Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-03

| making, not ours, ana VIII be what they make
4 It. items and communications should be short,
and are, of course, subject to approval of the
| editor.l
GREETING FROM NATIONAL PRESIDENT.
The following letter of greeting and
advice from Mrs. Stevens to the Hancock
county W. g. T. U. was read at the recent
| convention in Stonington:
| PORTLAND, ME-, March %, 1901.
My Dear Comrades:
In few days, II nothing unforeseen
prevents, Miss Gordon and start for the
| South to attend southern conventions
| which occur in the spring, including the
state of Texas, where we shall make pre-
| liminary arrangements for the next
| national convention which will meet at
Fort Worth, Nov. is to 20. From that
point we shall go north to Michigan and
Wisconsin conventions, spend several
days at national headquarters, Evanston,
and then come to Maine. We can hardly
| expect to reach Maine in time to attend
the county conventions, as much as
/ would like to do SO.
| / remember gratefully the old days, and
not so very far away, when used to plan
to attend all of the county conventions
| In Maine each year II possible. Because
/ cannot be with you, love you none the
less, have none the less interest in your
well being, we'll doing and general pros
perity, and 80 wish to make this letter
| Of greeting to your county convention.
hope each local union in your county
is represented. The work of the local
union often languishes for lack OF just
such help and inspiration as can be re-
| ceived through the county convention,
and hope you will make plans at this
convention to insure the representation
of every local union at your next con-
| vention. This can be done by careful
foresight and planning.
! i hope the equity superintendents are
present; much OF the success OF the work
rests with them. They are the medium
between the State and the local work.
hope their reports will show that they
| have been active and successful.
| According to your county constitution
| the presidents of local unions are the
vice. presidents of the county union, and
| they are expected to assist the county
| president in building up the work, not
alone in their respective towns, but in the
| community at large. | urge upon you
the Importance of carrying out as fully as
| possible the plan of department work. l
| need not enumerate the departments, nor
| remind you that they are of Importance,
| else they never would have been formed.
We have much to encourage US at the
| present time. There is unmistakabiy
| temperance wave sweeping over our
| State; there is more interest in law en-
1
| law is better enforced in nearly every
| section of the State. The action of the
| Maine legislature in regard to resubmis-
| sion is q sure indication that the people
| of Maine still believe in the great princi-
| pie W hich formulated into law has been
| such BLESSING to the State. Out OF 143
votes, only thirty-seven OF the Legislators
| voted for submission, and several of the
| thirty-seven plainly stated that they vot-
| ed for resu omission because they thought
| we needed the agitation and education OF
an amendment campaign. They charged
| that temperance people are indifferent
and inactive-that while they say they
believe in prohibition, they make no Ell
| fort toward its enforcement. This is true
to some extent but let it never be justly
said that it applies to members of the W.
| c. 7. U.
/ hope at your county convention you
| will make the watchword, total absti-
| nence and prohibition-and prohibition
1 enforced-and that you will resolve that
| henceforth you will agitate the question
| of law enforcement in your homes, in
1 your social intercourse, in your prayer
meetings, and that you will arrange for
frequent public meetings under your
| auspices in which this shall be the topic.
| l have already several times expressed
the wish that Charles Sheldon's story
written for 'just such time as this',
"Who Killed Joe's Baby?"-a story true
to life-might be read in every school
| house, in every church, in every hall, in
every home, in the State of Maine. Nc
more effective meeting can be arranged
than to have this read in place OF the
| usual address or sermon.
| More should be done to report our work
| and make known our mem bers through
| the public press. AS rule, editors are
| friendly and will gladly take what is
| furnished them concerning the w. G. 7.
U. il it is sent in good form and when 1t
is news-not after It is an old story. So
please have a press superintendent in
every locality whether you have news
| paper printed in the town or not, VINO
| will report to the local paper or to the
paper most largely taken in the town.
| Again l say, We have much to encourage
| us. The decision of Chief Justice Wis
| well in regard to the legality of seizing
| liquors in railway stations, etc., the fail
ure OF the passage of the druggists bill,
the failure OF the repeal of the bill refer
ring to inn holders; the election of men
| to office as sheriffs, mayors, etc., who are
| well known to be in favor OF law enforce
ment-all point toward an increasing sem
| timent in favor of law and good order
throug hout the State.
The enemies of prohibition are more
active than ever. This should urge US to
renewed activity. Statistics are being
| scattered broadcast showing, or trying to
show, that prohibition is a failure, but it
is most significant that the liquor inter-
| est still hates prohibition as it does moth
ing else. The unreliabiIity of statistics
\ may be shown by the fact that the United
| States revenue tax list for Maine shows
that seven people have paid the brewers
tax, while it is we'll known to US in
| Maine there is not brewery within the
| borders of the State; and yet outside the
| State we are charged with having seven
| breweries. If the law is violated, If pro-
hibition does not annihilate, please bear
in mind what have been saying over and
over again and what beg you to believe
| to be true, that prohibition at its worst is
| better than any form of license (incIud-
ing the ch-talked-of dispensary) at its
best.
| Let us be true to all of our principles,
| let us never forget to wear our white
ribbon and to always stand squarely and
| openly for the great principles for which
| it stands.
| The State convention will meet at
| Biddeford, Sept. 25, 26, 81. Please try to
arrange for every union in the county to