The Portland daily press., 1896-11-14


st. Louis-Extends Thanks to Mrs.
Stevens for Her Intere est in Armenians
Says Colony VIII Be Founded For
Them.
St. Louis. November 13.-Ihe 500 OIL
GERS and delegates to the 23d annual con-
vention of the national Wet. u, were
called to order by President Frances E.
Willard.
Prior to this prayer meeting was
conducted in Schuyler memorial hall by
Miss Elizabeth Greenwood of New York
Miss Willard made an address in which
| she said: ''The labor mavement has
taken on proportions SO vast that no one
| speaks lightly of it any mora. They
are forgingstheir way to the front, mis-
guided often, making pitiful paths in
the wilderness, following false lights
andsrelegasing the fight for clear brain
to the Spartan band of prohibitionisss
when, If labor would win, it must make
the temperance reform it's arch of God
to be horne in the very van of its swift
gathering army.
When we we're in St. Louis 12 years
ago we declared for the emily party that
was pledged to prohibition and the
home protection ballot. AS there are now
two parties SO pledged, we cannot in con-
science declare for either. We are,
hope, the earnest friends of both and
shall In this convention make it plain
that we will lend our influence to any
party that incorporates our principles
into its platform. Isdon't mean we shall
endorse all the planks in that platform,
but only these embodying our princi-
ples.
Miss Willard then spoke of the wom-
an 8 ballot as ''the surest method of po-
iltloal prohibition. she spoke of the
Armenians and the excellent work done
BY Mrs. Stevens of Maine, Mrs Fessen-
dent and Mrs. Blackwell of Massachu-
setts in fndingahomes for the refugees
sent over by herself and Lady Henry
Somerset, and praised the Armenian
relief committee and the Salvation Army
for the admirable work done by them
30 that nearly 400 friendlsss men had
found friends and occupations.
She stated that the Worlds w, G. r.
U. intended to take up tAe work for the
Armenians as an Important part of it's
endeavor. They would probably founo a
colony in Cyprus for women and chill
dren. 1t had been stated by those who
ought to know that among aH the soci-
eties not one had sent in SO much for
tho Armenians as the W. q. T. d. She
gave notice that the National w. G. T.
U. would call upon all Temperance and
philanthropic societies throughout the
world to set apart March 90, the birth
day OF General Neal Dow, as g Prohibit
ion Day.
The report of the corresponding secre-
tary sums up the years work: Total
number of new unions organized, 1175:
total number of new members gained,
10, SSS. That the gains as shown by the
treasurer's books are not large by no
means invalidates this record. In too
many Instances the gain is offset by
corresponding loss. In others Hhard
times" has been potent factor. pre-
venting payment Of uuef; in H. any 9th
ers, many members, Joined in the last
half of the year and paid for six months
dues only making it necessary to count
two as one.
Without doubt the result of.tbis years
work will court largely in ths gains
of the next. The organizers will report
for themselves at a later period in the
convention.
At the AFTERNOON session the reports
OF the treasurer, Helen N. Barker of
illinois and the corresponding secretary. /
Mrs. Catherine L. Stevenson of Massa-
ohusstts, were presented and adopted.
The treasurer's report showed receipts
the past year were larger than for sew
eral years before. While many states
made gain in Nom bership only seven
gained 500 new mem bers.
Tho total receipts of the year were
sa7. 7o3 and the expenditures, s24.5Io.
Then followed the reports from each
of the departments superintendenrs
Among other reports presented was that
of Mrs. Hannah Bailey of Maine, "Peace
and International Arbitration" Mrs.
Bailey's report deprecated the custom
of allowing children to use as playthings
soldiers, guns and other articles sug-
gestive of war and urged that efforts be
made to restrict the publication of mill
tary stories.
The evening session was presided over
by MIS-. L. M. N, Stevens, vice president
at large. The evening was devoted to
addresses of welcome and oongratula-
tinuG