The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-16
WHITE RIBBONERS
ARE TN Session.
NOTED TEMPERANCE WOMEN OF
THE NATION MEET IN Con-
VENTION.
THEIR IMMENSE PETITION.
IT DEMANDS LAWS TO REGULATE
THE TRAFFIC IN LIQUOR AND
OPIUM.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The Metropolitan
Methodist Episcopal Church was decor
ated to-day in honor of the convention of
the White Ribboners. A good attendance
greeted the opening session. which began
with the singing of hymns, followed by an
address of welcome by Mrs. NJ. E. Griffith,
president of the district W. G. T. U. Then
came prayer and conservation meeting
conducted by Mrs. Catherine Lent Steven
son of Chicago and participated in by other
prominent workers in the cause of temper
ance. Mrs. Griffith conducted noontide
prayer which began at II o'clock. Rev.
DR.. Lunn of England, prominent tenn
perance worker, occupied a seat on the
platform.
Miss Frances Willard and Lady Henry
Somerset were unable to be present, having
been detained in Boston, but they are ex-
pected to arrive during the day.
The principal object of the gathering is
to call to the attention of Congress and the
President as strongly as possible the i'm
mense polyglot petition which has arrived
in Washington after journey around the
world and now, it is asserted, bears the sig
natures of more than 5000, 900 people of all
nationalities. The monster petition is as
follows:
For God and home and our land The poly
glot petition of the worlds WOman's Christian
Temperance Union. Addressed to the govern
ments of the world. Honored rulers, represen-
tatives and rulers We, your petitioners, al
though belonging to the physically weaker sex,
are strong of heart to love our homes, our ma
tive land and the worlds family of nations.
We know that clear brains and pure hearts
make honest lives and happy homes, and that
by these the nations prosper and time is
brought nearer when the world shall be at
peace. We know that indulgence in alcohol
and opium and in other vices which disgrace
our social lives makes misery for all the world,
and most of all for us and for our children.
We know that the stimulants and opiates are
sold under legal guarantees which make the
Governments partners in the traffic by accept
ing as revenue portion of profits, and we
know with shame that they are often forced by
treaty upon populations either ignorant or I'M
willing. We have no power to prevent these
great iniquities beneath which the whole
world groans, but you have the power to re-
deem the honor of the nations from an indefn-
able completely.
We therefore come to you with the united
voice of representative women of every land
beseeching you to raise the standard of the
laws to that of Christian morals, to strip away
the safeguards and sanctions of the State from
the drink traffic and the opium trade, and to
protect our homes by the total prohibition of
this curse OF civilization throughout all the
territory over which your Government ex-
tends
Devotional services, conducted by Mrs.
Helen NJ. Barker, the national treasurer of
the w. G. T. u, were held at the opening
of the afternoon session, when the attend
ance was again large. Three addresses
j ~ L
B. Platt of Washington on The W. G. T.
U. has attained her majority; is she wor-
thy of citizenship"
Next Miss Emily Mclaughlin of Massa-
chusetts spoke on moral and political re-
form in large cities. Mrs. Matilda B.
Carse of Chicago gave retrospect of the
w. G. T. U. and made a strong appeal for
bonds to assist in building the proposed
new temperance temple in Chicago.
Conventional Hall was crowded by 5000
persons at the evening session, over which
Mrs. L. NJ. n. Stevens presided. After de-
votional exercises, conducted by Mrs. c.
Lent Stevenson, Mrs. Anna Gordon read
Miss Frances Wizards address, the latter
not being present.
At the closing of the reading of Miss
Wizards address Miss Belle Carney de-
Iivered an address to men. She was fol-
lowed by DR.. Lunn of London and Mrs.
Kater, the national treasurer of the union.
The latter held that men had no right to
mark out woman's sphere in the world.
"Adam was asleep when Eve was made"
said she, ''and God had not thought to
wake him up to take his advice in the
matter"
kilograms Of regret we're read from
many persons who were unable to be pres
ent, and the proceedings closed with an
address by Mrs. Clara Hoffman.