Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-07
PURE PAN-PART|SAN
Is What Miss Willard Calls
the National W. C. T. U.
MRS. FOSTER CALLED DOWN
For Retaining Her Place on the Old
Executive Board.
MISS WILLARD A FAITH CURIST

Miss Frances E. Willard, President of
the Worlds and of the National w. c. I.
U., was in the city for a few hours last
evening, on her way to Blairsville and In
diana, expecting to return next Tuesday
for the Allegheny County w. c. I. .. Con-
venrion, and to speak in Pittsburg that
evening. In reply to the questions OF a
DISPATCH reporter Miss Willard said, in
substance:
1.-THE W. c. T. Q. is neither partisan nor
non-partisan, when you consider those terms
in a strict sense, though we have been
called and have called ourselves by both
those names 1t all depends upon ones
point of view. II you look at great noun
tain or q great character under one angle of
vision, it presents one aspect, but when your
point of view is changed its appearance is
altogether different. So it is with great
movement. In our organic law, our plans of
work and our departments the W. c. 7. q.
is altogether non-partisaI.
NEVER INTERESTED FINANCIALLY.
mot a dollar has ever gone from its treas
ury to the Prohibition party, and it has,
unhappily, no ballots to bestow. But at its
annual conventions the w. C. T Q. adopts
resolutions expressive of the sense of the
majority on all the chief features of the
temperance reform for that year. In later
years it has been our custom in most States
to adopt resolution in favor of any political
movement that favored the temperance
cause; thus, in Iowa and Kansas the w. c.
T. q. has expressed repeatedly, in its an
nual conventions, its thanks, and sometim IS
its fealty to the Republican party that has
in those States done so much for prohibition,
and in Kansas has given the municipal bal
lot to women.
al was present in South Dakota when 200
delegates in the w. c. T. U. Convention
last tall pledged their influence, with prac-
ticaf unanimity, to the Republican party
there, because it had declared for prohibi-
ZION, both State and national. The same con-
vention also thanked the minority of Demo-
Gratis who, in their party convention, had
voted for plank in favor of constitutional
prohibition. But in most of the States as is
well known, We cannot indorse either of
these parties. because they are so made up that
they cannot safely declare for prohibition.
LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSELVES.
THE law of self-preservation is the first law
of nature, and they cannot be expected to put
the knife to their own throats by Indorslng
that which the bolting members of their party
will not tolerate-hence they are silent on the
subject Of prohibition. But in a republic the
side always wins that has most votes; laws get
upon the statute books by the suffrages of men
who were the candidates of opposing parties
and who, when Greek met Greek at the ballot
box, had the most votes.
"A reform measure cannot be carried by
being voted against hence the W. c. T. U. be-
lieves that II should favor the party thai favors
prohibition. We are, then, as our record
shows. most correctly described by the phrase
pan-partisan; that is, we favor any and all par
ties that favor prohibition. But, as / have
often said, we could not as national society,"
consent to remain in rel -tions of equal friend
ship toward one national party that ignored
another that denounce |. and third that es-
poused the cause of prohibition. For while we
are pan-partisan, and always have been, in the
outlook of society-by which mean that
we are ready, as has been proved. to express our
appreciation of any party that expresses Its
appreciation of prohibitory law-I have no dis |
position to blink the fact that we are in the |
habit of passing resolutions annually in the |
National w. e. T. U. favorable to the national |
Prohibition party.
WHY IT WAS NDoRsED.
Indeed. we have done SO, calling that party /
by name, since, in 1854. presented to each ma |
tional political convention petition from the |
National w. c. T. u, asking for a plank in |
theIr platforms favorable to the submission of |
a prohibitory amendment to the National Con- |
stitution, and all declined except the Prohibi-
ton party.
but that resolution does not bind the minor |
ity, for we explicitly declare in one of our by
laws that no auxiliary is bound by any principle /
avowed or plan of work devised by the Ma
Iional w. C. I. U. The resolution simply eX-
presses the consensus of conviction in the ma
jority. For years Rhode Island did not vote
with US, and she was never coerced into a
change of attitude. Iowa has opposed the |
resolution, and has been free TO do SO; indeed
the President of its w. c. I. U. heads the
seeding movement and Still remains a mem |
Der OF the Executive Committee of the Ma
tlonal w. c. T. U.
I'VE claim to know something of the mean
ing of tolerant spirit toward those from
whom we differ. We claim that in passing our
annual resolutions we do injustice to any,
but maintain the right of free speech. A con-
ference of ministers has many a time passed |
resolutions declaring that it would vote for no
party that would not declare for prohibition.
Usually minority of those ministers have been
Republicans and has gone its way in peace
voting for its Republican candidates as though |
nothing had happened. and surely that minor
ity was in no wise oppressed
FOLLOWING THE WHITE FLAG.
"The fact is we white ribbons believe that
we ought to follow the white flag OF prohibition
wherever it may be displayed. If this is
partisan-and, so far as the resolution is con-
cerned, it is-we are prepared to say So.
in early years we did, in a few instances
send delegates to Prohibition party conven.
tions, but this has long since ceased-except
as women 60 by election through prohibition
clubs or county conventions, and though Tor
years a member of the National Executive
Committee of the National Prohibition marty
I have resigned that office.
But firmly believe there is to be political |
movement in this country. and one that will
make itself felt force in the next Presidential
campaign to which the Prohibition party will
afford nucleus in which the farmers and wage
workers will Join, and which, with the name of
Reform or Home Protection party shall unite
the progressive forces of the Republic in a
square battle with the saloons in law and poll
tics. When that day comes the w. c. r. Z |
will take sides with that movement and in
Gods name will dare to take the conse-
quences."
MISS WILLARD A FAITH-CURIST.
Miss Frances E. Willard honored a meeting
of the Faith Healers In Bethany Home last
evening with her presence. 1t was not her in
tention to make an address, but the colored
''aunty" of the Home inspired her to do SO by
singing stirring religious hymns. Miss Willard
is a firm believer in the ability and willingness
of Christ to become ones physical as well as
moral physician, if such desire is made mani
fest.
After the meeting an informal reception.
with introductiOns to Miss Willard, was in
order.
LIQUOR PEDDLERS' TROUBLES.