The Portland daily press., 1889-02-05
THE w. c.. TT.
The Issue Between the Minority and
the Majority.

[By Florence c. Porter.l
The controversy Ia the ranks of the w. Y.
L. U. should not be a reflection upon the
Christian spirit of the participants for DIS
putations are not necessarily involved in the
discussion Of the issue between the minority
and the majority. Because of the express
sion of opinions contrary tosthose OF Others
reforms have come In the past and are lKeiy
to come In the future. The cause Of the con-
troyersy is widely known. It's not simple
difference Of opinion relating especially 10
the organization itself The W. Q. I. U. mas
made its political work national question
and through 1t seeks 70 do a national work.
Therefore discussion of the wisdom or ex-
pediency of its policy by its own members
and those interested in moral reforms, Is
perfectly proper and justifable
Mnorties and majorities always exist in
large cooperative bodies and the rule of the
majority is the inst one on which our repub-
lican form of government rests, but the
claims of the minority should ever De re-
spected. The W. G. T. U. is inconsistent in
its relation towards the minority. II its
premises are correct 1t should boldly avow
that party politics is the fundamental law of
its organization and expect from its followers
faithful adherence to its political teachings
Members could not then be placed in the
anomalous position they now occupy because
in joining they would accede to, if not be-
lieve, in its conditions of membership.
To say that the sole work of the W. G. L.
U. Is political, is unjust, for many wise re-
forms and needed charities are carried on by
its manifold departments; but before the
election the General Officers. some of the
late presidents. together with members OF
the different unions, were actively engaged
as speakers in the campaign, carrying the in ].
fiuence of the organization with them and
giving to 1t a political character not hitherto
assumed.
Now that the election is over their words
have not the publicity but Though they
cease from their labors their works do fol-
low them" The leaven that has been placed
| in the meal is expected to leaven the lump
but the minority are implored not to disturb
it for fear the fermentation may be overdOne
and sour the whole batch! The auxi,iaries
are officially requested not to allow any agi-
tation. The Injustice to the minority in this
lies in the fact that the political question
will be kept in the background; men and
women of all creeds and parties will contrib
ute TO the Advancement of the. different de-
partnents, everything is considered, or de-
sired to be considered, non-partisaD. until
the time OF the county and State conventions.
Then withthe greatest unanimity, wholly
unprecedented OF course, the regulation or
der Of resolutions lending sympathy to the
only party that gives US the best emDody-
ment of prohibition principle" Is passed. III
any members dissent they are intimidated by
| the charge of "Republicanism,' or IFS twin
| bugab0o, the advocacy OF High License.
| Conservative women are afraid to act up
to their own convictions because OF this
| charge
! There are many who say in their hearts
II wish the w. @. L. U. had never touched
| politics" and yet vote for these resolutions
| or allow them to pass without opposition.
! Others have allowed the theoretical rather
| than the practical side of the question to in
| nuence them. The speakers and leaders at
| all the large conventions are advocates OF
| party prohibition and an argument Is hardly
| ever heard from non-partisan side for
for lack of somebody to present it Under
such conditions there's no need for the man
ifesto that "the minority is STEADILY decreas-
Ing" 1t cannot be otherwise under such
regime.
The minority does not question the hon.
esty of the opinions of the majority, but it
does feel that spirit of intolerance prevails
towards the opinions of the minority at va
rance with the Gospel of Sweet Reasona-
bleness." This feeling is magnifed, per-
haps, by various publications.
Dissenting forces in Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts and Maine are represented as
uplmportant, remote, obscure, ignorant or
willfully malicio as. Under these conditions
tne nOn-partlSan women are brought TO lace
the question: "Shall we withdraw from the
organization or shall we remain and silently
acquiesce to what in our hearts we believe to
be detrimental to our work ?"
Dlsintegration may come In the ranks of
| the w. @. I. u, 1t has come already, in fact,
but this does not imply the decay or falling
| to pieces of so large and well organized a
body. The change will be in the character
and purpose of the organization. Those
| who are in sympathy with its political posi-.
tion will stay in and fall in; those who are
not viii fall out, but continue to do temper
ance work, let us hope. in some other way.
1 If there can be no receding from the posi-
tion now occupied on the politica
| question, as is so often affirmed, there can bt
no other alternative to non-partisan women