The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-02
w. c. T. U.
Some Notes of Last Weeks Convention,
Especial Correspondence

of the convention. After the deYotlOnal
exercises, the convention was called to
order by the President, Mrs Il. M. N
Stevens. The Crusade Psalm was read
and hymn sung, then came the roll call,
appointment OF committees and one
minute reports from county presidents
or their Representatives. Every county
responded and most of them reported
gain in membership Mrs. Bailey was
appointed time-keeper and was intro
duced in very happy way by the Presi-
dent, as the National Superintendent OF
Peace and Arbitration and always doing
what she could in the interests OF peace.
Penobscot county has a new President,
Mrs Harvey, when elected feared
that she, would not be able to accept the
position, but her husband said: II think
she can do it and will help her," and
that settled it.
The annual address of the President was
postponed till afternoon, and was Won
derfully clear and concise statement OF
facts, we'll illustrated, and OF suggestions
and recommendations. AT its close, she
introduced Rev. and Mrs. Mitchell, re-
marking that to listen to music would be
dA dSICCdO1O O4AbA6O- IA AAooAo oAAAAS 49,
srent in hunting up "blowsr" for the
organ and then MI. Mitchell sang some
very appropriate songs.
Rev J. A. Buffum of Auburn was
then presented to the audience and as
he was escorted up the aisle by woman
and stood on the platform in a group OF
them, it was not surprising that he
thought he was helping in the fulfilment
of the prophecy that "seyen women
should take hold of one man." He was
glad to wear the white ribbon and had
tried to extend the principles Of the W. y.
r. u The best welcome that he had re-
ceived was in this potato district. He ad-
yised the members when they had gained
any ground to keep it, and Illustrated this
thought by a story of the darby who was
color bearer, and being shot down, an
other took his place and rushed way
ahead with the flag. They called to him
to come back, but his reply was: Col.
onel. these colors never go backward !!
Bring on your troops
The Board of Trade was represented
by Mr. Stafford of Skowhegan, who paid
the women handsome compliment by
saving: "We can do nothing without
YOU! If you would succeed. you must
everlastingly keep at it. l bid you God
speed.
Mr.. Louis Anderson, also had word
of encouragement and expressed himself
as a believer in Prohibition and willing
to deny himself anything for the advance
ment of this work.
Mr.. Dorsey, of Lewiston, heartily en-
dorsed the cause and said that he was
proud of this delegation as he came along
on the cars and he was proud of the sue
cess of their work.
Rev. Mr. Kennedy assured the conven-
-tion that there was no one whose heart
beat in warmer sympathy than his. He
was glad to say that he was Proh1bl-
zionist, voting as he talked.
Mr. Chas. Dunn was introduced as
County Commissioner and also an hon.
orary member of w. G. Z. U.
In the evening addresses of welcome
were made by Mrs. Spaulding OF Caribou
for the county; Rev. c. E. Owen, pastor
of the church which has SO hospitality
opened it's doors to the convention, for
the churches, all of which, he assured
them joined in the welcome; Mrs. Owen
tor the local w. c. T. u. Tine response
was by Mrs. George S. Hunt of Portland,
and that city may be proud Of his ability.
She did not tell us that she had not pre-
pared a paper but that much OF what she
said was the thought of the moment, was
evident. Two minute speeches then fol-
lowed by the bright Superintendents OF
Departments. One fact mentioned by the
Press Superintendent can not be passed
W, W
their home papers she assured them q
welcome, stating that $4,000 worth OF
space had been given by the Maine press
during the past year.
Mrs. French of Portland. referred to
the Importance of work among the chill
dren and said, scientific temperance in
struction had become compulsory in all
the states except Tennessee and Georgia.
All of these talks were sensible and bright
and showed that Maine has many women
of ability.
( The devotional meetings which are held
each morning have been well attended
and the interest so great that the time
was too short for all who wished to take
part, to do SO.
morning MI. Lewis Of Saco, was intro
duced and expressed an earnest interest
in the work. and deep regret that there
was no Union in his city.
DIR. Fulton spoke enthusiastically of the
great gathering in Washington. D. c.,
which she attended, when Miss Willard
and Lady Somerset were both detained
by la grippe, and Mrs. Stevens filled the
gap so aoceptably that the morning paper
gave the opinion that no one could have
done it better. Many gentlemen We're in
troduced, all of whom expressed deep
interest in the work of the w. c. T. u,
and one of whom said that as we sing
the hymn "Surely the Captain may de-
pend on me-, so he would assure the
ladies that they can depend on him, at
the polls as elsewhere.
Reports of Superintendent of depart
ments followed, Miss French, Press Su-
perintendent, giving the Maine papers
great credit for courtesy and generosity
in furnishing space.
The election of officers occupied a large
part of the afternoon, following the re-
port of the Credentials Committee. While
ballots were being counted, the time was
we'll filed by introductions and brief re-
marks. Mr. Wiggin of the Aroostook
Pioneer, was among these, and his words
of interest and encouragement, could not
have been stronger The officers were
unanimously reelected with the exception
of the Treasurer, who resigned last
March, and Mrs. Johnston was chosen in
her place.
When Mrs. Stevens returned, after hav-
ing left the room, during the balloting
for President, the large audience rose and
sang a song written for the occasion, to
the tune Of Marching tnro' Georgia, ="
There was hearty unanimity about the
entire election, which was most pleasant
to see.
In the evening there was another adj
ln.s, &c xx,o1ao,,,n 70 rvhic1, Mrs Hunt