The record-union., 1899-10-21

raising the age of protection for girls
until its age is ii instead of 10, and
in some States as high as Is years
The influence of woman has been IN
several instances instrumental in re-
firing immoral men from office and IN
preventing their nomination and elec-
ton to positions of trust and honor, and
the gospel of purity from w. c. T. U.
standpoint is now being pr reached where
twenty-five years ago there was ST.
lenee on the topic-not because woman
did not then care, but she did not dare
to speak as now; and in thus speaking
we are not to make known to those
about US practices of impure living, but
the calm and peaceful joy of purity.
''The consumption of alcoholic drinks
is growing less year after year. There
is only about one-half as much con-
sumed per capita in the United States
as there was quarter of a century
ago. This marks us as the most tenn
perate of all nations. For some years,
as the use of distilled liquors decreased,
there was an increase in the use of malt
liquors, which certainly is most encour-s
aging when we consider the large in
fiux of foreigners with their beer drink
ing propensities.
I'VE cannot be too thankful for the
great influence exerted by those stand
ing at the head of some of the great
industries in requiring total abstinence
of their employees. In reply to Ques
tions sent out by the United States
Department of Labor, it appeared that
among those discriminating against
drink were 80 per cent. of the railroads,
~ per cent. of the manufacturers, 90
per cent. of the traders and 72 per cent.
of the agriculturalists, the majority of
these forbidding the use of intoxicants
by employees, while some prohibit it
only While the employees are on duty.
Since 1874 prohibition has also ad-
Vanced. All of our members believe
IN the principle of prohibition, and dare
to proclaim that it is right, and the
question is agitated by good people in
every section of our country. Since
1914 Maine and Kansas have voted
prohibition into their Constitutions. and
the Dakotas and Rhode Island have
placed it in t&leirs, but in Rhode Island
1t was repealed through political trick
cry. Canada has declared by a. major
ity vote that it would like to outlaw
the liquor traffic. and the subject is be-
ing considered in many parts of the
world with far more seriousness and
hope than ever before.
we should give more attention to
the care of criminal and unfortunate
women. None but women should be
employed in the supervision of women
prisoners. This should apply not alone
to those in jails and penitentiaries. but
IN the police stations and to the unfor-
tunate in houses of correction, aims
houses, etc.
hen men of immoral character are
being talked of to fill places of high
position, it is the right of the mother.
who is trying to train her sons to lives
OF purity and honor, to protest in all
womanly ways, and such protest NAV
prevent, as it sometimes has, the nom
lnaton OF such men. By the same
token, when good men are sometimes
discontinued in office because they have
dared to stand for righteousness, we
should not be silent, but bring the
weight Of our influence to bear against
such action. There is nothing in the
world evil-doers like so we'll as to be
left alone and allowed to think that no
one notices what is being done.
The law in most of the States re-
garding the dissemination of immoral
literature is very imperfect.
I'VE certainly should complain when
the flag Of the United States is used to
advertise the liquor business. Let us be
watchful and claim for our homes and
our country all that we have the right
t0 claim under the law
ut is gratifying to note the increase
Of interest in the 'Curfew Bell Ordin-
ance.' I do not believe anything more
important could be done in preventive
lines than the Introduction of the cur
few bell in every community
Let us continue to take strong
grounds against lynching, and to give
all the help possible in building up total
abstinence and purity of principles and
habits. We are glad for the extension
of our work among the colored people
and urgently recommend that we try
to do more in the coming year.
Greater efforts should be made to
reach the far away and desolate
places.
Massachusetts has the first law in
the world prohibiting vivisection in the
schools. We wish other States might
follow this excellent example"
Mrs. Stevens paid a warm tribute to
the memory of Miss Willard, saying it
was hard for them to come to the con-
vention at the close of the first year,
during no part Of which they had had
her earthly leadership.
Mrs. Helen NJ. Barker, the National
/ Treasurer, reported a balance Of SO, ,435
This is larger than last year, covering
eleven months as the convention was
held month earlier, and was encour-
! aging. The Willard Memorial Fund
amounts to S3,26S. The Life Member
/ ship Fund received during the year
/ 81, JOG. The bequests aggregated $4,000
The organizing work cost $1,000, and
/ the superintendent had expended over
! $1,000. All in all, it was stated. the
outlook from financial standpoint was
very satisfactory.
Mrs. Susannah NJ. D. Fry, Corre-
spending Secretary, read her report,
from which this was taken:
When the National Woman's Christ
ian Temperance Union was organized
in Cleveland, Ohio, % years ago. no
one dreamed that its twenty-sixth con-
vention would be held in the then al
most unknown Territory Of Washing
ton, inaccessible by rail at that time
and for ten years thereafter. Nor was
any imagination so wild as to prophesy
that the presiding officer would travel
from the extreme northeastern State of
the Union to the extreme northwestern
one TO celebrate the silver anniversary
Of the organization.