Wichita eagle., 1889-11-13
IOWA DELEGATES WITHDRAW.
Political Prohibition Effects a Rupture
in the W. @. T. u.

III IuO W. W - Va
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Nov. 12-When the ses
sion of the Woman's Christian Temper
anoe Union convention at Battery ID ar
mory was opened this morning it was
known that storm was coming Oh, fol
during the meeting of yesterday on mo-
ton of Mrs. Aldrich and Mrs. j. Eller
Foster. of Iowa, the consideration of the
proposed non-partisan anne ndment to the
constitution of the organization was Sc,
down for today. The amendment pro-
vides that the objects of the organization
shall be "to interest and unite
the Christian women of this na-
ton in non-sectarian and non-partisan
temperance work, for reformation of the
incorporate and the education of the pub
lie sentiment in behalf of total abstinence
and prohibition of traffic in alcoholic
liquor, the development Of social purity,
the suppression of vice and crime and the
education Of the masses in the duties and
responsibilities of good citizenship"
1t was evident from the commencement
of debate that the feeling of the CONVEX
ton was overwhe mngly against the pro-
posed anne ndment The delegates were
not disposed to listen to the speeches OF
the women who favored its adoption and
several times there was Kissing and cries
of ''sit down."
In moving the amendment Mrs. Aldrich,
of Iowa, said she wished the convention to
accep: it because it was simply right and
just and honest. She said there WAS no
definite statement of the obj cts of the
organization in the constitution. The w.
c. I. L. women occupied an anomalous
position because they declared themselves
non-partisans and yet ADOPTED the most
bitter partisan resolution. The women
associated in the organization has political
rights, although not suffrage, and it was
wrong for the majority to adopt resolu-
tions binding all W. men to support GER
tain political party. 1t was just as wrong
for a woman to give away her political in
huence as for a man to sell his vote.
Mrs. Henry, of Evanston, ILL.,, Mrs.
Wells, of Tennessee: Mrs. H NJ Barke, of
South Dakota: Mrs. Perkins. OF Ohio;
Mrs. Buell., national secretary, and others
spoke in opposition TO the adoption OF the
amendment as r fection on previous action
Of the union and declaring that the union
was nom partisan, being ready to support
any party which would put a prohibition
pl nix in its platform.
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster then spoke. She
said the convention was partisan despite
its declaration to the contrary. The
name of honorable men in the Re-
publican party mad been dragged in
the mud on the convention
platform. II repeat" said she, that the
convention is partisan. Partisan in feel
ing. partisan in its assaults on Republican
statesmen" Kisses interrupted the
speaker. "Yes. and those misses are
partisan. They come from the delegates
themselves and not from the spectators. :"
A motion was made to indefinitely post
pone the discussion. 1t was voted down.
The question was then called on the
amendment. About fifty voices cried for
Its adoption, but the great bulk of the
delegates shouted agains: it. Miss Willard,
as chairman, declared the amendment
lost.
General Clinton B. Fiske made brief
speech. He said that Vice President Nor
ton is good man to have on the prohibit
ton side. The party needed his fame and
fortune He said he would be glad to have
Vice President Morton lead in the reform
by taking steps to have the
proc shop under the senate chamber abol-
ished.
Rev. Annie b. Shaw, in a report on
said the cause of woman's
suffrage had made great gains during the
wear. The woman suffragist planks had
been placed in the constitutions of Idaho,
Montana, North and South Dakota and
VAS defeated only on technical grounds in
the other states.
The event of the evening session was
the report of the committee on resolutions
touching the non partisan question. The
majority report says:
1--WE believe that it is vital to temper
ance reform that the principle of prohibit
ton be made the dominant issue in Amer
lean politics. We. therefore, give our ap-
proyal to that party only which declares in
it's platform for prohibition in state and
cto 10 in, fnv &c mi
cation by law"
The minority report was brought in by
Mrs. Matte NJ. Bailey, of the Iowa dele
cation, and reported as follows: THAT
the recent amendment case dem
oustrates the need of more
persistent and more persuasive education
al temperance work among all classes of
peoples The results of these consists in
having given Us practical proof that sue
cess in the effort for the overthrow of the
liquor traffic can only be assured where
intelligent convictions of the people are in
favor of prohibition and that defeat is GER
tain where such convictions are lacking.
LAS we have in our membership women
whose differing opinions leading them 10
with aud support different po
litical parties. therefore it is unjust and
unwise for this organization to pledge its
influence, support or allegiance to any po-
ltical party; MUST, because this organi-
Zation which is nor-partiSan as our presi-
dent has declared such pledge of influence,
support or allegiance, representatlvely
given, interferes with the individual
freedom of any and every member
to prefer and work for the political party
of her choice: unwise because in practic-
allv carrying out the pledge our religious
and educational work is thereby subjected
to party lamentations and antagonized by
disaSt- Ous partisan opposition"
The ma iorlty report was adopted By an
almost unanimous vote. The Iowa dele
gates alone stood in favor of the minority
report.
The Iowa delegation withdrew from
the convention tonight Mrs. j. FL
arose and read a very long protest. after
which the solid Iowa delegation went out
of the hall with Mrs. Foster
Miss Willard announced that the out
come had been long expected; that the
patience and forbearance Of the convention
had no equal in history.
On motion of Mrs. Lathrop, of Michigan,
committee TO Immediately take steps TO re-
organize the union in Iowa.
The convention adopted the following
resolutions:
Resolved, That we have what seems TO
Us amply sufficient proof that the vice
president Of the United States has permit
ted bar in his new apartment house,
the Shoreham souse, st Washington, and
we hereby EXPRESS our anaZemens, grief
and condemnation of the temperance re-
form that the second official of the United
States should thus openly ally himself
with the liquor dealers of the United
States.
THE TIMES" CASE MUST STICK.
IoNDoN Nov II The run-i ion reads nv
Sir Charles Rassen as to the decision OF
the lower courts postponiug the trial OF
the libel suit brought by Mr. Psrne.l