The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-05-16
w. c. T. U. COLUMN.
PRESS COMMITTEE, MRS. MFARLAND AND MRS
TENNESS


That the press il tnoof rhe mighs-
lest educational force, Of the pre,ent
age has been, from the day OF lis bmh,
a part of the working creed OF ITO
Woman's neutrality-suspicious.,
At the first convention in Cleveland,
Ohio, in November, 1874, the plan OF
work included the following method
for making public sentiment:
Seventh, seek permission TO edit
column In the intert st OF temperance
IN every newspaper in the land, and
in all possible ways enlist the press in
this reform.
Desiring to still further emphasize
the Importance OF utilizing this agen.
cy, Miss Willard. at the same conven-
ton, offered the following, which was
adopted
RESOLVED, That in this couhct Of
moral ideas we look to the pnlpit anG
the press as our strongest earthly al.
les, and that we will endeavor by our
influence as Christian women and by
our prayers to increase the interest in
our cause already manifested by these
p"weffui lnstrumentalItieS gratefully
recognized by us.
In each succeeding year since, eff
forts have been made, first by com.
mittees, then by superintendent, to
impress upon the W. G. T. U. the need
of using this agency so thoroughly
equipped for the dissemination OF
knOw'ed ge-everywhere present, re-
ceived and believed, read and reread
and quot ed as very gospel of truth.
That some times the readers are mis-.
led Dies not alter the fact of the i'm,
measurable influence which a man.,
newspaper has in moulding his senti.
m-nts, and makes even more impera-
tive the necessity for making it mes
senger OF truths that shall lead to per-
s)nal and in active regard for the wes
of his fellowmen.
AT the beginning of our organization
comparatively few women were fitted
by previous experience for any such
work, and the generality of womer
called to this press work have been 60
: conscious OF their lack OF ability that
it is probable no other cause coulC
Iave inspired the purpose, faith and
patient effort necessary to such an un
folding of the latent literary talent o
housands Of women who are today
D welding facile and forcible pen al
v. G. 7. U. correspondents OF leading
papers, as well as editing w. @. T. U
0 columns and papers. Impelled by
necessity as urgent as that which sen
Esther, the Jewish queen, unbiddel
into the presence Of the king who ha,
decreed the destruction of her people
n they have, for the sake OF their peopl
y enslaved and perishing for the lack G
& knowledge, put away their timidity
Il prepared themselves by prayer an
If study, and, putting on the royal ar
G parel of Christian womanliness an
t earnestness, have gone in unto thi
l. king of limitless power. To thes
D. white ribbon Esthers the royal seer
d tire has been extended, and OF Their
n the generous question is asked "Wha
r is thy petition? 1t shall be given the
i. to the half of the kingdom" 50 cordia
Is generally, has been the response t.
it our requests for the CO operation of tn
e press in spreading abroad the ssvin
VI knowledge of total abstinence an
d purity. And we do earnestly desir
IT that those of us who have been Gale
It unto such a kingdom of opportunit
is may wisely and worthily use the pow
er thus given us. But the work of tn
st W, G. 7. U. press superintendent i
K filling certain corners OF the secula
" and religious papers is but sma
D. part OF the press work done in tn
n temperance reform. There is dut
d to be filled in getting into print an
& there is a duty equally imperative i
t. getting that print read. There is no,
g. we venture to say, one temperanc
d woman throughout our ranks WHIT
3. can not find few or many emporium
e ties OF placing the bread of the pres
G where it will feed some one. Has tina
T. poor woman who does your washin
ever had bundle of good papers from
your hands? Does the lit lie woman
who sits near you every Sunday il
church and every Wednesday night a
prayer meeting ever have anythin,
better to read than the Sunday paper
her husband buys? You do not know
a Why do not you know? Have Vol
ever given your grocer, your butcher
T your milkman, your dressmaker, you
. house cleaner, your doctor,your friend
q your pastor good loaf of temperate
a bread in the shape of clipping, paper
g. leahet or book? NoY Then you ar
a hindering the temperance evangelizs
ton of the world through the presi
10 There is q great deal said about tn
,e undesirable class nf reading matte