New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-26
W. C. r.. Z. CLOSED TO HIM.
ANTHONY COMsTOCK APPEAPED AT THE
CONVENTION AND THEN WITHDREW.
HIS OPPOSITION TO THE BILL PREPARED By THE
UNION LED TO REQUEST THAT HE BE
EXCLUDED FROM THE MEErINd-HE

HAD BEEN INVITED TO CONE
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union con-
tinued its convention yesterday IN the lhroop
Avenue Presbyterian Church, with Mrs. H. r.
pett,nsiIl in the chair The proceedings were
opened with short addresses. Mrs. f. l.. Wooo
spoke on THE Loyal Legion: Mrs u. 1. berger
Temperance Literature and the Press MIS-
Meta H. Cook Temperance and LABOR anu
Mrs G. G. Bishop "Heredity ana Noh-f>ico-
holics and Medicine" In the course OF Mrs Mary
f. Newton's remarks on Scientific Temperance
Instruction." the provisions Of the Ainsworlh
law. Of recent enactment. which places the study
Of the subject within the public school curic-
uun, came in for scoring. Mrs. Pettingiil
wbo &c q member Of the Board OF Education. went
to the defence of the measure. and for seVerai
minutes there was an exchange OF arguments.
Another incident OF the morning session was
the fault found with the president ior GIVING
permission to John Martin. the HUSBAND OF 'he
Surer;rtonden, Of the National Union. to fetch
Anthony Comstock to the convention Mrs. Har-
RE; Pritchard the state Superintendent OF the
Department on Purity in Literature ana Ar
entered an objection 10 the convention alo"i"s
Comstock to speak. Mrs. fritchard 'o'o inc co"-
ro,,,on that II was greatly to her sorrow 10
make public the manner in which MI Conls'ocN
had condemned the union NJ. Pritchard went
Mr. Comstock who told her that Mrs. Martin the
vot,o,a, Superintendent had instructed him TO
see Mrs Pritchard and get her to cooperate Win
hin, In having a bill passed in the Legs ia'ure
..uE, WOULDN'T CHANGE A SINGLE WORD"
Mrs Pritchard told how she urged Mr.. COM
stock to frame bill. She said he did 1t, and that
she and others approved Of the DILL with 'he
execution of certain phrases, which she ordered
r
Mrs Pritchard the bill told her that MI Com
stock "wouldnt change a single word In the
bill"
Mrs Pritchard then told how the State Union
through her framed BILL which went 10 the
LEGISLATURE and that Comstocks Dill was a'so
there though both had one object IN view MIS-
Pritchard added that. though II was iate IN '"e
session, her bill passed the Assembly by Vo'e
OF 55 10 81 Mrs. Pritchard went on ~ tell no"
In the presen: Legislature Comstock framed an
other bill and. because he could not get the
Endorsement of the union TO 1t, nc condenlheu
the union Mrs Pritchard added that, in view
of Mr.. Comstocks utterances, II was not IAN ~
have him address the convention
All that Mrs Prtchard told the convention
WAS news. Her action upheld. 1t was de-
cided that Mr. Comstock should not be perml'teo
70 sneak. telegram was thereupon sent TO
Mr. Comstock but he arrived at the convention
at 2 o'clock Yesterday afternoon, in the company
Of Mr.. Martin.
CONSTOCK WITHDRAWS.
His appearance was a great surprise 10 'he
women who were assembled. Mrs Lewis the
vice president went up to MI Comstock anu
told him of the action Of the convention. lie
and Mr. Martin withdrew from the church
When the convention was over. Mrs Prtchafu
hy rTrih repDrter.
most crying and said that in her OPINION MI
Comstock prosecuting her.
"I can assure YOU" she said. that 1t was with
feeling Of great regret that ] told all about
Mr. Comstocks attitude to the convention TO-
dav tried my best TO keep 1t from becoming
public I do not understand his reasons ior
condemning our union because we nave always
been striving for a good cause. and as regarus
this bill in the Legislature. though We each had
bill both bills had object in view, ana ne
should certainly not have condemned us as ne
did
~ do not know why Mr. Comstock should at
| tack Mrs Burt the State Superintendent, who'
he saws. went before the Legislature and OPP
posed his bill As matter Of fact. she was never
! there but | was. and our hill was introduced
! two DAYS before his. | refused TO advocate ms
bill as it was not one that a woman sho QUIZ
handle. 1t seems to me that the trouble Win
| Mr. Comstock Is that Re thinks that no one mas
a right to work for social purity without first OBJ
tanning permission from him.
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT
Mrs Pettengin the president. said
your readers are no doubt familiar with the
fact that we had a bill for the suppression Of
vice introduced in the Legislature. and that Mr..
Comstock has also had a bill introduced Of a
somewhat similar character. Mr.. Comstock
seems to think that our measure is antagonistc
Cd
thinks his bill covers the ground better than
the one advocated by the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. He claims that II the State
| authorities Of the Union would withdraw their
| measure his bill would have better chance Of
| becoming law He has issued n circular letter
to the various presidents Of the local unions. to
which he could get access saying that Mrs
Burt, the State president. and Mrs. Pritchard
| have interfered with the passing Of his bill, and
calls both Of them to task for doing So MI
! Martin, who is with Mr.. Comstock. came to the
| convention this morning and asked for the
privilege Of the floor for few minutes TO speak
| in favor of his measure, and to explain why he
wished us to withdraw our bill
"He suggested that II Mr.. Comstock could have
| the floor for ten minutes they would be grateful
| AS the presiding officer Of the convention said
! that if Mr.. Comstock would come in the after
| noon he could have the floor for ten minutes. and
Mr. Martin left. Later ! stated In the conven-
ton that had consented to Mr.. Comsocks ap-
| pearing on the floor to discuss the comparative
| merits OF the two bills Then. my own re-
| sponslbity sent him a dispatch stating that his
| circular letter had created such feeling among
the women present that he had better not ap-
| pear before the convention
| The officers who were elected late in the after
noon were: Mrs. f. F. Pettengill, president;
| Mrs V A. Lewis. vce-president; Mrs. H. A..
| PrItchard corresponding secretary; Mrs. L. A.
Reach recording secretary; Mrs. NJ j. Annabe,
treasurer, and Miss Croft. assistant treasurer.
| 4 LAWYER ARRESTED.
| D. Edgar Anthony. lawyer with an Office in the
| Germania Building arrested by Deputy Sher-
iffs French and Moore yesterday Oh an attachment
issued by Judge Beekman. OF New-York. Since
March H. when the attachment turned over