Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-11-14
A ROW IN THE W. C. I. ..
THE low A DELEGATION BOLTS THE
CONVENTION.

An Amendment to the Constitution Causes
the Disagreement-Mrs. Foster Makes
an Impassioned Speech, Which Is Fre-
quentIy interrupted by Kisses and
Words of Disapproval-lhe Amend
ment Defeated.
CHICAGO, Nov. I3.-The first import
ant business of Tuesday mornings ses-
sion of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance union was the presentation of the
following amendment to the constitution
by the Iowa delegation:
Its (the union's) object shall be to in
stitute a unity of Christian women Of
this nation in non-sectarian and nom
partisan temperance work for the re-
formation of the incorporate and the
education of the public sentiment in be-
half of total abstinence and the prohibi-
ton of alcoholic liquor; the develop
ment 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 con-
stitution contained no statement of a
definite object and this would supply the
deficiency. 1t would remove dissatisfac-
ton and confusion. The convention had
no right to interfere with any ones
political influence. That should belong
exclusively to the individual, and any
other line of partisanship would not be
just.
Against the Proposed Amendment.
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, charac-
terized it as reflection upon the previ-
Gus course of the Woman's Christian
Temperance union and its previous
claims to non-partisanship.
Mrs. Foster, of Iowa, who favored the
amendment, made passionate speech,
which was frequently interrupted by
misses and words of disapproval. al
though 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 had been applauded
by this great body of women that nom
partisan meant Republican, and from
this platform the names of honored men
in the Republican party had been de-
rided. This statement was followed by
perfect storm of protests and the
speaker was Missed loudly. twas an in
justice. the speaker said, that any
woman should be called here to be COM
PEELED to submit to the invasion of her
political preferences at the will of the
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.
In the afternoon a number of interest
ing addresses and reports were read.
Mrs. S. A. McClees. of New Jersey, who
read the report on ''Soldiers and Sailors. :"
announced that President Harrison had
fust sent out an order forbidding the
sale of liquor bv suffers in military
camps. The convention adopted vote
of thanks to Gems Schofield and Howard
for the example of total abstinence set
by them for their interiors.
Prohibition to be the Issue.
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: 1--WE believe it is vital to the
temperance reform that the principle of
prohibition be made the dominant issue
in American politics. We therefore
give our approval to that party only
| which declares in its platform for pTohi-
bition in state and nation and stands in
action for its application to law
A minority report was brought in by
Mrs. Matte Bailey, of Iowa, which de-
clared it unjust and unwise for the or
ganization to pledge its influence or al
ceived only the votes of the Iowa dele
gates. The majority report was adopted
by an almost unanimous vote.
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 very long protest, in which she
reviewed the fight which the Iowa dele
cation had waged against the body of
the convention on the non-partisan
issue. The other members of the dele
cation, with the exception of Mrs. Car
hart, rose and went out of the hall with
Mrs. Foster.
Miss Willard announced that the out
come had been long expected, and that
thepatience and forbearance of the w.
c. T. U. in the matter had no equal in
history. There was a confusion of
misses as the Iowa delegat1n left the
room.
The convention also adopted resolu-
tions condemning the vice pres ident for
having 'openly allied himself with the
liquor dealers of the nation"