The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-14
WORK OF THE W. c. 7. U.
OF NATIONAL
PRESIDENT MRS. l.. M. STEVENS.
Effort Is Being Made to Lessen the So
cial Evil and Influence Sentiment
Against POlygamy.

CINCINNATI, Nov. 13-The thirteenth
annual convention of the Woman's Chris
tan Temperance Union began a session of
six days in the Ninth-street Baptist Church
here to-day with a very large attendance.
the 500 delegates constituting only a small
part of the visitors. The church was
crowded when President Lillian NJ Stevens
called the convention to order at $50 a. m.
After the welcoming address Mrs. Stevens
delivered her annual address. She said,
in part:
'In every civilized country the temperance
question is receiving more or less atten-
ton. The influence of the W. c. Il. u is
acknowledged throughout the world. Faith
full work has been done making sentiment
in favor of an anti-pologamy amendment to
the Constitution of the United States. The
w. c.. 7. u. is to-day, and If true to its heri-
tage. will ever be arrayed against all
forms of impurity and legaliZed vice We
painfully recognize that there are some
evils that ccnnot be annihilated in this day
and generation, but we evermore declare
that these evils, If they exist, shall do so in
opposition to law rather than by sanction of
law. The record of the attempt made two
years ago by the mayor if Minneapolis to
introduce a system of regulated vice should
be a warning TO others not to try TO do
likewise. The best element of the American
people will always, If need be, unite In a
protest as loud and as long as that which
resulted in the issuance of the order from
the War Department with instructions con-
corning its carrying out, which practically
abolished the system of legalized and Ii
censed vice which had existed for a time
in the far away Philippines"
Mrs. Stevens was frequently interrupted
by applause, and was given a vote of thanks
after the annua address was referred by
sections to the committees.
The report of Mrs. Susanna NJ. d. Fry,
the corresponding secretary, contained the
following: 1.-THE national organizers report
332 unions organized. with 9.547 members.
This does not include the work of state or
local organizers. The receipts of the Will
lard memorial fund were $4,13S. A larger
number of w. c. T. U. Institutes were held
during the past year than ever before.
Eleven States have made a gain of 500, or
over, new members above all losses, and
some of them we'll on toward 1000 new
members, which goes to prove that the w.
G. Z. u. is marching on with a regular and
measured swing. T~hirty-five other States
report an increase of membership"
The report of Mrs. Helen NJ. Barker, the
treasurer, showed the gain in membership
for the year was 1854. The total receipts
were SIG, III, and the expenditures s25, 399,
| the balance on hand being Sis.
On account Of much talking in the audi
ence it became necessary to appoint a SER
geant-at-arms. Mrs Forbes, of Connect
cut, was appointed jointly with Mrs. DEM
crest, of New Jersey, but the work of pre-
serving order was finally left to the latter,
with authority TO appoint assistants.
On motion of Mrs. Marie G.. Brehn, of
Chicago, the American flag was adopted for
the official salute, instead of the "unhy-
gienic use of handkerchief" and a commit
tee was appointed to secure the flag.