The Somerset reporter., 1902-10-23
National Convention of w. q. T.
L. at Portland.

| e'S hfb" insLaut' luIcc SFsElOus were
held daily, beginning at $50 a. N. snc
closing 81 $50 p. N. A feature OF Fri
day was the arrival OF Lady Henry
Somerset, pre- ident Of the worlds W. G.
t. u, and Rev. Henry S. Sanders OF
England, whose appearance on the plat.
form was the signal for an enthusiastic
| demonstration. Little business was
transacted, the day being devoted to the
presidents address, reports OF officers,
organizers and branches and welcome
night. The four addresses OF welcome
and responses made the evening meeting
enjoyable.
The address of Mrs. Stevens the presi.
dent, was strong, able and interesting
document. She gracefully welcomed
the delegates 10 the ''hostess State" of
I Maine and said that this State OF $50
miles of seaboard has 5000 miles In bays,
| coves and beaches. She asked for the
| political enfranchisement OF women for
the sake of her uplifting influence, for
| the best interests of the home, the school
and the State.
She spoke thankfully of the good work
Of the members of the union, and tender
ly OF the dead. Her tribute to Sheriff
Pearson was very touching.
She asked for international and in
dustrial peace, and for the cooperation
of all that it might be go. She spoke Of
the necessity for constant work, for a
boundless charity, for unity of action.
| Abiding to the situation In Maine,
she said in part:
Judge Bonney of Portland, who has
twenty-four years of judicial experience
said in charging jury few weeks ago
1.-The whole liquor business Is under the
ban OF the statute, and the liquor dealer
is an outlaw. | hope the good people
of Maine will never consent to make the
Defarious business lawful, as they Ger
tainly can never make it respectable
He further said, what every rightminded
intelligent person knows to be true,
"The Prohibitory Law of the State was
enacted to prevent the miseries and
wretchedness OF intemperance, the
supreme evil which atf1icts mankind"
His views are in accord with those of
Names leading statesmen of the past
and Of the present time.
Notwithstanding this there Is still in
the air and in some of the papers con-
! siderable talk about resubmission, and
strange to say, some really honest tenn.
perance people appear to favor it. They
argue that the large majority vote pro-
| hibition would again receive, would
silence the enemies of the law who de.
clare that the people do not now want
prohibition, and so would insure much
| better enforcement of the law. The
| liquor interest is at work also for resub.
mission with the hope that it would lead
| TO the repeal o. the law, which they fear
and despise. We have no doubt but the
law IL submitted would be overwhelming
| ly retained, but 1t would be deplorable
for the temperance forces to be obliged
to combat the united forces OF the liquor
sellers, gamblers, law defiers and the
most degraded elements from within, as
well as from outs de the State, such as
resubmission campaign would certainly
call together. 1t is on this ground very
largely that Congressman Littlefeld is
opposed TO resubmission. He says he
does not believe in devoting time and
energy to issues that tend to divert at
tention from the real question, the nom.
ination, election and support of officials
who will strictly enforce the law.
"The election of law-enforcement
sheriffs was the issue In the last Maine
campaign which has just closed, and the
result while disappointing in some par
ticulars, Ia indicative that prohibition
sentiment is by no means waning. 1t Is
predicted by those who are able to Judge
that the way OF the liquor seller in Maine
will be unusually hard the coming year.
at Is urged by the opponents of pro-
hibition that the prohibitory law leads
to hypocrisy and to the corruption which
sometimes comes to public knowledge in
connection with its enforcement. The
liquor interests would as unscrupulously
bribe an officer who has charge OF the
enforcement of the restrictive features
of license law In New York, as they
would bride an officer whose duty 1t Is
to enforce the prohibitory law In Maine,
and moreover, the claim that prohibition
leads to hypocrisy and corruption would
apply with equal force to all law against
crime
Lady Henry Somerset, president Of
the worlds w. c. I. T., conducted the
noontide prayer and miscellaneous bust
ness occupied the session until the noon
adjournment at 1870.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Susanna NJ. D.
Frye of Illinois. made her report as
corresponding secretary.
Then giving extracts from the reports
of is organizers, Mrs. Frye said "The
total number of w. C. T. U. unions
organized by the is organizers referred
TO is $50; total number of Young
Women's unions, 40; total number Of
WIS and Y's reorganized, So; new w.
and I. members secured, 1902; number
of new Loyal Temperance Legions
org Anized, so; number of new l.. T. l..
members secured, 229l; number of
total abstinence pledges secured, 1928 ;
total number of State engagements, so.
One new State Union was organized
| by Mrs. Thurman, Virginia, (No. p
| Mrs. Lawson followed Mrs. Thurman
and organized number Of new unions
and l.. 7. LIS. this makes 10 State
| Unions among the colored women and
increases the number of our State and
Territorial Unions to 49,"
Friday evening, Judge Percival Bon
nev Of this city, who welcomed the
delegates In behalf OF the State. Hon.
Frederic E. Boobthy, mayor OF Portland,
extended the welcome for the city.
Lady Henry Somerset spoke only
informally and briefly, expressing her
thanks for the welcome received aud
for the good tdings brought to the
convention from all sections of the
country, saying: "And for all these
things say God bless you"
On Saturday there were more than
1900 delegates In attendance upon the
convention. Lady Henry Somerset,
DR.. Sanders and Miss Cameron of
London, Eng, took the opportunity,
| SATURDAY. afternoon m inenant tho