The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-01
TOFURTHER TEMP ERANCE,
Sixteenth Convention of the
Women's Christian Tenn
peranCe Union.
Welcomed to This City by the Mu-
nicipality and the Board of
Education.

The sixteenth annual gathering of the
members of the Women's Christian Tenn
peaanee Union was convened in the audi
forum of the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION Hall last evening, under the pres
idency of Mrs. Sturtevant Peet A good
audience was present and prominent men,
bers of the committee occupied seats on
the platform. The exercises opened with
the singing of an opening hymn, ITO Thee,
o Lord" set to the music of America. !"
after which prayer was offered by Mrs. A.
K. Bidwell of OAKLAND.
The lady president, in her opening
speech, said that the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union was the largest organi-
cation of women in the world They were
ass .mbled, carrying the sword of truth and
the banner of peace. They came as mothers
aad as delegates from the mountains and
the hills.
Mr.. Speers, on behalf Of the Young
Nj ems Christian Association, welcomed
the convention in the name of the
young men of California. He mentioned
tdat the association was working along
the same road as the Temperance Union.
he SINCERELY ITuSl6u LQaL IN Whatever
place the good work was carried on 1t
would meet with the success that it de-
served. He spoke of the evils of the saloon
business, and thought it was significant
fact that during the recent hard times the
liquor business had met with its measure
of reverses.
Mr.. Speers concluded by repeating his
word OF welcome to the building, and
prayed for success upon the movement
then in progress for the cause of temper
ance.
Hon. C. A. n 1rdock, representing the
Board of Edukation. gave his welcome
both In mis- owl Name and in that of the
board. He quoted statistics, showing that
there IS at present in California one saloon
for every ninety-fvb inhabitants The ex-
pendlture for liquor he estimated at
larger figure than the gold output of the
whole State, saying that while this City
can afford to set apart one million dollars
for schools it deyotes eight millions to
supporting the liquor industry and
saloons.
Mr.. Murdoch had good word to say for
the Catholics of San Francisco, who ad-
ministered the pledge to their younger
element. He thought it was an erroneous
idea to suppose that poverty is the cause
OF drink, and rather imagined that drink
was the cause of poverty.
After vocal solo by Miss Mary H. Wolf,
entitled 1.-THE Realms of Bliss" Rev. ].
Cumming Smith was introduced to the
meeting. The reverend gentleman asked
the question whether it was possible for
the Tenn perance Union so to concentrate
its energies that it eould successfully Crap
pie with the hquorevil. He touched upon
the question of W omen at the polls, and
said that on the saloon question she
should be allowed to vote, seeing how
nearly it affected her home life.
Pow Mr. Smith hoIa
welcome in the name of the City. their
homes, and be hoped he was able to say
the press. He wondered, in conclusion,
whether the same amount of space would
be devoted to the convention as was usually
allotted to prize-fght.
81. P. Shedd greeted the Women's
Christian Temperance Union in the name
of the Independent Order of Good
Templars. The speaker traced the rise
and progress of the movement from its
inception TO the present day, making a
passing reference to the good work accom-
plished by Miss Frances E. Willard. He
prophesied great and glorious future for
the temperance movement in America,
and thought the women of this country
and State are engaged in a noble and
lofty effort to uplift society. He believed
that the close of the nineteenth century
would witness great advance in the work
of the union.
Taylor Rogers, who was next intro
duced, in the name of Mayor Sutro and
the municipal authorities, opened his
speech by inquiring "Where are the
men?" He humorously remarked that he
had been compelled to speak somewhat
under difficulties, and said that when he
had asked some of the ladies present for
pointers he had been handed tract on
"Atonement and SIM"
Mr.. Rogers said that after all these two
q Cow l.
dress, for he considered that whisky was
the sin and the atonement was legislation
AS remedy for the saloon evil he said
that he would propose to bring all schools
under the control of the National Govern
ment. He would have the Government
control the. studies, leaving religion and
kindred subjects to be inculcated in the
home. He would have courses of lectures
delivered on the evils of narcotics and
stlmulants. AS reason for this proceed
ure he said that 1t was preferable to begin
with the child rather than to attempt to
reform the habitual drunkard. Mr..
Rogers next proposition was that the
Government should control the manufac-
ture and sale OF liquor and its distribution.
The Nation should make it and sell it at
cost. 1t should be sold and only be per
mitted to be consumed at home. This would
eliminate the element of profit, which is
the lnducement at present for people to
enter the liquor business. By this means
the saloon would not form the factor in
politics that it. forms at present: This
method would also discourage social drink
ing, which is certain attraction to young
men.
In conclusion Mr.. Rogers thought that
women should be allowed to exercise a re-
timing influence in politics, for the reason
that politics is merely the science of ap-
plying law to the home life.
Mrs. III. II. Luse made the address of
welcome in behalf of the Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union, to which a re-
Spouse was given by Mrs. Lydia A. Pres
colt. The proceedings were brought to a
close with vocal solo by Mrs Sadie Re-
Bailey.
The exercises will be continued to-day.
at A. NJ, at the hall of the Young Mems
Christian Association, Ellis and Mason