Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-05

Movement Against President Mckin.
ley Not Official.

1t is very evident that the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union does not ap-
prove Of the "Circle Of Prayer which was
started some time ago with a view of de-
feating the reelection of President McKin-
ley, on the strength of the charge made by
member Of the union in Indiana that the
President Is responsible for the canteen
system in the army.
The president Of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union of the District of Co.
lumbia has received information which
shows that the Circle Of Prayer was cir
culated by one member of the organZat ton
In Indiana, and that in so doing she rep
resented no one but herself The union of
the District has positively dsavowed any
sympathy with the object of the "circle of
prayer"
The following communication clearly sets
forth the position of the Woman's Chris
tan Temperance Union in the District of
Columbia
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
As you have already given space in your
columns for notice and criticism. and
very Just one. of a certain "CiCrcle of
Prayer, said to emanate from the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union of In
diana, the object of which is the non-re-
election of Mr.. Mckinley. We of the Dis
trict Woman's Christian Temperance Union
desire to make statement of atti
tude toward the same.
In the first place we are not disposed to
believe that the plan referred to has any
official authority from the State Woman's
Christian Temperance Union Of Indiana.
We ourselves received some months ago
request to unite In some such plan, but
the note received was not only unofficial.
but anonymous, and we took no notice OF
anything trivial.
Now, as to this Prayer Circle" allow us
to say that while we, In common with all
w. c. T. U. women, are opposed to the can
teen in our army posts. and deeply deplore
the action of President Mckinley in the
matter. we have no sympathy with
movement which obtains Importance chiefly
through the press, and which has never
been mentioned in our daily correspondence
with national and state officers all over our
country.
The Woman's Christian Temperance
Union organization is not in any
sense a political one and while we stand for
the prohibition of the liquor traffic. we do
not advocate any political party or work
for any particular candidate.
The District w. C. T. L. very distinctly
disavows either sympathy with or partici-
patton in the action which we hope is mis-
takenly ascribed to the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union of Indiana.
Mrs. Clinton Smith, president; Louisa S.
Weightman, corresponding secretary: Mrs.
Emma 8. Shelton, recording secretary;
Mrs. Theresa A. Williams, treasurer.
September 8. 1900.
P. S.-Since the above was written the fol-
lowing letter. dated Indianapolis, September
3, has been received from Mrs. Luella Nc
Whittier. president of w. c. T. U. Indiana:
Dear Mrs. Smith: Your kind letter just
received and greatly appreciated. The Nc
Kinley prayer chain has no official indorse-
ment whatever Of the Indiana w. c. T. U.
AS an individual, without consulting Others
Mrs. Balch sent out copies OF this prayer
chain. and l have been kept busy for the
last week responding to kilograms. letters.
telephone messages. &C.: also with inter-
views with newspaper correspondents of
other cities.
You cannot realize the length and breadth
of this unsought and unwelcome nOtoriety.
Yours.
MRS. LUELLA F. McWHIRTER"