The Republican journal., 1892-05-12
Non-Partisan Temperance Work.
MISS WILLARD : STATEMENTS SHARPLY
CRITIC ISED.

MISS WILLARD STATEMENTS SHARPLY
CRITICISED.
Mrs. Florence {. Porter, of Winthrop
Me. one of the national secretaries of the
Non Partisan W. &. L, L., sends pithy
reply t" published statements accredited
Miss Frances Willard during the recent
visit OF that lady to Pittsburgh, Penn.
During the address OF Miss Willard in the
Nnlithtieid Street N. +. Church in Pitts
bouglI, She said that the w. &. r. t.
would stand by party that would give
prohibition, in illustration, among other
States, claiming that with the Republic
can party for prohibition in Maine. lhat
the w. G. L, Il. stood ready to ind plse
and uphold Mrs. Porter writes
"lhe only way to Judge an oryaniza-
lion is by official uttelanceS and rrsulu-
tions passed in State and county c,nven-
tion>. No doubt some individuals in the
Nonlen Christian Temperance | MONS
stand by the Republican party because of
its attitude toward the prohibition of the
liquor traffic in our State, but when the
p"htlcai question came into the work of
the National Women Christian Temper
ance MON the Maine State Union was
one Of the first auNilialies to follow the
lead OF Miss Willard. and ut the first con-
NtlItI'll dNSt lliDlttl dlltl tllt NallOlldl
Women's Christian Temperance Union
indorseda political party: it in,orsed also.
10y a large ma iority. the same resolutions.
We're extremely partisan. the following
one which was adopted at Auburn in 1881
being fair example:
- 'Resolved. That we pledge our warm
est SNmpathieS, our prayers and influence
to the one party that has the purpose, and
we firmly believe, will have the power, to
root out the dram-shop from our midst -
the National Prohibition party.
''All official uttcrances. resolutions and
influences OF the Woman Christian Tenn
pcrance Union of Maine have been uf this
partisan nature, and it has never sought
to influence voters to vote for we'll known
advocates of prohibition. and tried and
true temperance men, when such were the
candidates of the Republican party. but
on the contrary has opposed them. Their
one charge against the non partisan
Woman Christian Temperance Union is
that it is in the interest of the Republi-
can party. The non partisan Woman $
Christian Temperance Union of Maine be-
lleves that temperance organization
composed of women of different political
faiths should give Endorsement to no par
tN even though that party may be as firm
in its position on the question OF pro
hibiti"n as is the Republican party of
Maine. The strength and support of the
prohibition laws in this State have UNI
d"ubtedlN been in the Republican party.
but there are also good temperance men
III the Democrats" party. The noli-parti-
san temperance movement does ct be
licve in pledging Influences or support to
either OF these parties. and it is thus in Il
position TO ask the sympathy and interest
OF the temperance men IN both parties
But even ii the Woman Christian Tenn
perance Association had stood by the Re
publican party i'll Maine. which its history
does not show to he the case, the non
partisan element would still have con-
tended that it was wrong in principle and
disastrous in results