River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-01-14
Minnesota w. c. T. u. Convention.

Yet items of interest are brought out
in the reports that are helpful TO 9TH
ers, and some new ideas in local work
are given which other local unions
can avail themselves of to advantage.
In the reports from some of the dis
tricts in Minnesota it was mentioned
that the w. G.. I. U. WAS now so well
known that usually aew Unions began
work right in line with old ones, and
did not seem to have to groa0 into all
knowledge of the work, as in the years
gone by. No line of work was so
strongly emphasized as the Evange-
listic. The certainty grows with our
women that if this department is not
made the chief corner stone all other
work must suffer.
Much attention has been given to
lumbermen's work. The American
Tract Society furnished leaflets ana
tracts free of charge to Unions re
questing them, and these were en-
closed in the papers, etc., sent to the
camps. Letters written to the camps
received kind replies and the men
asked "please don't forget u.s." The
superintendent of this department said
that it had been impressed upon her
that they must send 0omdn evange-
list to some point in the lumber re-
gion, some town where the men con.
gregate, and establish sort of mis-
sion room, where gospel services could
be held, and where everything that it
was possible to do for these men would
be done to keep them from the saloon
and brothel. The woman who has
undertaken to do this work was intro
duced to the convention, and among
other things said, Il am not loise but
tuo things | know; the world needs
saving, and God has called me to help
save it. / go to this work willingly,
gladly, not knowing the things that
will befall me there
Mrs. Baker of South Dakota came to
the convention, ON her way to Chicago.
She said that the prohibitory law was
being enforced in South Dakota be-
yoDd their expectations. In regard to
druggists licenses, she said every pei
son purchasing liquor at drug store
did so under oath, registering their
name and stating for what cause the
liquor was obtained. Any resident of
a place could examine the druggists
books every day, if they chose, and
though the law of South Dakota did
not recognize women as citizens they
were residents, and as the Unions kept
excellent track of all such records,
and if it were not such a serious mat
ter much that was amusing could be
found in the reasons given for needing
liquor. For instance, one day man
would register an oath that it was
needed for Inflammation of the lungs,
perhaps the next day it would be
needed by the same man for lumbago,
or headache, or toothache; and one
man had obtained it for uReaSiReSS.
Afterward a curious continuance for
evading the law was exhibited BY Mrs.
Clifford of Mortified. MIMI, who sta
ted that it was used very much in
South Dakota. 1t was little paste
board box, about six inches long by
about three inches square, containing
small bottle, which was nearly filled
with very poor whiskey. Describes
it, This is Manufactured in Mime.
apolis and has government patent.
The work of local Unions, as report
ed briefly by Dist. President, showed
great faithfulness. One of the best
reports, with much and varied work,
was from a Union of screen active
members. In one place the members
of the local Union visited personally
every voter in the town previous to
election and by their influence secured
no.license for that year. Thirty-seven
Unions in the State have Supt's of
Franchise; forty-seven use III. w. 5.
bible readings. Over one.half of the
local Unions meet only semi.monthly.
The failure of officers and superintend-
ents to make proper and prompt re-
ports was spoken of SO often, that l
became convinced that Wisconsin
women were not the only sinners in
that line. The constant illusions to
such failures caused Mrs. Hobart to
recommend that as few steps as posi-
BILE be made between local and state
Supt's. A lively discussion followed
in which Miss Willard took an active
part, saying that in some places they
had discarded all district officers, some
the Dist. Prest., who has general
supervision of her counties and acts
as organizer, but who puts the burden
of the work upon the Co. Supts. who
communicate direct with the State
Supts. This seems to meet with gen.
eral approval. and notice that Miss
Willard in her notes in the Signal
states that Minnesota drops both Dist.
and Co. Supt's, and makes but two
steps between local or National Supts.,
j. e. from local to state, from state TO
national. Explain about busy women,
delays, etc., 1t was reported that
they had 900 subscribers to their state
paper, the Union White Ribbon, and
1868 to the Union Signal.
Mrs. Rastall, business manager OF
the w. T. P. A., who was present,
voiced the sentiment of all White
Ribbopers when she remarked that
W. C. L. U. woman could no more be
one in intelligent understanding OF
the work, without the Signal and
State paper, than christian could be
an intelligent one without the bible.
Supt. of Social Purity reported the
raising of the age of protection fol
girls from 10 to Is years of age; also
having secured law prohibiting the
attendance of young persons under Il