The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-11
y
Woman 'sWorId
AN HISTORIC EVENT
Last State Passed a Temperance
Education Law.
A CELEBRATION IN BOSTON
Campaign In Forty-five States and
Congress Directed by Mrs.
Mary III. Hunt.
CELEBRATION IN BOSTON

Nearly twenty years ago, the first temper
| ance education law in the world was en-
acted in Vermont. largely through the In
strumentality OF one devoted woman aided
by noble workers, especially the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. Through the
! same Observation-Disclosures. powerfully aided in
many instances By members OF religious and
philanthropic organizations, state after state
In rapid succession placed these laws upon its
| statute books. AS object lesson, tenn
perance education map was prepared show
Ing the state which had temperance education
laws In white. the states which had none
in black, and as such laws have been en-
acted in one state after another the black
covering OF each has been removed.
Mrs. Mary II. Hunt of Boston, referred to
above, whose earnest self-sacriflcing labors
| in behalf of this form of education have in
separately associated her name with it. has
just received the pen with which the gov
ernor of Georgia recently signed the last
OF these laws now enacted by the legislatures
of every one Of the forty-five states Of the
United States and by the national congress,
all of which require physiology and hygiene
with special reference to the effects Of alco-
holic drinks and ether narcotics to he taught
In all schools under state and federal control.
The removal Of the last black cap from the
temperance education map was therefore an
occasion of histoic interest, and a company
OF Well-known representative people gathered
informally in Mrs Hunts home In Boston
Saturday evening, JAM Is, to witness this
removal and to welcome Georgia to the white
sisterhood thus made complete. Pleasant re-
mln1scent speeches on many phases OF this
work were made by some Of those present
from several states, among the guests being
representatives of the leading city, state, ma
tional and world temperance organizations,
Of the Young Peoples Society OF Christian
Endeavor, Of the press, prominent clergymen,
the secretary Of the Massachusetts board of
education, and Others .......
Letters were read from friends of this
education in all parts of the country, among
them one from Mrs. Sibley, state president CT
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
of Georgia, and one from Governor Gambler
of Georgia, who signed this last law, thus,
by happy coincidence browning the work
to which he had already given valuable aid.
AS a member OF the forty-ninth congress,
Governor Gambler was chairman of the house
committee on education and his was the
decisive vote in that committee that led to
the favorable reporting and later the enact
ment Of the national temperance education
law IN 1886. 'a...
The state commissioner OF education of
Georgia having asked that the black cap
straightway be taken from the face of Georgia
on the map, a message drafted by the secre-
tary of the Massachusetts board Of educa-
ton was read to be send from this gathering
testifying that the black covering had been
duly removed in the presence Of distinguished
and representative witnesses from different
states, and expressing the hope that by means
Of this instruction the lives Of the children
might be as unspotted by wrong habits and
as white as the temperance education map OF
the United States now is
This study that gives with other laws of
health the scientific reasons for total abstin-
ence is now legally engrafted upon the edu-
cational system Of this entire country, and is
fast spreading to other lands. Its benefcent
results, already manifest in the greater So
briefly of the American workingman, and as
one factor in increasing the length Of human
life, are destined to become more and more
apparent The thorough enforcement of these
laws will mean new generation of citizens
too wise to stultify themselves with IN
toxicants, and thus the peaceful solution,
through education, \ of the alcohol problem.
Referring to this at the close of a brief
speech, Mrs. Hunt said as she removed the
black covering from Georgia the map:
'All American citizens should protect these
laws and their enforcement as they do thu
flag ITSELF