The record-union., 1899-10-21

SEATTLE, Oct. 20-White ribboners,
TO the number Of nearly 5UO, are Ill
Seattle, participating in the twenty
fifth annual convention of the w. G. L.
L., and celebrating in song, in prayer
and in joyful thanksgiving the silver
jubilee Of the organization. On the
breasts Of the members, who come from
every State and almost every Territory
Of the Union, f1utter white badges, let
tered in silver, emblematical of the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the founda-
ton of the society.
To-day the convention was tormaliy
opened by the National President, MIS-
L. NJ. n. Stevens. Then came reports
of officers and miscellaneous exercises
In the eveningfGovernor Rogers, IN oe-
half of the State of Washington; Mayor
Humes, speaking for the city or Seatt4e'
which has the distinction Of entertain
ing the delegates; Judge Roger p
Greene of the Chamber Of Commerce.
Rev. Hugh Gilchrist, for the churches
Of the city; Miss Mary L. Page, state
President, and Mrs. Mary B. Reese, 10
cal President, welcomed the delegates
to the city and State.
The best evidence of what has peen
accomplished in the twenty-five years
of it's existence by the organization
whose foe is the demon drink, was
contained in the reports of the generai
officers. which were read this morning
and afternoon, and the personal testi-
mony of the national organizers. Con-
stant reference was made during the
proceedings to the first meeting Of wo-
men at Cleveland in 1874, which had for
its object the inauguration of war
against the liquor traffic, and Whlch
started a movement which soon be-
came national in extent and scope.
Probably the best summary of the
work done by the w. c. T. U.-was fur
nished in the report Of the National
President, Mrs. Lillian NJ. Stevens. She
said that the per capita consumption oi
alcoholic beverages had decreased one
half in the past quarter Of century
that prohibitive legislation had been
carried in a number of States and was
steadily advancing; that the average OF
the age of consent had been increased
from 10 10 II years. She denounced
the action of Secretary Alger and At
torney General Griggs in regard to the
canteen law, and urged the organlza-
ton to take measures calculated to re-
suit in the expulsion of Brigham A
Roberts. member-elect Of Congress
from Utah. from that body.
The delegates were slow in assem-
bling, and it was nearly noon before
they arrived at the convention hall.
In her address, Lillian NJ. \. Stevens
President of the National W. c. t. U.
said:
This is not alone the closing year Of
the century, but of our quarter-cen-
tury's existence as a society. Doubt
less there are at the present time more
total abstainers in our country, accord
ing to the population, than there has
ever been in any other period of oul
history. The greatest gain, however
has been made during the last quarter
of a century One Of the most potent
factors in bringing this about is the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
with its do everything policy
There were present at the first con
vention, August -, 1874, in response
to the call sent out from Chautauqua
representatives from sixteen States. II
this convention we have the right tC
expect that every State and territoria
w. G. T. L. is represented by some ot
it's officers and by appointed delegates
each delegate having a home constit
uency Of 500 paying members Here
too. are National Superintendents, Or
ganizers, Lecturers. Evangelists, Char
men of Standing Committees, w. c. T
L. visitors-a great host aiming to pub
lish the word of God as given to them
"Since the first convention great ad
vance has been made in the cause o
purity, total abstinence and prohibition