Backbone. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1897-1906, 1899-04-01
State and National organization. It's aim /
Is to abolish the saloon

Is to abolish the saloon.
Many temperance and prohibition meet
ings are being held in st. Paul by the
Temperance Federation, the Prohibition
clubs, the w. c. T. Unions and the Anti
Saloon League.
Six of the National Soldiers Homes spent
over $234,OO0 for beer last year in their
canteens. Many of the veterans spend
more than half Of the amount of their
pensions for drink
The Congressional Temperance Society,
the oldest temperance organization that
has had a continuous existence in this
country, recently celebrated it's sixty -sev-
enth anniversary.
The North Dakota Enforcement League
will this year make a determined effort to
stamp out the saloons in the towns in the
Missouri slope. Steady progress is beir
made throughout the state.
State Chairman Jones says that the
Pennsylvania General Assembly contained
ID representatives who had been nominated
by the Prohibition party, and by other
bodies which had fused with them.
Michigan held it's state convention at
Jackson and nominated Frank B. Clarke
of Detroit, for justice of the supreme
court, to head the Prohibition ticket this
year. Over 100 delegates were present
The Young Peoples Prohibition League,
an organization whose active membership
is pledged to the support Of the Prohibit
ton party, with headquarters in New
York City, has just held it's second annual
convention.
The Vermont legislature, in response to
the imperative sentiment of her people, has
just reafirmed her prohibition laws by
the largest vote in her history, and, under
revival of law enforcement, the state is
swept clean Of bootlegs and joints
The intercollegiate Prohibition Associa-
ton is actively engaged in preparing for an
| extensive campaign in the colleges A ma
tional organizer is to be put into the field
with a view to visiting the colleges of the
| country and forming Prohibition clubs.
| According to the figures furnished by the
Treasury Department, the consumption OF
malt liquors per capita in this country dur
ing 1898, was 1854 gallons, distilled spir
Its, IL gallon, and vines, .28 gallon. The
estimates are on a population of n. 3S9. 600
Ninety per cent Of the territory of Geor
gia is now under prohibition. Kansas has
just defeated an attempt at resubmission
In her lower house Of the legislature, and
Tor two years has been enforcing prohibi
ton laws better and better. North Da.
kota Is standing like Gibraltar for prohi
bition.
The Bidwell brothers, who, with several
confederates, gained fame by defraudina
| the Bank of England out Of $4,000, OOO
through forged securities, are dead. They
lectured in the Twin Cities two or three
| months ago, giving an account Of their
career, including their twenty years in
prison, and warning young men of the dan
ger Of drink.
At the National w. C. T. u. Convention
| In st. Paul, resolution was adopted that
| June 10, Mr.. Demorest's birthday, be set
apart as the memorial medal contest day
Of Mr.. and Mrs. W. Jennings Demorest,
and that on this day medal contests be
held by all local unions The Union Sig
nal wisely suggests that sketch of the
life of Mr.. and Mrs. Demorest constitute
one number on the program
The Frances e. Willard National Temper
ance Hospital was the first temperance
hospital In the United States, though one
had been doing good work in London for
many years previous, and encouraged the
W. c. I. U. to conduct one on similar lines
IN Chicago. So well has the pioneer work
been done that many physicians have abon-
doned the use Of alcohol in all their prac-
tlce who at first only tried it in the Tenn
perance Hospital. Some other existing
hospitals seeing its good work, have adopt
ed the same basic principle as the rule in
theirs.