The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10
THE w. C. T. u. BUSY DAY
THIRTY SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT
TO THE STATE CONVENTION.
Women Congratulate Themselves on
Progress in Gaining CO-Opern ton
OF the Daily Papers.
specIal % the Indianapolis journal.


Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
| SOUTH BEND, Ind, Oct. 9.-This fore
Moons session of the twenty-fourth annual
state convention of the Indiana W. c. T.
! L. was occupied with brief reports of de-
partments. There are thirty departments
and about half of them reported. This
| afternoon the following state officers We're
elected: President, Mrs. Luella f. Nc
Whirter of indianapolis; vice pre- sident, Miss
Mary Hadley, of Bloomingdale; CORE
spending secretary, Mrs. Mary e. Balch, OF
| Indianapolis; recording secretary, Rev
| Mrs. NJ. o. Cammack of Marion; treasurer,
| Mrs. Amanda T. Whiteson, of Indianapolis
Trustees for the Hadley Industrial School
| for Girls were elected as follows: Two years
Mrs Lucia Hobart, of Indianapolis, and
| Mrs. Flick; three years, Mrs. Kate Men
| denhall of Hendricks county; Mrs. Ward
| ner, of Laporte, and Mrs. Anna Johnson, of
Grant county.
Mrs. Adah Winery White, of Oxford.
Ind, state superintendent of scientific tenn
perance instruction, offered the first report,
it being devoted largely to the efforts which
had been put forth during the past year to
extend the teaching of scientific temper
ance in Indiana. The motto of this depart
ment is The star of temperance reform
rises over the American schoolhouse." Mrs.
w ille ueSTeS lndL Scle0llHC lSlIuCllOn DS
extended to every school district of the
State. The report stated that Boone county
stood at the head of the counties of the
State in this department, and assigned as
the reason for this the system used in that
county of granting prizes for school es-
says on scientific temperance. Noble coun-
ty followed with an excellent report, show
ing a complete county organization of the
work Tippecanoe county also submitted a
good report. Many unions that have felt
unable TO hire lecturers have secured resi-
dent physicians to lecture on the temper
ance work. Letters were also read from
several normal schools encouraging the
work of this department.
The report of the Sunday-school depart
ment was presented by Mrs. Alice G. Geary,
of LoganSport who dWelt on the thorough
ness of the work in her department The
Sunday schools, as a rule, contribute two
thirds of their membership as pledged
members" In one instance the report
showed that the superintendent and teach
er had given up the use of tobacco in order
to become examples to the pupils.
The report Of the state superintendent on
Narcotics drew the interest of the whole
convention, and, while the report was BRIEF,
the items showed that much work had been
accomplished. Mrs. Fannie B. Calkins is
the state superintendent of this department.
Her report told Of the long lists of sigma
lures to the petitions against the sale of
cigarettes and the final victory gained when
a law was passed prohibiting the sale of
cigarettes to minors. The superintendent
accorded the greater part Of the honor for
lis who devoted her time, energy and talent
to the work.
BANNER SUPERINTENDENT.
An excellent report was presented by Mrs.
Mary E. Balch, of the oratorical contest
medal department She holds the honor of
being the banner superintendent of the
United States. Mrs. Balch is energetic in
her work and all items of her report showed
good results from her labors. 1t was re-
ported that forty-four counties had held 22S
medal contests during the year. great
gain was also reported for the year in the
number of boys and young men enlisted, and
incidents were cited where young men on
the way to ruin have been brought back to
the path of truth and right" by these con-
tests.
The reports of the mercy department, Of
the orphans home department and of the
unfermented wine department were submit
ted by proxy in the absence of the state
superintendent.
One of the best reports was submitted by
Sue w. Grouse, of Lafayette, Ind, state
superintendent of the press department. Her
report was brimfull of enthusiasm ana
promise for future good things. The report
of Grant county seemed to deserve special
mention from the superintendent 1t mas
eleven papers, in each one Of which is de-
partment devoted to the w. G. I. Y. rms
report urged personal work and laid the bur
den of the advan cement of the union at the
hands of the local workers Hundreds OF
dollars worth of space has been obtained
by this department in the secular press and
that which is more heartily treasured-that
courtesy, kindness and difference 10 our
work which at one time was unknown.
The department of franchise" was
handled BY, Miss NJ. A.. Tompkins,. Of Elk
hart who began as follows: indiana Ina, mas
forward with Fastening steps to the time
when husband and wife, brother and sister,
will walk arm in arm to the polls on cleo
ton day. Noiselessly, like angels of mercy,
will women approach the ballot box, and for
God, and home, and native land, drop from
their fingers the slip of paper which viii
help to elect men of exalted character to
the political honors of the Nation. Inc
body of the report dealt in statements re-
garding the distribution of literature and
letters and the number of lectures and ser
mons delivered on the subject.
Mrs. l.. w. Gambler, of Richmond, state
superintendent of the railroad department
gave good report on the work of the
union among railroad men; also, among hre
engine houses and livery stables. The prime
object of this department was shown TO be
the distribution of literature and the extern
sion of help to the sick and suffering. -,.,,
Mrs. Cula j. Vayhinger, of Moore's Hill,
reported in brief on ''Sabbath Observance
which was well accepted
OUR JAILS AND PRISONS.
Miss Ellen K. Denny of Vincennes, in a
comprehensive report on "Jails and Pris-
ons," said, in part 1.-The ingenuity Of man
has been exhausted TO eIecl ii CHdHSe III
our prison system and remodel a criminal
punishment, severe, cruel and degrading,
and instead, resort to treatment kind and
surroundings agreeable; yet, they have
failed simply because reformation could not
be effected only through divine agencies
A woman's hand was needed to lead into
the light and a womans voice to utter the
message that will reach to the uttermost
and save q man that has committed all the
sins a wicked man doeth. From the differ
ent counties that are organized in the State
there comes cheering reports. Jails visited
gospel services held literature distributed,
many signing the pledge, reforms in prison
management inaugurated, men incarcerated
in jails because they were menace to So
cicty, coming out to be benefit to So
ciety, because they had found the secret of
a true life. This word comes from many of
the superintendent: I hope to do better
another year, my heart is in the work and
l am sure the Lord is pleased to have me
bless me. We have held song and prayer
service which we know has been owned and
bleSt by our great leader. Many letters
have been received from prisoners telling
how happy they are since the Lord has par
doned their sins and what comfort the
Bible is to them "
Miss II. Livinia Bailey, of Spiceland,
state superintendent Of peace and arbitra-
ton, was absent and her report was read
by delegate.
Miss Georgiana Moser of Loogootee. is