The record-union., 1896-11-17
The Morning Session Devoted to Reports
Of Department SuperintendentS.
Mrs. Catherine Stevenson's Views in
Relation to the Press.
The Work Among Foreigners Re-
ported by the Superintendent to be
Progressing FavorabIy, Although
Influenced by the General De-
preston in Business.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 16.-Mrs Charlton
Enholm of New York conducted the
prayer meeting of the w. C. T. u. con-
vention this morning, while Mrs Annie
Nj. Palmer, the national evangelist from
Iowa, led the season of prayer when
the convention was called to order at
8 o'clock.
The special order of the morning
was the reports of department superin-
tendents. Mrs. Katherine Lente Stew
enson of Massachusetts presented the
report of the Department of the Press.
in which she took somewhat radical
ground concerning the relation of the
organization to the newspapers. On
this point she said:
we have not attempted to keep a
record of the money value, at advertis-
ing rates, of items furnished to the
press, but it can easily be seen that it
would be an enormous sum- Person
ally l do not like to put our work for
the press upon the basis of paid ad-
vertisements. / prefer to think what
the newspapers would pay for the items
we have furnished gratuitously, if sent
to them as is the majority of the mat
readily see that in such a case the bal
ance would be Overwhelmingly on the
other side.
1t seems to me that it is upon just
the basis that our work should be con-
sdered.
1t is true that we have received
great favors from the press, but it is
equally true that we have granted them
IN making it possible for the papers to
fill constantly increasing demand on
the part of their readers | believe this
view of the situation will be more and
more realized, and expect to see the day
not very far distant when this depart
ment will be self-supporting and when
the majority of our leading papers will
appoint w. G. T. u. editors
Mrs. Stevenson went on to say: "No
other agency in the affairs of the people
so truly deserves to be called the power
behind thes tbcsae as does the press
w here the pulpit and lecture hall reach
hundreds and thousands weekly, the
papers and magazines reach millions
daily. The potent factor each printed
word may become in molding Thought
and influencing action we cannot over
continually of legislative issues carried
or defeated. of lives turned into the
channels of Righteousness or unright-
eousness, according to the printed word
which was suffered to influence indi-
viduals or national minds. These things
being so, it becomes a matter of the
utmost Importance that the papers of
our land should be made the channels
of purity rather than impurity: right
eousness ratherI than unrighteousness:
truth rather than falsehood; u 90 pa
pers and magazines are published in
our own country alone.
If the trend of even the majority of
these was always and unequivocally to-
ward the highest good we should
hasten by mighty strides the inbring-
ing of the kingdom of heaven, which is
the kingdom of righteousness. The
Womans Christian Temperance Union
at very early period of it's existence
recognized the Importance of securing
this agency for the promulgato of its
principles. From the very first we have
Striven to establish a relationship of
mutual helpfulness and cooperation
between the press and our own organ
ization
That this relationship has constant
ly grown in strength and cordiaiity we
are continually assured. We are no
longer forced to sue for entrance to the
columns of the papers of the land, but
they are thrown wide open to US, and
heartiest words of appreciation are
spoken concerning the value of the
matter we bring"
AT the afternoon session the reports
of the superintendent We're made.
Mrs. Matilda b. Carse of Illinois.
President of the Publishing Associa-
ton, reported the receipts S125,337, and
expenditures S125. .151. The receipts
in 1896 were S14, ,462 less than in 1895.
but a net gain was made of $516. The
financial storm had been weathered by
reducing expenses. the volume of busi-
ness being smaller.
Mrs Carse also submitted a report on
.NThe Temple She had raised S141, ,39S
of the 100000 needed to buy trust
bonds, and would try to secure the ball
ance this year. The interest on the
bonds had been paid.
Mrs. Sophia F. Grubb. superintendent
of the work among foreigners, reported
it was progressing favorably, although
Influenced by the general depression in
business.