St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-28
ARE WILLING TO GO.
The Non-Partisan w. G. T. u.
Not Over Anxious to
Remain
A Part Of the Great National
Organization Any
Longer.
1t Doesn't Care Particularly
for Representation in Con-
VentionS
OF the Original Order From
Which 1t Has
Sprung.

will wait and let them throw US OUT"
To the Public: r or four months past
frequent items have appeared in the leca
columns of our city papers regarding Ger
w. G.. T. U" It seems to the association
thus designated that the time has arrived fol
plain history of the origin and cause of the
movement, its present status, a declaration
of principles and plans for the present and
future. We therefore respectfully call your
attention to the following: The original and
pronounced central idea upon which the W:
c. T. U. was organized was that of a neutral
field outside the pale of church or party,
where the Christian women OF the world
could join their forces to do battle against
woman S bitterest enemy, Alcohol. On this
prospered. Women of every shade
of Christian, and political faith
united in earnest thought and council! against
the common enemy. Broad and deep foun-
dations were laid for a uniform national sys-
tenn of labor in fields educational, correc'
tional reformatory and legislative: and the
world looking on, thought that the days OF
the rule of misery and death from intemper-
ance were numbered, and that the genera
ton of youths now growing up under this
educating influence would see not as their
fathers saw, but as their mothers had taught,
and by their acts in the various fields OF pull
pit, press aud legislative hall would wipe out
the remnant Of the liquor traffic. But at the
present time, and for some years past 1t has
seemed to many loyal members OF
was departing from its original plat
form, and weakening ana running Its
influence by allytng itself with political
party. By this action thousands are pre-
vented from Joining IN the work. and thou.
sands already and always true and loyal
members are obliged to sit in silence under
the rulings of party machinery or hear them
selves branded as disloyal in attempts to
raise their voices In minority protests.
Deeply grieved at the condition of affairs
in the local unions Of Minneapolis, but I'LL
willing to live either in silence or open con-
tention. and relying upon the pledge OF the
national president that tine minority should
be protected number of women resolved
upon organizing separate local union IN
which they could work in freedom and
harmony. Taking the constitution of the state
local unions, and by their acts subscribing to
the national constitution, they organized the
Non-Partisan W. G. Il. q. OF Minneapolis.
The proper dues were forwarded to the state
treasurer, and delegates sent to the state con
venton. Previous to the assembling OF the
convention the money forwarded for the pay
ment of dues was returned to our treasurer,
the state refusing to receive It. After long
discussion the state convention admitted our
union and accepted our delegates, but 1mme-
diately adopted bylaw declaring that no
others holding like beliefs with ourselves
and bearing like name should be eligible to
representation or rights. In the words OF
the convention: mo union will be received
as auxiliary to the state if it adds to the
name W. c. T. q. any mark indicative of
principles or plans. or in any wise modifies
the basis of auxiliaryship as to name. state
ment of object, or payment of dues as set
forth in our constitution and bylaws.
Thus matters remained at the close of the
convention. BY the words of the president
i'll answer to the direct question, the conven-
ton emphatically declared that most de-
eidedly'' no union would be admitted to fut-
ure state conventions bearing the name non
partisan. adding Ito the delegates: " Drop
this word from your name aud 60 home and
pass as strong nti-party resolutions as you
will, but give up your name. Do not answer
me now. sisters; take time and answer to-
morrow" etc. On the morrow, when by
courtesy she should have called up the ques-
ton and given our delegates an opportunity
to answer, she ignored the whole subject and
passed us by. We are therefore lett noml-
nally admitted to the state union for the
year, with the positive declaration that at its
close we must abandon the expression of
principle and sentiment which called US into
existence. We are nominally admitted, but
our dues refused and returned to us. We are
admitted, but told that none others OF our
kind can under any circumstances follow US
into the state union.
We based our claim to a place III the state
union oil the ruling of the national union,
which admitted, on a strictly non partisan
footing. the states of Iowa and Pennsylvania.
Manifestly tine relations Of the local to the
state are analogous to those of the state to
the national We organized in strict con-
formity to the rules of the order: we adopted
the constitution prescribed by the national;
we paid our dues in proper form and selected
the name. Other local unions have done the
same, choosing such Manassas Lucy Hayes"
Frances willard, etc.. to which names no
objection has ever been raised.
not state
and national w. G. Il. U. if by so doing we
must give up any part of our name. We in
tend by IL to express our belief that the great
and holy work Of the W. G. L. U. lies beyond
ana above the lines OF party politics: We
believe that this is also the feeling of vast
numbers of the members of the W. G. T. o.,
who find that through the manipulations Of
its machinery, no opportunity is given them
to express their views save III Intellectual res
outions in local unions and dlsregarded pro-
tests in state and national.
We cannot without total loss OF self-re-
spect and abandonment of principle remain
auxiliary TO the state and nation if we alone
are TO be admitted end other unions organ
lied on the same non-partlsan basis are to be
shut out. The illogical act Of the state con-
vention on this point must be patent to the
most casual observer. and it was worse than
child play to offer US such membership.
We cannot abandon the work of the W. G..
T. U. Some of us have years of toll already
the remaining years of our lives to the pro
motion of its ends. We cannot at the COM
mand of party leaders foIsBe ear our vows and
withdraw, leaving others for their pleasure
the fruits of our labors and the duties dele
gated to US by power higher than they To
Him who hath called us let us answer.
Therefore, Be it resolved by the Non Par
tisan Union of Minneapolis
First-That the name OF this union was
adopted after mature deliberation, and with
.a,a ~ fbev -,
ciples of Christian temperance labor above
the lines of church or party, and we cannot
comply with the request OF the state eonven
ton to change it.
Seeond-That under this name and with
those principles we will pursue the work of
the W. C. T. q. with such force and strength
as are given us-auxiliary to the state and
national if we neutrality-suspicious. if we
must.
Third-That we cordially welcome to our
ranks all who are of like minds and believe
with ourselves. and extend the hand OF aux
iliary fellowship to all local unions which
may IL, the future organize on the basis of
non sectarian, non-partisan W. c. T. Z.
work.
Fourth-That we indorse the proposed
amendment to the National W. G.. T. O. and
adopt the same as our rules of action,
which reads:
Proposed Amendment to the N. W. C. It.
U. Constitution-The object Of this organiza-
ton shall be to interestand unite the women
in this nation in non-Sectarian and non
partisan temperance work; for the reforma-
lion of the Incorporate. and education of
public sentiment in favor of total abstinence
and prohibition of the traffic IN all alcoholic
beverages; for the promotion Of social
purity, the suppression of vice and crime,
and the education of the masses in regard TO
the duties and responsibilities of good cit-
zenship. HARRIET G. WALKER,
CHARLOTTE O. VAN CLEyE.
Mrs. F. E. Towers,
Mrs. S. X. O'NEIL,
Mrs c. w. CoE.