The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-06
THE WHITE RIBBONS.

The Women's Christian Temperance
Union of Texas convened in its fifteenth
annual state convention yesterday, in this
city, at the Baptist church, which had
been beautifully and deliberately deco
rated for the occasion with national and
state flags, temperance banners, ferns,
palms and flowers. Appropriate notices
flashed down upon the assembly, the
one stretched back of the president S
stand reading: For God and Home and
Native Land" Fronting the presidents
stand was the motto of the union, "All
Round the World the White Ribbon Is
Entwined." A picture of Miss Frances
Willard was conspicuous just back of the
officers stand.
The president, Mrs. Helen StOddard,
called the convention to order at
o'clock, and the devotional exercises
were led by Mrs. d. d. S. Millar of Pal
estine.
Roll call showed the following officers
present: President, Mrs. Helen Stod-
dard, Dallas; corresponding secretary,
Miss Hattie Henderson, Oak Cliff; re-
cording secretary, Mrs. Harriet U. Can
field, Dallas; treasurer. Mrs. j. A. s.
Curtis, Beaumont; secretary Y branch,
Miss Laura Van AIKEN. San Antonio;
vice presidents, Mrs. e. S. Tracy, Hous-
ton; Mrs. Emma Talbot. Texarkana
Mrs. L. e. r. Schimelpfenig, Plano;
Mrs. Fannie Reese Pugh, Houston; Mrs.
Alice Boon, Smithville; Miss Laura Van
AIKEN, San Antonio.
In addition to the officers there were
about forty delegates present.
The recording secretary then read the
minutes and report of the executive COM
mittee ordering the change of place for
the publication of the White Ribbon
from Waco to Hearne, and all were APP
proved without dissenting vote.
The next business was the appointment
of committees, and Miss Hattie Hender-
son moved that it be postponed until the
afternoon session. Carried
- The president then appointed little
Miss Theo Vredenburgh u page, and
Mrs. Crutland to take charge of the liter
allure table. She called the attention of
delegates to little work on parlia-
mentary rules, to be had for the small
sum of five cents, and it is evident that
the White Ribbons, unlike the legisla-
ture, will conduct their business in strict
w.
Miss Hattie Henderson, corresponding
secretary, called attention to the fact
that reports from some of the districts
had failed to reach her. and she moved
that her report be postponed until to-
morrow afternoon. Carried.
With this change, the program as
published in Sundays Statesman was
adopted.
President Mrs. Helen Stoddard then
read her annual report, showing among
other things that she addressed the nor
NAL schools during the past year and at
tended the Crittenden meeting at Hous-
ton and the national convention at st.
Louis. She also attended the mis-
siOnary assembly in the City of Mexico
and organized two unions. During the
year she wrote and sent out 1885 letters
1000 mimeOgraph letters and 179 pos
tails, making a total of personal cOmmu-
nications of 1854.
She gave thirty-seven stereOpticon en-
and made twenty-seven ad-
dresses, without the views. She held
meetings twenty-six times,
mothers meetings four times and one
meeting for men only. She held chill
dren's meetings three times and adj
dressed schools five times, making al
total of 1O5 addresses and meetings.
Mrs. Green of Colorado. a national or
ganizer, who was present, was then, on
motion. unanimously made member of
the convention, and she neatly and ap-
returned her thanks for the
honor conferred.
The convention then with one accord
sang with much spirit "All Round the
World the White Ribbon Is Entwined."
1t was rendered to the air of '"Old Black
Joe" and it was full of that old planta-
ton melody that reaches down after a
fellows heart.
Mrs. J. A. S. Curtis, treasurer, then
read her report, showing receipts for the
past year to be $249. She had reports
from thirty-nine points in Texas that
have unions, with an aggregate member
ship of about $50.
This ended the business for the fore
noon and the convention. at the sugges-
ton of the president. took recess to |
shake hands and get acquainted with |
new members.
Afternoon Session.