.ties have al
reacy broken out. A communication lies
before us, which was sent us some time ago
for publication. We have not published II.
because 1t seemed calculated merely to stir
up Improbable strife. 1t Is signed "a w.
c. I. U. member, but one of the thousands
whose study Of politics is not profound
enough to pledge fealty to the Third Party"
1t begins in this way: 1.-THE leaders of the
w. Z. 1. U. have very self satisfied way of
viewing their partisan work, and their COM
piacency is decidedly refreshing to weaker
mortals." The spirit Of this communication
indicates clearly that the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union and the new non-parti-
san society are not destined to love one
another.
However, as the PRESS said the other day,
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
had clear right to endorse the Third PARTY,
and we have no disposition to quarrel with
1t for exercising that right. As matter of
policy, however, it seems to us that the en-
dorsement was mistake. At the same time
we disclaim any intention Of insinuating
that since its endorsement of the Third
Party the Union has been given over en-
trely to politics. No doubt, as Mrs. Stevens
says large proportion OF its work is still
phllanthropic and not political