The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-09
TEMPERANCE WORKERS SESSION
Annual Gathering OF the ". .C.Tu.-HeaNy
Decrease In Membership.

| Annual Gathering ot the W. N.t.b t.--heaNN y
Decrease In Membership.
CnIcAon. Nov. s.-The sixteenth annual
convention OF the National Woman's
Christian Temperance Union met here this
morning with four or five hundred dele
gntes present from all parts OF the country.
The morning session was devoted TO the
reading of scriptures and prayers,
A majority of the convention are strongly
| in favor of an alliance with the third party,
vet cannot conceal their anxiety ms to the
| attitude of the minority. who believe in
non- partisan action. II the Iowa union
withdraws, the breach will be irreparable.
Last year the national officers claimed 10000
| local unions with a membership of aOO.OOO.
| To-day the official reports showed 1000
| local unions with membership of li2, It's.
| Among the number which have withdrawn
are such unions as Minneapolis, Cleveland,
and Chester county, Penn, the latter COM
prsing sixty unions. Such startling figures
disturb the eQuanimity of the organization.
and make evident the fact that dissatisfac-
ton has made a strong impression.
This afternoon was devoted to the husi-
ness of the union. the usual committees
being appointed and reports from the exec
utiye committee, treasurer and other officers
read. Miss Francis i. Willar president Of
the society, delivered her animal address to-
night. In the beginning she said patriotism
had always been her religion. and contin-
ued "You are in Chicago, and the Cronin
murder trial is in full blast. The national
flag WAS Missed and the red hag OF the com
mune applauded not far from here put q
few weeks ago. The experiment of free gov
ernment in our large towns and cities IL
failure confessed by the men themselves,
nor are the reasons for this monumental
catastrophe mysterious. America has be-
come the dumping ground of European
cities. immigration has steadily deteri-
GRATED in proportion as its quantity has
grown To-day we have hundred thou
sand anarchists among us. Multiplication
Of conventions, enormous accumulations of
| capital, corporate combinations and the
octopus grip of the trust render our wage
workers uneasy. Note the sullen look ON
| the grimy facts in mine and mandatory
and ON the Streets read the labor organs Of
| the day and see if well-to-do Americans
are not asleep on the edge Of volcano"
Turning to politics, Miss Willard said;
"Let il never be forgotten that we who are
here represent a national movement; that
il is our special prerogative 10 note politi-
cal signs of promise along the national
horizon, and yonder We see two great old
warships battering each other on the high
seas of presidential campaign. We see
that high tariff and free trade, the spoils Of
office, the glittering prizes Of position and
of ambition, engage them together, while in
To view comes a cleaning sail that tell uH
she is launched ON the wave, the good ship
prohibition, the wave Of humanity, bound
less and free. Are We afraid "a send our
blessings out after that ship across the
stormy water or 10 ask heaven y blessings on
| ha Lra xyhA ta.l FOR ~,
Nay-'sink or swim, live or die, ssrvive OF
perish we have sounded forth the trumpet
that shall never retreat"
! Miss Willard recommended that they ask
congress 10 pass an amendment TO the inter
state law fofbidding the bringing of alco-
holic liquors into prohibition states also
that they work for the Blair educational
bill and the Blair prohibitory amendment
TO the national constitution, and for a Law
forbidding the manufacture Of cigarettes
and one against smoking in waiting rooms
and postofiices. She said the thanks Of the
convention were due President Harrison fol
directing that no liquor be sold on
the reservation in Washington: to Secretary
Wansmaker for his pronounced declaration
in favor Of prohibition and Sabbath obser-
vance, and added; "our protest should he
sent TO Vice President Morton for permit
ting saloon under his new hotel. II WIS
|
the enemy of prohibition. but that
he would thus outrage Christinn sentiment
by personal alliance with the liquor traffic
no one would believe but for indisputablC
proofs" In conclusion Miss Willard paid
an eloquent tribute 10 the memory of th,
late Mrs. Hayes aud. referring to the prom.
inence of that lady and the ex-president IN
the temperance movement, sud: Total
abstinence never had such standard bearers
M this noble pair
Brief addresses were made by Gen Neal
Dow. Mother Stewart. of Ohio; Mrs. Judg,
Foster. president of the w. G. 4. 4. in Can.
anda, and Miss Mamie Phelps. Of Toronto
Mrs. Caroline ID. Buell. corresponding sec
retary of the society, read an extensive re-
view Of IFS work during the pasi twelve
years. This hns been n year mndc memora
hle by defents, added Mrs. Buell.. First
New Hampshire refused 90 make prohibi
tory law. Massachusetts, followed and 10y
n majority of i6,6ai stepped down FROM M,
lofty pinnacle of reform and gave herself
in passive obedience 10 the liquor oligarchy
But our hopes, if we have any. centered on
Pennsylvania only 10 he met by defect, and
Rhode Island tbrave little "Rhody''l !. where
the w. G. 4. L. had left no stone unturned
and had found no task too hard. was
stabbed in the home of her friend; and
Connecticut, with all her ancient traditions
her religious history WAS given over 60 the
powers Of darkness by the tremendous ma
jority of 1889. But these defeats should
teach us lesson. There are conditions Ia
be observed. Congress must be metamor-
phosed and state legislatures changed. and
this seems well nigh impossible when, after
following wrong methods for years, we cut
entirely loose from them and make straight
foHthe point desired.