The Somerset reporter., 1890-11-06

4 our Influence. express our gratitude All
and good viii and ofer our prsyefs -
any society IN church or state that Ia
for its watch1ord, The saloon nus
60
The. passage Of tbs resolution = D
especial interest 70 many Who are IA
mil.ar with the issue that has been made
between two factions Of this society fot
It relares not only " the present sttitud.
Of the w. {. I. L. towards political par
ties but deals with the past history Of
this organization.
Because Of this issue, involving a. il
does the question Of partisanship, 8 div
ision has come and ne1 national Guion
Effected.
Different states are also organizing %
declared non partisan basis, and, there
has recently been formed the Maine Non
Partisan ". c. T [. with quite good.y
number Of auxiliary Unions.
In the light Of this resolution Just
passed by the Maine ". {. T. L TIE
question naturally arises, Has his Non.
Partisan W. c. 7. [. 4 raison ae,re: or
has the separation come because Of the
agitation Of few maicontents, and there
are really no justhabie grounds for such
radical action.
Ia reading the assertion embodied in
the resolutinn that the Maine ". {. T. t.
always has been non partisan, there
comes up also the question.
From what has the pubic generally re
ceiyed the impression that this society
is, or has been, exceedingly partisan i'll
its attitude towards political party:
By what are We to Judge Of the prin-
ciples and aims Of any organized body !:
BY printed AID su,hentic records, res0iu-
lions, and Official utterarces, and this
testimony ought 10 De considered coed
and. sufficient evidence by all candid
minds
A careful study Of the State minutes
for the past i've years fu- nishes un-
deniaple proof that by resolutions at
least the W. {. I. L. OF Maine has been
partisan and the non-partisan issue q
iustidaDle one unless as Hosea BigeIow
quantity says. To say one thing and
mean another comes pat'rai 10 women"
The first shaping Of the ". c. 1. L.
towards the Endorsement Of political
party came from 3 resolution sd5p-
ted by the National Convention
at Detroit in l,s5. and at the same
time there " as also ordered the memo
ria! 10 the four political parties asking
lOI pIDLlJlLOEl lts94uLlBL-
The prohibition party adopted this res
olution and the i've general Ulcers of
the National " {. T. l. Issued a card
saying that since the prohiJitory party
had lndorseu the memorial .hey were
bound TO take IL part.
The first annual convention Of the
Name W {. I. l. that convened after
this na.lonal conviction il Detroit was
held III September, ISL
here 49, AZ aHaet saErezt 81 excite
ment in the Minds Of sUme who fe.t that
h new departure was about 10 be insugu-
rated, but the rank and HE OF Tie W {.
/. |. practically knew nothing of any
polit.cal movement.
The national president was there,
loved admired and honored.
While the Committee on resolutions
was busy at work, the State president
came along and said. Have you Miss
WIZARDS resolution:l want that to be
sure and go IN.
This resolution caused some debate
among the committee, and in reporting
the same TO the convention the chair
man said in earnest tones, This is
resolution requiring very grave consider
alton, Debate followed the motion
for its adoption, but it was passed, a.
though not without strong opposition.
This resolution was almost an exact
copy of the one passed by the National
Union al Detroit the year before, and
was as follows.
Rfsotrei, Tha; We viii lend our influence to
that party oy Whaie,eI name called which fur
nishes tie best embodiment Of prohibition
principles and promises most for tAe protec-
ton OF home.
At the ueNt annual convention of the
National al s.. Louis in lesl occurring a
few weeks after the Maine CONVENTION
at Gard uer) the National Union desig-
mated the party by name, saying il one
Of Its resolutions As We now know
which national party gives US the de
sired embodiment of the principles for
which our tel years labor has been ex-
pended, We will continue 10 lend our III
Thence to the political organization
which declares in its platform for ns-
tioual prohibition and nome protection"
Following this lead of the National
Union, at the Maine State convention
held in Bangor in September, lse6, this
partisan resolution was adopted -
"Reso!v.3, Tha, We indorse the action Of the
National ". {. /. |. ii lending its influence
10 the national prohibition party, recognizing
of prohibition principles and the suresi pfotee-
ton to our homes.
At this State convention In Bangor, at
which Mrs. Mary I. Lathrop was the
distinguished speaker, the following
resolution framed by Mrs Mary \. Liver
more WAS submitted as q minority report.
Res5lrtd That while We declare our un.werv-
ing loyalty to the National ". I. I. [. IN all
of its established departments Of work and
while there guaranteed 10 each individual
member the fullest freedom Of personal opinion
and individual action as viii strictly maintain
a nuu-pattisan and absolutely non. political
in our temperance work, believing tha, A. an
educational, moral aud religious organization
We shall euJey the confidence and receive the
cooperation Of frieLds OF temperance Of all
classes and in political parties.
The next State convention was in
Auburn in sept. lsS7 and the minutes on
page 2S records THIS resolution
Rrsolr,i. We believe the watchword Of the
hour Is God IL government and that the part,
Of the future Will be the one that recognizes the
Wonderful Councillor, rcseres His words anu
promises To stand as Unit on the platform ot
prohibition OF the use, manufacture and salt
OF lntoNlcdBts, and belesins that natoua. pro
hbtion will never be an assured success ur-
I'll political power becomes dominant thst Is
committed not only to the securing oflaw. but
the enforcing OF penalty, We pledge cur warnlts'
sympaihies, our work and our prayers 10 tint
one party which has the purpose, And We iI.i,
believe viii have the power ~ rd.t out the
dramshopS from our IaLd.-Ils A.'ttH I'u-
hlttion Party
AT Bath III ls>s II wsS resolved. "Tha;
we reailirm our loyalty 10 the prohibition
party and thank the Indianapolis con
yention for recognizing the right of the
acknowledgements of women.
At Bar Harbor in 1889 the State con-
vention passed this resolution by vote
of III in favor, l. opposed.
Resolved. That we hereby renew our aegi-
gance TO the National W. c. L. L. and the
assurance OF our good will and prayers to those
brave men of our State and nation who dedi-
Gated their ballots to the only party which has
declared for the protection OF our homes by
OF the law.
BY the adoption of these resolutions re
CARELESS of the protest of minority and
also through the annual address of the
president III which the fallacy of non
partissnship is claimed and the necessity
Of national prohibition party was
urged, the public generally has come to
regard the Maine W. c. 7. L. as par.
tisan body, that Is an adherent of po-
litical party, although many local unions
have never done party work.
And to further confirm this fact of
partisanahip in the minds of the people
are the words of Miss Willard in her an