The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-13
The w. G. T. U. and Lady somerset.
70 the Editor of the Press:


We note with interest what you have to
say in your issue of October ~, relative
to trouble in the Woman's Christian
temperance Union and the probability
OF a split at the coming Worlds W. G.
L. U. convention in Toronto. We beg
leave to make the following statement of
facts
Lady Henry Somerset is strongly OPP
posed to the q. d. Acts, but she believes
that vice cansbe most efficiently checked
by requiring that the habits of the soldiers
In India should be under the strictest
supervision, and that their standing in
thls regard shall affect their promotion in
the service. She asks that men and women
| alike be under the same supervision. But
white ribbon women do not countenance
any other method than prOhibi lion of this
evil as OF it's cognate evil the liquor
traffic. Lady Henry holds the same view
as the Bishop of Hereford, Florence
Nightingale, Mrs Humphrey Ward, and
the sailors friend,' Agnes Weston, and
others of the same high character, the
honesty of whose motives 1t would be
absurd to question.
We need hardly to restate that the off
GERS and members of the w. G. 7. U. in
England and America and every land are
totally opposed 10 these views, and lament
what they conceive to be a grave error in
Judgment on the part of these philan-
| thropists.
| Referring to the charge that there is an
| intention to modify the total abstinence
pledge, we have to say, that no one can
| be a member Of the Woman's Christian
| Temperance Union who is not pledged
against the use of intoxicants as a beYer-
age, including the lighter as well as the
stronger drinks; and there has been no
attempt to retreat from this position.
Lady Henry Somerset is strict total alb
stainer under this pledge.
| 1t would be strange if in great world
wide society like ours, there did not arise
some misunderstanding and some jeal-
ousies. With that side we do not propose
to deal just now, except to say that those
| who are against us are a thousand times
| is no probability of "splitH at the con-
vention of the Worlds W. G. Il. U. in
Toronto. The annual council of the
British Woman's Temperance association,
Notwithstanding Lady Henry's isolated
position on this question, reelected her
president of the association with only
seventeen dissentients, out of five hundred
delegates who voted, Later on as criti-
cisms on her proposed methods tor the
suppression OF vice were made, Lady
Henry felt 1t best to offer her resignation.
The National executive COMMITTEES of the
British Woman's Temperance association
mum ering one hundred members by a
vote of four to one expressed their conf
dence in her, as the leader and president
of the 3D.. w. L. A.. and urged her to
remain president Of the association,
whereupon she withdrew her resignation.
Among those who voted to retain her
were such women as Mrs. Ormiston Chant
and Mrs. Sheldon Amos, who, it may be
remembered. were among the original
workers for the repeal of the G. d. Acts.
In view of the attitude taken by the
women of Great Britain, in expressing
their confidence in Lady Henry as an
officer, no one has reasonable right to
prophecy that she will be "deposed' at
the Worlds Convention.
1t seems unnecessary to state that Miss
Willard is now rs she has ever been I'M
alterably opposed to state regulation OF
vice, or licensing the liquor traffic. We
have every reason to believe that the
hearts of the women do safely trust in
her. as they have these many years.
Very truly yours,
AGNES E. SLACK, 81
Secretary WorId's W: G. I. o.; Secretary
British Woman's Temperance Associa-
tion.
l.. NJ. N. STEVENS,
Vice President at Large National W. C.
Il. u; President Maine W. c. T. q.