Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-05
DISTRICT w. g. I. u.
Its Seventeenth Annual Convention Tn
Morning In the congregational Church.

TEREsTrNG REPORTS As TO PROGRESS N THE
VARIOUS BRANCHES OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE
woRK-rHE PREsIDENT's ELOQUENT ADDRESS.
About 160 ladies who are interested in the
cause Of total abstinence gathered this morn
ing in the First Congregational Church for the
seventeenth annual convention Of the Women g
Christian Temperance Union Of the District of
Columbia Most of them were present as del
egates from the various branches of the local
unions, and the convention promises to be one
Oh the largest and most successful in the his
tory of the organization. The different delega-
lions sat together, each with banneret raised
above the pew it occupied. In front of the
church organ and facing the audience was sus-
pended long blue banner bearing the motto
of the order, Loyal Unto Death" Above the
choir rail was placed handsome crayon por
| trait of Miss Frances E. Willard, the national
president Of the ". C. 7. u. with a large bow
OF white ribbon draped over it from one cor
American flag and number Of graceful palms
were placed around the platform.
giving most pleasing effect to the
| church. The first Of the two
opened at 10 o'clock this morning with COM
munion service conducted by Rev. DR.. s. NJ.
Newman.
| At the conclusion Of the service the con-
yention was called to order by the president Of
| the District Union, Mrs. George IL. La Fetra.
DRUG STORE LIQUOR SELLING.
The report Of the subcommittee appointed to
! investigate the action of the local druggists in
| advertising and selling champagne mist gave
| rise to some little discussion. A sample of this
beverage had been sent to q chemist in the
| museum of hygiene, and he had reported that
| 1t contained some alcohol, notwithstanding it
was advertised rs non-alcoholic drink. The
District attorney was consulted and he advised
the chairman OF the committee tc secure evil
dence against some druggist and make case,
but 1t was thought that open letter ad-
dressed to the trade might answer as we'll.
A delegate from Israel Chapter rose to ask
! why the committee had not taken some action
| against those pharmacies that make practice
OF selling claret, which was known to be an
| alcoholic and Intoxicating drink. This ques-
| ton was decided to be out of order. as the con-
vention was acting upon the report of what
| the committee had done and not upon what it
had not done. After some further discussion
| the report was accepted without dissenting
| voice.
Mrs. M. B. Plat Of the committee to investi-
| gate champagne mist read the report Of the
analysis made by the chemist of the museum of
| hygiene, showing that there was 4 o per cent
OF absolute alcohol by weight or TO- OF proof
i Spirits by volume.
| Mrs. Platt said that with this indisputablc
evidence in hand she wished to introduce a
resolution calling public attention to the mat
1 ter and accentuating the fact that the drink was
! not non-alcoholic drink.
Mrs. Lawson of Israel asked that claret be
| included In the resolution but later withdrew
her motion, and Mrs. Platts resolution as
| finally adopted was follows:
| AS ii is established beyond doubt that cham
payne mist, which Is advertised as non-alcoholc,
does contain certain per cent OF alcohol and
| Is for that reason dangerous drink, therefore,
In the interest of temperance, and especially in
behalf OF the children and young people of the
District. many of whom are pledged to total
abstinence we appeal to our druggists to ab-
| stain from selling champagne mist, and re-
| spectfulIy call attention to the fact that drug
| gists are not licensed to retail Intoxicating
drinks We trust that they will appreciate our
| feelings and efforts in behalf OF our children
| and respond favorably to our request"
SABBATH oBsERvANcEs.
Mrs. NJ. E. Catlin, superintendent of the de-
partment Of Sabbath observance, read her re-
| port of the work that had been done in the
interest of the movement that she represented.
| and Mrs. Hannah Crosby told of the work
! among foreigners. Mrs. Henry Baker report on
| the work of mothers meetings was read by the
| secretary. and Mrs. NJ. A. Weaver reported for
her department. Of legislative and petition.
She suggested that the Commissioners be petit
toned to remove all screens from the doors
| and windows in the saloons of the District.
This she thought would deter people from
entering the saloons, and her suggestion was
received with applause. The reports we're ac-
cepted and the morning session adjourned with
prayer and the singing of the Doxology.
The afternoon session was called to order
little after 80 O'Clock and after the devotional
exercises and the transaction of some prelimi-
| nary work Mrs. La Fetra read her annual ad-
| dress as president
THE PRESIDENTS ANNUAL ADDRESS.
Mrs.La Fetra said in opening her address that
they had no cause for regret at any advance
step taken in past years. Zone of the most en-
couraging facts connected. with the Catholic
total abstinence convention, recently held in
| this city," she said twas the many prohib:-
| tionists which We found among them and the
| great tendency which the advocacy Of the prin-
| ciples OF total abstinencs has toward prohibi-
| ton. If, an Bishop Keane says. it is their OBJ
ject to drive every Catholic out Of the saloon
| business and educate every Catholic COMMUNE
| cant up to the standard of total abstinence
| then the clear headed, loyal-hearted Irishman
will begin to see more and more clearly the in
consistency OF granting licenses to men to
| carry on O business which is condemned by all
| loyal church communicates Another encour-
| aging feature Of this convention was
| the fact SO apparent, that license
of every kind is losing favor.
| This conviction had gained such prominence
that l believe it would have been as easy to
pass straight prohibition resolution as one
| favnring license. The neutral ground taken by
Bishop Keane was timely as a means of quiet
| ing the various elements. which l doubt not
| will grow more and more nearly together. all
advancing toward prohibition. Their purpose
| to organize ladies' auxiIaries somewhat after
| the pattern of our own is another strong rein
| forcement. We rejoice that one has already
been organized in this city and more are to
| follow.
| Mrs. La Fetra referred to the work the w. c.
T. q. was doing in behalf Of outraged and OPP
pressed womanhood and spoke proudly of the
near completion Of the great Temperance
Temple at Chicago.
WOMAN AND THE BALLOT.
| "In Difference to the more conservative of
our women" continued the speaker, 1--WE have
no special department of franchise in the W.
C. T. U. OF this District. But we know that the
liquor interest is SO universally opposed to
woman's ballot, declaring that they must fight
| 1t to the bitter end, &C., that we have learned
to look upon it as a mighty leverage TO lift this
land from the curse Of rum, aud therefore we
are almost unanimously in favor Of it. True.
some whom we delight to honor in ecclesiastical
and other circles have charged female
suffragists with infidelity. socialism, spiritual
ism, &C., and they are still doing So The
strength Of this charge is broken when we re-
| call the many eminent men in church and
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