Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-06-12
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL ADDRESS.

ton, May 8, 1894.
AS we meet once again i'm this, our
Eleventh Annual Convention, let us
ask God that our coming together may
prove useful. The past year does not
chronicle much work, Notwithstanding
the favorable conditions surrounding
us. Perhaps it is on that account
many unions have given up, because
they feel that the battle has been
fought and won. But when the con-
flict against the saloon has ended in
victory we then have time to see that
the forces of evil are not all vanquish-
ed and that as we enlisted for the war
we should not lay down our arms I'M
til the kingdoms of this world have be-
come the kingdoms of our Lord. Vice
and ignorance are still to be conquer
ed, the Decalogue to. be enthroned in
politics, and society taught that "Thou
shalt not" is equally binding on men
and women.
The unions having failed to contrib
ute the salary promised the CORES
ponding secretary by the last Conven-
ton, Mrs. Hoskins was forced to resign
her office and very little work has been
done. l must repeat what said last
year, that our imperative need is or
ganization into districts under active,
capable presidents who will push the
work in their localities. In districting
the State we have heretofore grouped
the counties according to their ar
rangement in the seven Congressional
districts, but while this has some ad-
for our work. In accordance with a
motion made at last Convention the
State has been re-districted and the
new arrangement will be submitted for
your approval.
A faithful district President would
see that each union is properly in
structed in the methods and objects of
our work Our women are devoted and
true and il they can be brought to re-
alize the necessity for money to prop
erly carry on the State work they will
come to our help. There is vague
idea that the Treasury is able to fur
nish all needed supplies from the sum
of % cents yearly or less than z cent
weekly, contributed by active members.
OF this sum ten cents or two-fifths,
goes to the National Treasury, leaving
the sum of fifteen cents contributed by
each one who pays dues to meet all OBJ
! legations. You can readily see that
this will not accomplish great things.
If your State officers and superintend-
ents should demand money for sta
tionery and postage, as is their right,
you would be compelled to contribute
something, or all work would cease. The
primary cause of all our difficulties is
defective local organization. Where
the President is an earnest woman who
holds the meetings regularly and the
Treasurer is interested and faithful,
the smaller union will pay dues and
have something for State and National
enterprises. In order to carry out the
resolutions passed at our last conven-
ton, summoned Mines. Erwin, Hos
kins, Smell, Dean, Harper and Miss
Belle Kearney to meet me in jackson
on January 10th to make an effort to
get the Legislature to submit a pro-
hibitory constitutional amendment to
the voters of Mississippi. Only Mrs.
Smell responded to the call. We re-
ceived much courtesy from individual
members of both Houses and were &C
corded the use of the Hall of Repre-
sentatives for one evening when Mrs.
Smell eloquently presented the cause
to a large and attentive audience. Hon.
w. A. Henry of Yazoo county subse-
quently offered a resolution to submit
the amendment which had been pre-
pared as follows:
Resolved, By the Legislature of the
State of Mississippi, two thirds OF each
House concdrring, that the following
proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton of this State be submitted to the
qualified electors, at the HcAt gouoidd
election, for adoption or rejection,
namely. ssVinous, alcoholic, malt, in
toxicating or spirituous liquors shall
not be sold, battered or given away in
this State, except for medicinal or sac
ramental purposes, and the Legisla-
ture shall provide suitable laws to en-
force this provision and prevent the
sale, barter or giving away of such IL
quors. Referred to the Committee on
Liquor Traffic"
It was referred to the House Com
mittee on the Liquor Traffic which did
not meet to consider it and thus the
question did not come before the House
for : vote. I received 1.-THE following
letter from Mr.. Henry after the close
81 the session which will explain this
bstter than can:
YAzoo CIrY, Feb. 18th, 1894
Mrs. Il s. Mount, Greenyille, Miss:
III DEAR MADA,fE:-lt Is due 70 you