The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-30
MINNESOTA W.c.T.U.
THREE HUNDRED WEARERS OF
THE WHITE RIBBON ARE IN
SESSION.
IN FAVOR OF MANY REFORMS.
NUMBER OF NATIONAL WORKERS
OF PROMINENCE ARE PRES
ENT.
IN FAVOR OF MANY REFORMS.
The Proposed Amendment to AbOI-
ish Districts-GeneraI News of
Minneapolis.

Wesley church was gaily decorated
In yellow and white, the national colors
OF the w. C. T. u, yesterday morning,
and the national flag and handsome
banners from local unions made at
tractive bits of color Autumn leaves,
flowers and fruits made a harmonious
floral decoration, and one in keeping
with the season. The local committees
had been busily at work and every
thing was in readiness for business
when Mrs. Susanna NJ. D. Frye, state
president, called the convention to or
der at o'clock yesterday morning
The convention numbers among its
delegates about 800 women, who wear
the white ribbon proudly as a badge
of the temperance work "for God and
home, and native land" 1t Is by no
means a temperance convention alone.
That is simply regarded as the most i'm
pCrtant reform among many others
These modern devotees of the tenn
rerance idea believe that the educa-
ton of the temperate man and good
citizen begins in childhood, that the
first lessons Of Sobriety should be in
culcated with the Sunday school teach
ing, that the public school instruction
should have it's department of scientific
temperance, that the youth should have
his reading room and recreations which
will substitute healthy normal amuse-
ments for the insidious temptations of
intoxicating liquors, and narcotics.
These earnest women even attempt to
mould legislation in order that tempta-
tons may be lesSened and they go to
the miners, lumbermen and similar
classes trying to put some brightness
into the lives specially subject to temp
tation on account of the rude environ,
ments.
For their own sex these women re-
gard the active, helpful work as a
distinct element in broadening char
acter and cultivating generous SYM
pathies, both for those within the home
and socierty in general.
All these things become apparent to one
who attends the sessions Of the state con-
ventions and sees unfolded the many plans.
number Of national workers are present
to cheer and encourage their sisters in Min
treasurer, will speak tomorrow. Miss Ida
Clothier, the national organizer of the young
women, is here to pay special attention to
that branch of the work. Mrs. Stella B. IT.
vine. of st. Paul, has been fifteen years In
temperance work and spends about nine
months of each year travelling and lecturing
make a report of special interest in this de-
partment.
At this convention there are q number of
changes proposed in the laws governing the
state body. and the discussions on these
points looked forward to with great in
terest. That of abolishing districts and deal
ing directly with the counties is expected to
carry this year. although it has been de-
feated in the last two conventions.
The special feature Of yesterday after
Moons session was an hour devoted to five
departments connected with the w. c. T. U.
Nearly all the topics discussed will come UP
later in papers to be read by specialists in
each branch. but the short talks served to
awaken interest and bring in closer touch
the many interests represented under the
temperance organization banner. Mrs. Stella
B. Irvine gave brief talk on Sunday school
work. 1t revealed the fact that the speaker
has been fifteen years in this work. travelling
and speaking in all parts of the country.
She recently returned from the Pacific coast
where she held county meetings and Sunday
school rallies in all the large cities. She
however. keeps up an active interest in Min
nesota and will make some special sugges-
lions in a paper to be delivered later in the
week.
Mrs. Amy Brooks Green. as press reporter
gave some valuable hints as to how the
-L9dW9l SuII9qlIny NJ p5ZIIIln 90 feW ss5Id
ance work. She referred to the courtesies ex-
tended by the city press, but specially urged
the ladies to make use of the country and
religious press. She SAID the woman who es-
says to interest the public in temperance
through the newspapers must have devotion
to the interests Of her work. good Judgment
never-failing courtesy and patience, enter
prise in collecting news. brevity and clearness
of expression
Mrs S. j. Van Curen spoke Of the good
work done by parler meetings, and gave ex-
plicit directions for managing them successful
The first evening session Of the convention
opened auspiciously with a song service and
eloquent address by Miss Ida Clothier, OF
Manitou, Col. national organizer of the
young women. The address was not at all
on the lines OF the conventional temper
ance lecture. The speaker rather urged
women to aspire to a real life, the kernel OF
which is at least some work for others She
emphasized the thought that all reform has
a broadening and educating influence 1t Ia
work for humanity and at the same time
work for each individual home. The speaker