The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-13
A STORMY SESSION.
EIISSE:S AND CRIES OF "SIT'
DOWN" FROM THE LADIES.
a Warm Discussion of the Nom
Partisan Amendment to the w.
Z. r. u. Constitution i'll Chicago
YESTERDAY,


CHICAGO, November 12.-When the ses-
sion OF the w. c. T. L. convention at
battery ID armory was opened this morn
ing, it WAS known that a storm was
coming on, for during the session of YES
tcrdav, at the motion of Mrs. Aldrich
and Mrs J. Ellen Foster, of Iowa, con
sideratiOn Of the proposed non-partiSan
amendment to the constitution of the or
ganiza ton was set down for to-day. The
amendment provides that the objects OF
he w. {. T. u. shall he to interest and
unite Christian women of this nation in
1on-seCtnrlan and nOn-partiSan temper
anCe work for the reformation of the in
temperate, and the education of public
sentiment in behalf of total abstinence,
and the prohibition of the traffic in alco-
holic liquors, development ofsocial purity,
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
he debate that the feeling of the conven-
lion was overwhelmingly against the
proposed amendment. Delegates were
not disposed to listen to the speeches of
women who favored the adoption, and
several times there was kissing and cries
h sit down"
In moving the amendment, Mrs AL
erich, of Iowa. said she wished the con.
vcntIUn to accept it because It was sim
ply right and Just and honest. She said
tncrc was no definite statement of the
Objects of the organization in the consti-
tuition. w. {. 7. L. women occupied an
anomalous position, because they de
clarcd themselves non-partiSan and yet
adopted the most partisan resolutions.
Women associated in the organization
had political rights although no Suf.
Iragc, and ii was wrong for the majority
to adopt resolutions binding all the wo-
men to support certain political party.
1t was Just us wron: for Il woman to
give way her political influence as for
man to sell his vote
Mrs. Henry, of Evanston, ILL.,. Mrs.
Wells, of Tennessee; Mrs. II. NJ. Barker,
of South Dakota; Mrs. Perkins, of Ohio;
Mrs. Buell., the National Secretary, and
others spoke in opposition to the adop-
tlon OF the amendment as reflection on
the previous action of the union, and
declaring that the union was non-parti-
son, being ready to support any party
winch would put prohibition plank in
its platform.
Mrs, J. Ellen Foster then spoke She
said, the convention was partisan,
despite its declaration to the contrary.
The names of honorable men in the re-
publican party had been dragged in the
mud on the convention platform.
repeat" She said, that the convention
is partisan. Partisanin feeling, partisan
in its assaults on republican statesmen"
Kisses interrupted the speaker. "Yes,
and those Misses are partisan. They
come from delegates themselves and not
from spectators"
A motion was made to indefinitely
postpone the discussion. 1t was voted
down. The question was then called on
the amendment. About fifty votes cried
for its adoption, but the great bulk of
delegates shouted against it. Miss Will
lard, as chairman, declared the amend
mcnt lost.