Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-21
AW.C.T.U. SECESSION.
The Non-Partisan Members Contem-
plate a Rival Organization.
AN EX-OFFICER'S SPICY COMMENTS
She Thinks the PetticOats Should Stay Out
of Politics.
A SET OF QUESTIONS PROPOUKDED

The dissatisfied members of the Women's
Christian Temperance Union are making
great strides in the direction of rival or
ganization. The dissatisfied members, that
is those who are opposed to making the w.
C. T. q. partisan and sectarian organiza-
ton, feel that the time for decisive action
has come, and are putting forth all their
energies toward the formation of a society
that shall have neither of these objectional
features. In pursuance of such an object, q
great deal of literature has been circulated,
but up until last week nothing of decided
nature was sent out Then a letter was
written, copies of which were sent out all
over Pennsylvania. One of these copies fell
into the hands of DISPATCH reporter last
night. 1t is as follows:
AS officers of the Bureau of Correspondence
created in the parlors of the Collonade Hotel
Philadelphia Friday evening, October II. 1889
we submit to you the following questions as the
most direct way to ascertain the will of the nom
partisan ladies of Pennsylvania:
Eirst-DO you approve of a non-partisan
policy in the Women's Christian Temperance
Union?
SecoAd-Do you expect the W. c. 7. U. will
ever return to such policy?
Thlrd-By longer remaining in society
auxiliary to partisan organization DO we not
Fourth-Do you think it desirable at a time
in the near future to call State conference OF
non-partlsans to consider a new organization
ALEADING QUESTION.
Firth-If division ensues, Will you join and
work with the non-partisan organization
Sixth-How many in your locality Tor
county, are now ready to join women's
Christian temperance society organized on
permanently non-partisan and non-sectarian
basis
Please ascertain as quickly as possible and
report IN week to the one sending you this
letter. Add anything remarkable. Give your
MRS. HARRY WHITE, President
Miss NJ. S. SHEPARD, Secretary,
Mansfield, Tioga county, Pa
The above letter covers the ground pretty
thoroughly, and shows that the dissatisfac-
ton now existing can only end by the forma-
tion of q rival society. The W. G. T. q.
ladies in this vicinity are adverse to talking
on the subject, but one Of them, who lives
in Allegheny, and who was prominent on
the Johnstown Relief Committee, gave the
reporter scme information. She said:
'For long time some members of the W.
C. T. U. have been dissatisfied with the
gradual trend toward partisan and sectarian
policy in the organization, but nothing was
done until the last State Convention, held
in Philadelphia. There the actions of those
who uphold partisan principles and believe
in political methods OF work became so un-
bearable that the non-partlsans met and
formed a sort of temporary organization,
with the intention of making it permanent
and national, if necessary. This letter you
show me is from the correspondence bureau
of that temporary organization. We have
not yet seeded; that is, no concerted action
of secession has been taken, though the
Chester county ladies have withdrawn and
formed the Chester County Christian Tenn
perance League. The other members have
taken no action, but am certain that
powerful non-partisan national organization
can be effected"
PETTIcoATs IN POLITICS.
'What does the W. C. T. o. see in mix
ing with politics, anyhow" continued the
lady. 'fIf its members should make appli-
cation to our State Legislature for anything
do you think they would get it? Not much.
Another thing. there are plenty of tenn
peranee organizations that have men among
their members, but you never hear of them
taking part in politics. Then why should
the W. C. T. o., composed exclusively of
women as it is, do so? The members cannot
vote and therefore politicians look upon
their actions as being nothing less than
And look at the lengths to
which they go. In Philadelphia, one of the
finest educated young ladies in that city, and
a member of one of the best families, was
forcibly elected from the convention be-
cause she was not of the same way of think
ing SIS the partisans.
"This non-partisan organization will get
as members all the quiet, retiring ladies vino
never speak in a convention because
they are disgusted with the spread
eagle oratory and ward-political methods of
the partisan members. The ladies look to
God, and not the politicians, for aid in Sc
curing the object for which they were or
ganized.
I'VE non-sectarians have no interest in
what some preachers may say of US. We
have our own opinions as to which are the
weeds and which the flowers in the garden
Of temperance work"
1t was learned that very few OF the letters
have been sent to Pittsburg, but more are
expected to follow.