Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1889-11-15
Exciting Scenes Characterize the
Sessions of the Order in
Chicago.
Difficulties Over the Non-Parti-
san Amendment End in Iowa
Delegates Boiling.
Storms Of Kisses and Hurrahs from
the Christian Women--A Scene
of Wild Confusion.

ShlSAoos NOV. IO,--lue ITSt lIupOTc
ant business of the morning session of
the w. c. r. U. was the presentation of
the following amendment to the consti-
tuition by the Iowa delegation: Its (the
union's) objects shall be to institute a
unity Of Christian women of this nation
in non-sectarian and non-partisan tenn
perance work for the reformation of the
Incorporate and the education of the
public sentiment in behalf of total absti-
nence and the prohibition of alcoholic
liquor, the development of purity, the
suppression of vice and crime, and the
education of the masses in the duties and
responsibilities of citizenship"
Mrs. Aldrich, of Iowa, opened the de-
bate. She favored the adoption of the
proposed amendment because the consti-
tuition contained no statement of def
mite object and this would supply the
deficiency. 1t would remove dissatisfac-
tion and confusion. The convention had
no right to interfere with any ones po-
ltical influence. That should belong ex-
elusively to the individual and any other
line of partisanship would not be Just.
1t was evident from the commence
ment of the discussion that the feeling
of the convention was Overwhelmingly
against the proposed amendment Many
of the delegates in opposing it character
lied 1t as reflection upon the previous
course of the w. G. T. u, and its pre-
yiOus claims to non-partisanship. Mrs.
Foster, of Iowa, who favored the amend
ment, made passionate speech which
was frequently interrupted by misses and
words of disapproval, although applauded
at some points. Choking with emotion
as she waved her arms she declared the
organization to be partisan inasmuch as
it had given preference and allegiance
and support to one party. Upon this
platform, she said, the sentiment that
non-partisan meant Republican had
been applauded by this great body of
women, and from this platform the
names of honored men in the Republican
party had been derided. This statement
was followed by perfect storm of pro-
tests and the speaker was Kissed loudly.
1t was an injustice, the speaker said,
that any woman should be called here to
be compelled to submit to the invasion
of her political preferences at the will of
a majority.
A vote was then taken on the amend
ment and it was showed under by the
votes of the great bulk of the delegates,
only the Iowa delegation and probably
forty other delegates voting in its favor.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
In the evening the majority report
from the committee on resolutions was
presented to the convention. Touching
the non-partisan question it reads as fol-
lows: I'VE believe it is vital to the tenn
perance reform that the principle of pro-
hibition be made the dominant issue in
American politics. We therefore give
our approval to that party only which
declares in its platform for prohibition
state and national, and stands in action for
its application to law"
A minority report was then brought in
by Mrs. Matte Bailey, of Iowa, which
declared it unjust and unwise for the or
ganization to pledge its influence or allie
glance to any political party, but it re-
ceived only the votes of the Iowa dele
gates. The majority report was adopted
by an almost unanimous vote.
IOWA DELEGATES BoITED.
The Iowa delegation bolted the con-
vention just as the evening session was
about to close. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, the
chairman of the delegation, rose and read
a very long protest in which she reviewed
the fight which the Iowa delegation
had waged against the body of the con-
vention on the non-partisan issue. She
stated that the consistent opposition of
the Iowa delegates had been met by re-
bluffs and insults until forbearance was
no longer virtue. The other members
of the delegation, with the exception of
Mrs. Carhart, rose and went out of the
hall with Mrs. Foster. 4
Miss Willard announced that the out
come had been long expected and that
the patience and forbearance of the w.
c. T. U. in the matter had no equal in
history. There was confusion of Misses
and hurrahs as the Iowa delegation left
the room. The convention authorized
the executive committee to immediately
take steps to rearrange the union in
Iowa. The convention also adopted res
olutions condemning the vice president
for having ''openly allied himself with
the liquor dealers of the nation;" discoun-
tenancing all union Of state and church;
complimenting President Harrison for
forbidding military reviews and parades
on Sunday, and the postmaster general
for reducing the amount Of Sunday pos
tai work, and declaring in favor of full
franchise for women.