Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-28
THE WAR Is RAGING.
A Bomb Shell Fired at the NOn-Par-
tiSan Leader, Mrs. Foster.
EAGLE EYES TO WATCH SECEDERS.
A Subcommittee Appointed Especially for
That Purpose.
TIE SITUATION GROWING SERIOUS


columns yesterday that fight for supremacy
would be inaugurated between the nom
partisan and the partisan W. G. 7. o. or
ganizations, it was not supposed that the
war was even then raging. A sub-commit-
tee of the National Executive Committee of
the w. c. T. u. consisting of Mrs. Mary
Lathrop, of Michigan; Mrs. Henrietta L.
Monroe, of Ohio; Mrs. Fannie Rastall, OF
Kansas, and Miss Elizabeth Tobey, of Mas
sachusetts, have prepared under instruc-
tions a review of Truth in the Case a
book given to the public some weeks before
the recent Chicago Convention. The circu-
lar issued is principally a severe TRADE on
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster and other women who
assisted her in writing the book. Space
will permit but extracts of the review, -
which the committee promises to follow
with others on specific points, brought up
at various times by the differences between
the two organizations.
After stating that Mrs. Fosters book is a
vigorous and bitter attack on the National
W. c. T. o., its policy, methods and gen.
eral officers and an argument beforehand
for the Campbell amendment" by which
it was proposed to bring the organization
into harmony with the position held by
Iowa, the circular reads:
This book written, as we are told in the pre-
face, at the request of many "outside as we'll
as inside the W. c. 7. u, for general circula-
tion and frequent reference" has been sent
abroad with lavish generosity. Whatever else
it may accomplish, threefold mission burdens
It's pages.
First-To make pretentious argument and
sophistical defense for the Iowa position, and
those who are full svmDathV with il.
Second-ro stir up strife and divisions IN
the ranks of the w. c. T. u; to discourage
the whisperer. "divide chief friends"
Third-To furnish weapons ready sharpened
for the hands of the enemy and give aid and
comfort to the wrong side in the great battle
for God and Home and Country" in which
the w. c. T. U. is engaged; such is the book
which demands that answer shall be made.
THE ROAST CONTINUES.
Admitting that all associations worthy of
life must come to questions OF principle, and
citing points of division reached by the w.
c. T. o., the paper continues:
The first new test of loyalty introduced.
because it was the first departure from the
original compact, was the basis of representa-
tion. This affected the financial status Of
eVery State comDelled cha ange IN their consti-
tutions. and in the final action touched every
member The proposition when first brought
to the convention failed of passage, but the
minority agitated, until it educated major
ity and won.
When the change came in lawful fashion,
large protesting minority remained yet uncon-
vinced; but nothing was heard in those days
about Infringing on their rights" or any
doubt as TO the righteous supremacy of major
tiles, F" so there was loyal submission to this
new law that reached with binding power into
every State.
frage. This sharply divided the union into
three classes.
First-Those who desired to bring the agita-
tion for woman's ballot Into the activities of the
W. G. I. U.
Second-Those who believed in suffrage for
women, but opposed introducing so disturbing
an issue into the society.
Third-Those opposed to woman suffrage in
itself considered
To the first class Mrs. Foster belonged, if she
told 'the truth in the case;' and largely on
that growing issue Miss Willard was elected
President of the National Union. No "diplo-
macy of effort or craftiness of expression" de-
ceived Mrs. Foster in that long struggle.
After stating that Mrs. Foster was always
an open and aggressive Fighter" and no
one could doubt which part of the field she
occtpied on equal suffrage and municipal
suffrage for women, and that her argument
in this direction was calculated to divide
the membership, the circular proceeds:
THE WORLDS GLASSES.
Verify, the world is composed of three classes:
saints, sinners and "non-partisansr' The third
test of loyalty was the resolution of approval
and aid by influence. to the Prohibition party.
The first test changed constitutional law, and
was binding on State and local unions. The
second came by resolution which expressed
majority sentiment, and which was also ircor-
porated into department work, thus deciding
new method. 1t was expressly declared how
ever, that the action was not binding, and any
State could ignore or decide against the fran
chise department and still remain in perfect
auxiliaryship with the national. History shows
that the States accepted this declaration
which finally became a bylaw-as fact; acted
upon it and came slowly, not by coercion, but
education, to the advanced ground now occu-
pied.
The third 'test." the political resolution,
never touched or colored the law of the w. c.
t u: it neither added to nor modified its de-
partment methods or general policy; nor did it
lay by the weight of a hair any obligation on
State auxiliaries, local unions or individuals
1t was simply a resolution which embodied the
majority sentiment of the convention assem-
bled In 1854. ANY annual convention since
might have revoked the action had the dele
gates been of the non-partisan mind; and such
majority would have been found had the
splendid, heroic constituency been misrepre-
sented, or thrown into rebellion by the action
at st. Louis. Instead of this, the majority sus-
tanning that action has grown, and the minori-
ty dwindled with every year.
Quotations are made from Mrs. Fosters
statements from time to time to show that
Mrs. Foster has changed her views in recent
years. One of the most interesting of these
is the following:
But some things Mrs. Foster does say quite
out OF harmony with her present opinions, viz:
Majority sentiment has no force until merged
in law, and law no force unless guided by the
baton of a political party, which adds TO the
chorus the saloon must co. the supreme strain
by our hand its power is broken" Whose
hand7 Not majOrlty's not law; but the party
with the "bat0n," and here she rests with the
final power. Why, then, if party is a neces-
s1ty. talk forever OF n-partisanship," and
why say as she did in Chicago "If could
write the platform of the Republican party
would not put prohibition intoit" What the
white-ribbon women understood Mrs. Foster
to mean IN 1888, they stand for to-day.
SHE WAS ONCE LOVED.
The assertion that ''prohibitory legisla-
ton, national and State, can only be per-
manently secured through the agency of a
political party, making this its central
ideq," is credited to Mrs. Foster and the
"Review" closes with these words:
Up TO 1854 Mrs. Foster was as well loved and
as much sought after as any speaker among
women on the temperance platform. When
she wavered from the convictions and princi-
pies which she was supposed to hold. the main
army passed her and went on to the front, leav-
Ing uSi III uANSt VI a lew updbHl1Sl5, WIN
shouted to the moving columns to return, but
they never will, for the fight is onward. Mean
while whatever values Mrs. j. Ellen Foster has
won as chairman of the Republican Women's
National League, as one of the famous spell
binders" and wife of Republican official. she
has lost the faith of her old comrades in her
sincerity, the chaplet of their admiring love,
and the crown of leadership in the grandest
body of women known to the world.
The above is regarded as only one OF many
similar circulars expected to emanate from
either side for general circulation. The
National Executive Committee is undoubt-
edly becoming alarmed at the turn affairs
have taken within the past few weeks.
Their leaders are leaving them in all sections
of the country, and they are straining every
mint tn retain their membership. They re-