St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-31
NoN-PARTIsAN w. @. t. u.
Mrs. Walkers Story of the Cour-
age 1t Took to Break Away.


age 1t Took to Break Away.
ATwATER. Oct. 30.-One of the most
interesting features of the state conven-
ton of the Non-Partisan w. G. T. u,
now in session here. was the annual re-
port of the president, Mrs. Il. b. Walk
er, of Minneapolis.
Mrs. Walker outlined the history of
the Minnesota state non-partisaD move.
ment, showing how sure had been the
foundation which had been laid. She
referred to the work of the past year
and of the many unexpected things in
the way of sickness, ETC., which had ln-
terfered with the work of some of the
state officers. But the silent work had
been going steadily on, the silent work
which tells in the end.
1.-THE sad necessity for division in
the ranks of the w. G. L. U.,'' said the
speaker, "has probably saddened no
hearts so deeply as those who felt laid
upon their souls the necessity for the
step. 1t took the courage of our Reyo-
lutionary forefathers to break the ties
cemented in SO many cases by years of
labor and suffering together. 1t took
the courage of Christian principle to
stand out small minority of mighty
host, and, leaving behind them the
fruits of all their years of labor, be will
ing to begin again at the old foundation
stones where some of them began fif-
teen years ago to erect a new super
structure. 1t took something more: it
took strong conviction of right and faith
in the principle involved. But ali this
has not been done without suffering
Many of you have suffered. and deeply.
and the end is not yet. Where in the
worlds history has it been otherwise?n
Mrs. Walker then went into a discus
sion of the VIC. L. u, first showing
how it came to be founded, and showing
whatsplendid work it did in the earlier
years of its work. The early contact
which. the w. c. T. U. had with the
laws of the land was noted as resulting
in the desire ito own, possess and run a
political party" She paid a tribute of
great praise to Susan B. Anthony, and,
hoped the day might come in the life of
that woman when she should see the
ballot in the hands of woman.
Reference was then paid to the action
of the w. G. L. U. in giving its allegi-
ance to political party, and a graphic
picture drawn of the condition the
members of the organization were in
when they found themselves bound to
the support of the party which, in many.
cases. was wholly dlstasteful to them. |
1T is the firm belief of your speaker
said Mrs. Walker, sthat the third, or
so-called Prohibition party, has BEEN
slain in the house of its friends by the
unwise, untempered zeal of arbitrary
partisan Endorsement by the national
council of the w. G. T. U. Take notice
that | say the party Prohibition, not
the cause prohibition-that, thank God,
is His, and the mistakes of man or
woman cannot take it out of His
hands,"
Mrs. Walker then went on to show
that the first act of the national council
was done without consultation with the
local unions; that it did not represent
the vast constituency of the organiZa-
ton. The strongest cause of staying in
the organization, under the circum-
stances, was found in the systematic
efforts of the national leaders to keep
the discussion of the issue out of the
local unions.
The work of the non-partisan order
was then taken up and it was shown
that while the growth must be slow, it
would be sure. She showed that there
had been much indifference upon the
part of the Christian women of the land
because they were unable to follow
the w. G. I. U. in its mad gallop into
the political arena"
But" she said, with the Bible for
our foundation stone, with the God of
Truth and Purity for our commander.
with the world for our field, what shall
stand between us and victory?"
The greatest need Of the hour now
was workers. The unity desired was
not to be secured through work in cue