The Helena independent., 1894-11-17
W. c. I. U. MEETING.
A Large Convention Of tho Great Temper.
aneo Organization Now In Session
at Cleveland, Ohio.
MISS FRANCES WILLARD PREsIDGs.
The Presidents Annual Address and Reports
Of Officers Show That tho Workls Is
Progressing,

Cleveland. Nov l6-The w. G. T. 4.
convention wan called 10 order nt no
o.clock to-day. Miss willard raped
sharply acyrn times on the table "Scv-
cn raps for love. hope aud gratitude"
said Miss Willard, ~ viii ask Mother
Thompson, Auulie Stewart. and Mrs.
Monroe ~ read the crusade psalm re-
sponsivcly with you" The three la
dies named rose and stood with Miss
Willard while the psalms were read.
Then followed the singing Of the cru-
snde hymn Rock Of Ages" by tho
entire convention, led by Miss Alice
Harrison. Of Boston, national superln-
teudrnt of music. and the grand notes
ot the organ pcnlcd above the voices of
tho audience. There We're probably 900
delegates present, and the hall was well
flled with spectators, with the cxccp-
tion OF the upper gallery.
Rev Frances TownHley, OF Nebraska,
next led the convention Ia a feryent
prayer, She referred touchlngly TO the
death ~ Mrs. Mary A. Woodbridge, 10
Miss Willard the national president.
/ and 10 Lady Somerset, whose absence
| from the convention In so greatly de-
plored. AT the conclusion of the pray
er, Miss Willard spoke fcelingly OF
the late Mary Woodbridge. after which
Mrs. Stevens. OF Maine, called the roll
Of officers, superintendents and dele
gates.
Following this came the reading and
adoption OF the minutes OF the execu-
tive committees two sessions. The ap-
pointment OF vice president nj large
was under consideration during the
larger part Of the morning session. but
was finally laid over until tomorrow.
The treasurer, Mrs. Barker. OF South
| Dakota, was appointed chairman of
| the finance committee. After singing
the hymn, entitled welcome, Chris.
| tian, Welcome" Miss Willard stepped
To the front OF the platform and the
first applause OF the convention was
given and handkerchiefs fiuttered in
all parts OF the house. Miss Willard
thanked the convention for the ap-
plause and then began the delivery OF
her annual address.
THE work OF women Is the most
unique feature OF the recent great elec-
lions. II In freely admitted that they
had much TO do with the downfall OF
the Tammany ring. II was largely the
case OF the lady and the tiger with
no doubt as To which came out ahead.
In illionis the women voted by tens OF
| thousands. In Colorado the prohlbi-,
tion party was raised from 100 al the.
last election to from 1000 To 10000. and
| IL is universal testimony that the pres
ence of wcsnen at the polls led to a
much larger vote by the men. The re-
publican party did itself damage by
assisting the democrats 20 vote down
the enfranchisement of women in KAN
sns. but illustrated It's progressive ten
dency by putting plank In the plat
form In favor OF woman suffrage In Cali
lfornla Idaho and Utah"
After vote Of thanks To Miss Will
lard, Miss Alice Harrison, national sup
lerintendent OF music sang the verses,
Throw the Life Line" the audience
joining In the chorus. Then numerous
lcablegrams and kilograms OF greeting
were read by the secretary. Mrs. T. Nj.
Stevens, recording secretary, then pre-
| sentcd her report. She stated that
while nearly all churches and mission
airy aud charitable societies mourn a
ldeflcit In finance and the consequent
lcrippling OF their work. the w. g. It. ".
comes Ia it's annual meeting with In
lcreased membership, every bill paid.
land a more comforting balance In the
Treasury than any previous year has
! shown The report concludes We
have now following of between 100000
and 100000"
The convention then took recess un-
It'll y. m.
AT the afternoon session the first or.
der OF business taken up. after devo-
ltionnl exercises was the report Of the
Treasurer. The report showed that the
receipts for the year were S26,0l9O2, dis
bursements, S20,aSS.0i
A rising vote of thanks was rendered
TO the treasurer, and her report was
unanimously adopted. Rev. DR.. Jos.
Cook. OF Boston spoke briefly on the
succcsses OF the past year, and pre-
ldictrd that by the end OF the twentieth
lccntury the liquor traffic would come to
Ian end.
Reports ot supcrintcndcnts came
next. aud Mrs. Frances J. Barnes re-
lportcd for the young woman's branch
lnf tho organization. Mrs. May Hunt,
lsllprrintcndcnt of scientific temperance
instruction. reported ON that subject.
Ishowiug great progress along those
lines. After "A song service, Mrs,
Frances w, Scltcr spoke ON the subject
luf physical culture
The recording secretary then read
numerous tvlegrnms Of greeting, and,
latter prayer. the convention adjourned
Ippft g.gO - m