New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-21
THE MEMORIAL NOT HEARD
IOWA WOMEN OBJECT TO TIE THIRD PAKrT
MOVEMENT.

CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION IN
REGARD TO THE ORGANIZATIONS
POLITICAL POSITION PRO.
CEEDINGs OF THE BIG
CONVENTION.
Tht proceedings of the National Woman's
Christian Temperance Unions Convention. at tho
Metropolitan Opera House yesterday were en-
livencd by another attempt the part OF the
Iowa delegates to get their memorial, protesting
against the partisan position assumed by the
Union, before the convention. 1t was made in
modest form by the president Of the State Union.
Mrs. Foster She simply asked permission to al
low printed copies OF the document to be dis
tributed among the members. But even this was
bluntly denied by Miss Willard, who also refused
to permit copies to be given to the press She
was not altogether successful, however, In keep.
ing them from the newspapers
There was not SO large crowd on the opens
ing day, hut the boxes and galleries were wen
filled when the proceedings opened. The main
business of the day, that Of hearing the reports
OF the superintendents of the various departments
was begun soon the usual opening ceremonies
had been finished. The most interesting Of these
reports was that submitted by Dr. Kate Bushnell,
the evangelist Of the Social Purity Department.
on her personal investigation of the Wisconsin
lumber camps. She went there lass
May, at the suggestion OF Prcsi.
dent Willard, and spent four months
in the territory visiting the evil places there and
asccrtaining for herself the real condition OF
affairs. The result of her explorations prove that
the reports published have not been exaggerated.
Other reports submitted during the morning
and afternoon sessions were as follows: Press
Department. Mrs Esther T. House: Narcotics
Mrs E. b. ingalls, Non-Alcoholics in Medisine,'
Coro . fam usoA Wfno
Mrs T. A. Esmond State and County Fairs"
Mrs J. r. Nichols; Associated Charities" Miss
A. NJ Henderson: Prison and JAIL Mrs J. X.
Barney; Flower Missions Miss Jennie Cassiday:
Work Among Foreign Born,' Miss s. F. Grubba
Work Among Colored People Mrs. F. T. w.
Harper and Mrs T. j. H. Early: Soldiers and
Sailors" Mrs. S. A. McClees; Work Among
Lumbcrmen," Mrs. Z. w. Peters; Work Among
Railroad Employees" Miss Jennie Smith; Par
liamentary Usage Mrs. A. S. Benjamin: Peace
and International Arbitration" Mrs. Hannah j.
Bailey; National Temperance Hospital" DR.. Mary
Weeks Burractt "Evangelistc Board" Mrs.
s. NJ. ]. Henry; q Day of Prayer Mrs Ellen NJ.
Watson; Sabbath Observance Mrs. j. G. Bate
ham; Bible Readings" Mrs. Hannah Whilnll
Smith; School of Methods" Mrs NJ. A. West;
Work in Southern States Mrs. S. F. Chapin;
and Work Among Mormon Women Mrs A. 7.
Newman
After the last report had been read and some
other incidental matters disposed OF, Mrs. Foster
arose in her place among the Iowa delegates and
was recognized by the chairman. All eyes
were turned toward her. There was brief
silence and then Mrs. Forster stated her point.
She bowed to the decision Of the convention, shc
said, in consigning the memorial from her State
to the Executive Committee. but would the Chair
object to her having printed copies of this paper
distributed among the delegates? In this way
all could see for themselves what had been
asked by the Iowa Union, and
that without taking up the time Of
the convention, which had been given
as an excuse for not permitting the memorial to be
read in the meeting. Miss Willard looked un-
easy, but she shut her lips tightly threw back her
Wepossed head slightly and So mns % ss %
sisted, was to be left in the hands of the COM
nittee.
press ~ inquired Mrs. Foster, demurey., =,
No said the presiding officer emphatlcaiiy,
and then added, with faint smile: a" rather
tn;rk tie press have obtained copies alre''hy
felt as determined as to run things solely in
the interest Of the Third Party regardless oil par
liamentary usage or anything else
The memorial referred TO was unanimously
adopted by the Iowa State Union at its last con-
venton; 1t protests against the partisan POSITION
when an alliance was made with the Ihird farty'
Of which it says:
This alliance is wrong in principle, un-Chrstan fa
method and disastrous In results
To thine self be true is as vital to the integrity
OF an organization 3 to Individual character
The basic principle OF the Womans Christian Temper
ance Union Christian unity in promoting the prncpis
and practice OF total abstinence The basic prineipe ot
party organization is citizen unity In political acuon ine'
differing principles are uneQualy yoKed py INC pouss"
/ anillation OF the National Union.
1t is as true morals in mathematics that guam
titles must be reduced common dcnomnator beforo
they be added subtractei
To attempt to the womans Christian Union %
the Standard OF party action does violence 10 the eques
which should control Gil organized effort.
The partisan position Of the National Union is pros.
tuition Of its original purpose IL must be aosnaoncd
the organization will cease 10 be an eyancel
The influence OF the National Union in its entirety 10
given TO political paryits money is applied through
the soaries the National, officers to the service OF
political party The moral influence Of woman Is the poll
tcal power which stands to her In place OF the ballot
This moral influence is pledged political party This
political robbery and strikes at the foundation principles
Of political liberty
The action of :" The Union Signal in attempt.
ing read Mrs Foster out Of the union, which by
the way, has not been ndorscd by the Executive
Committee, is discussed. The memorial closes
with these vigorous statements:
In support OF this attempted union OF divergent
agencies been msrepresened, motives have
impugned character has been assaed. uteranees
private and public have been msconsrueo ana our noy
cause grevousy wounded in the house OF its friends
1t is strange that persons seek TO avoid public
censure by denial OF these charges but denial is not
| soof and the facts remain unchanged
This violence OF principles and these unChrsan meth
DDS have wrought many disasters organizaton -
woman's work the OF temperance The con.
fusion I'm moral standards renders unity impossible II
lowers moral tone OF our Organization ana threfena
Its very life With hearts loyal to truth and to temper
ance and gricved by the position are compelled 10
take we have stated the truth God gives US TO II
And we pray by speedy granting Of request the
rights Of all may be assured and this organization which
God has 30 signay honored be saved from further
eompromse OF dignity Of It's Christian womanhood
| The evening session, which was well attended.
was devoted to young ladies' Addresses wcro