The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-19
Wornan's WorId
CRITICS ANSWERED.
W. G. 7. u. Protests Against the
Structures Of the Committee
Of Fifty.
Defends Temperance Instruction in
the Public Schools From the
Committees Attacks.

Clnclnnatl, NOV. l9.-The thirtieth
annual convention of the Woman's
last night, the interest continuing UNI
abated to the end. The most impor-
tant business yesterday was the con-
sideration of series OF resolutions
protesting against the attacks made
by the committee of fifty on the scien-
tific temperance instruction made
compulsory in the teaching of phys.
iology and hygiene in the public
schools. The preamble recites that
"the committee of fifty for the inves-
tigation of the liquor problem have
circulated urwarranted accusations
against the legislation which requires
the study OF temperance physiology
in the public schools, against the
school literature in use and the re-
suits therefron1. The resolutions in-
clude the following:
criticism Of this school literature are,
that it teaches that alcohol is not a
food, but a poison, and that it teaches
total abstinence.
AN examination of the 500 pages
in the report OF the committee shows
I that the committee presents no evi-
dence to prove that alcohol is food
in the sense in which the word is
commonly understood.
because it is oxidized in the body and
can furnish energy, but the conclu-
sion that this proves it to be food
! is contradicted by such Psychologists
| as Professor Abel of Johns Hopkins.
| Van Volt Of Munich and Kuhne OF
Heidelberg universities. who point OUT
| in this very report of the committee
Of fifty that mere oxidation does not
prove a substance to be food. sOtner
recognized poisons are oxidized in the
body yet are never called foods.
! 1.-THE committee of fifty's recon-
mendation that this instruction should
be confined to the upper grades would
be to postpone it until after cigarette
! and other bad habits have been
formed and would deprive great NUNS
| bers who have to go to work before
any warning instruction on this sub
ject. Such a policy would be cruel
discrimination against the children OF
| the poor and suicidal for government
Of the peoples"
The sixth resolution reviews the ex-
periments OF the committee OF fifty
| to show that they have not proved that
the beverage use OF alcohol IN 1 l!,,o.,
crate amounts is safe, as susceptibility
| is not ascertained until too late.
In the seventh resolution is given the
! evidence from the last census that the
average length of life in the United
States had increased over four years
during the past decade when the study
| of temperance physiology was lmpaft-
ed in the public schools.
i Internal revenue reports are also
cited for the past year to show that
4 the per capita gain in the use of alco-
Ihol was only one-third as great as in
1.-the. preceding eleven years, and that
4 this increase Is now due ia immigra-
4 ton. *
! The concluding resolution protests
I against the attack upon temperance
education, and insists that the mothers
and best citizens will contend for tenn
i perance education.
4 The report of Mrs. e. N. Graham
Of Maryland, general superintendent
|. of the department of works among
railroad employees, showed substantial
and encouraging results. One of the
most hopeful facts is the attitude OF
the leading officials of the roads in
Il sisting on temperance among. en-
II ployes.
II twenty-five saloons in Cheyenne
were closed by reason of the order OF
4 the Union Pacific railway forbiddine
employees to enter saloons. The Wa
= bash railway officers gave orders for
the discharge of employees addicted to
the use of intoxicants on or off duty
, More than 100000 railroad employees
are now wearing the railroad temper
ance button.
A letter from a member Of congress
was read saying there was but little
prospect of the passage of any bill re-
pealing the anti-canteen law.
Notice was given for constitutions
amendment increasing the vice presi.
dents at large to eight. A bylaw was
adopted that the editor of the Unior
Signal be nominated by the genera
officers and elected by the executive
1 board.
A $4,000 appropriation for an ex
hibit at the worlds fair was approved
Invitations were received for the
national convention next year from st
Louis, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Siou,
Falls and Galveston. Thee executiv.
. committee will make the selection, tht
the general impression indicates tn,
next session will be held at st. Louis