Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-12-06
THE W. c. 7. u.
As a Factor in National Politics
Past, Present and Future.

The W. {. 7 {; Is 10; political
organization, bat an important;
part of Its great mission has been
and Is to purify and exe:t whole
some influence or our national
politics. This body, composed of
some 700, 1000 of the best women OF
the country, has been factor to
be reckoned with In the politics OF
the past, and while 1t has not con
,rolled political action In general. IL
has exerted arestraining and mod
living influence which Is evident
enough to all who have closely
watched the progress OF political
events
In the first place this great mum
Der of Christian women with their
positive convictions regarding the
saloon, and their open, ardent zeal
in seeking It's destruction, could not
|f,il to influence Tho much larger
number OF voters with whom they
have come In contact, both in their
daily lives, on the platform, blythe
printed page and In their local and
general meetings
Hence we could confidently
infer that great sood had resulted
20 our national Politics even II we
could not d finuely point 1t out.
But some important results may
ne clearly 1lolcated This organ
ization has had a great deal tt do
With building: 40. the Prohibition
party MANY, If not malorit, OF
our straight GU, Prohibition voters,
are such because of the !phuence OF
the w CT.U
Now, the Prohibition party has
been small compared with the
others, but no true history of the
past thirty or forty years can ignore
its existence.
The full significance and power
OF Its beginnings will be realized
further on and the W.C.TU. will
be recognized as mighty factor In
Its growth.
Again this great organization
has had a wonderful restraining
power on the old parties; corrupt
as they are they would have been
much more so had 1t not been for
this restraining Ii huence. Instead
of being tbs open defenders ano
positive allies of the liquor traffic,
they have been compelled to take
the position of apologtsts and mega
tive allies, merely toleratins the
traffic for It's political support A
grand stride has thus been made
toward the destruction of the sa-
loon when 1t Is deprived OF It's pol
itical defenders and compelled to
turchase Its leave to be by political
patronage, No doubt, also,the gen
erai political toni Is much higher
than 1t would have been had It not
been for the influence of the lem
perance Union.
Their power has been telt also IN
the National congress where they
have had much to do In shaping
the policies and proceedings of that
DO y In connection with moral
questions.
Prominent examples are the pas
sage of the anti-canteen law ard the
unseating of polygamist, Mr.
Roberts, of Utah.
Other results might be mentioned
but these are sufficient for the pur
pose of this paper
At present the w. c. T. U. still
holds Its position of Influence and
is doing much to elevate the stand
ard of morality and purity In ou
national politics.
1t Is evident that a strong etfor'
will be made to have the canteer
estored during he next session OF
Congress
But the representatives of thew
c T u with o'hers are Watching
and the friends of the army liquo'
saloon we'll XIV the difficulty +"
overcoming this nigh y oPpositio'
TO their UBIQUITOUS schemes; W.
| nay we'll hope that in response to
he prayers and efforts OF thu
mighty host of women, God will
defeat these enemies of scbrie'
among our soldier boys and will
sweep away their retuRe of lies"
But what of he fu ur Mt be
Ing rophet we may not sp 'ak
verv confidently OF mat, but to,