Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-20
THE w. G. T. u. SPLIT.
Mrs. Ellis OF Philadelphia Leads the
Movement-The Call for q Convention.

From the New York Sun
There has been for some time past consider
able friction in the Woman's Christian temper
ance union, which includes thousands of women
workers, on account Of the introduction of
politics into the deliberations of its conven-
tons and the radical views held on this subject
by the leaders Of the organization; and now
open rebellion has been declared and the dis
satisfied faction are organizing themselves into
separate society, whose purpose is to be
identical with that Of the original crusaders.
Mrs. Il. s. Ellis Of Philadelphia seems to be the
leading spirit in the new movement and she is
arranging the details Of national convention
Of the dissenters to be held in Cleveland on
January "a, where the first society was formed
some fifteen years ago. Mrs. Ellis was one of
the earliest and most indefatigable workers in
the union for many years the secretary of the
Philadelphia society and a state organizer.
After the Washington convention, seven years
ago, when politics began to assume form in the
conventions, she withdrew from the union
identified herself with the Woman's temper
ance evangelical alliance, composed of Phila-
delphia women who also disapproved of the
political bias in the parent society, and has
since been their secretary and most efficient
worker.
Mrs. Ellis, in speaking Of the prospects and
purposes of the new society, says that in her
opinion the dissenters number thousands rather
than hundreds and that the political work Of
the union has greatly depleted its ranks. I've
are really the original and genuine W.C.T.U
people," Mrs. Ellis says, though when the
convention is held, We will probably be chris
tened the non-partisan W.C.T.U. In the early
days there was no woman's suffrage agitations
or political alliances, but simple work for the
cause OF temperance alone.
The call for the convention is dated at Cleve-
land, January 6, and signed by the following
representative women: Mrs. Ellen J. Phinney,
Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Ellen NJ. Watson, Pitts.
burg, Pa; Mrs. Harriet G.. Walker, Minneapolis
Mimi; Mrs. Matte NJ. Bailey, Shenandoah
Iowa; Mrs. J. Il. Webster, Monmouth. Ill Mrs
Harry White, Indiana, Pa; Mrs. Florence G.
| Porter, Oldtown. Me-; Mrs. NJ. h. Blake Oak.
| land. CAL. Mrs. Mary j. Aldrich, Cedar Rapids
| Iowa; Mrs III. G. Campbell, Allegheny City
Pa; Mrs. Frances E. Cutler. Charlotte, NC.
Mrs. q. Cornella Afford, Brooklyn, NY; Miss
+. Jennie Duty, Cleveland, Ohio. The call con
| tains the following statements:
10 this meeting we invite not only the
| members OF the Non-Partis Women's Chris
| tian temperance unions, but the women Of
| other unions who believe in non-partisar
| methods Of temperance work and are opposed
| to the partisan alliance Of the national Wet u
| and all women of the independent unions O,
| leagues who have withdrawn from the stat
| and national unions on account of their par
/ tisan allegiance and all women outside OF these
| organizations who are in harmony with ou
principals and methods. The reasons which
| have led to this call have been set forth in ou
statement to the public"