Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-11-13
TEMPERANCE WO-
men IN SESSION

opening To-Day Oh inc annual M. ",
T. u. convention reminded the veteran
workers Of the time when Mrs. Fran.
els Willard controlled the d~estinles
OF the famous organization and was
wont To attract thousands TO the an
nlal meetings by her e%loquence and
her sincere devotion 10 the cause.
On the death OF Mrs. Willard, who
was rightly regarded as the head Of
the organization In the broadcast sense
OF the term, II was predicted By
many that the famous society OF
white-ribboners would inevitably so
To pieces. But time has failed to veri-
~ these predictions. Today, accord
Ing to the facts and figures. the organ.
ization Is numerically as strong rs
eyer and as an agency for good II Is
constantly widening the scope Of It's
activities.
To all the officers and workers
must be given the credit for this
flourishing condition OF affairs. II
any individual, however, is to be
singled out for praise. she Ii Mrs.
Il. M. N. Stevens. the Maine woman
who succeeded to the presidency on
the death OF Mrs, Willard At the
opening OF the convention this morn
ing II was quite evident that Mrs.
Stevens enjoyed the highest regard
OF the cultured m before her,
as she was required to stand for some
time, bowling her acknowledgements
before the warm applause subsidized
and allowed her to call the gathering
To order.
The convention met In the Ninth
street Baptist church, the interior Of
which was tastefully decorated for
the occasion. A programme Of music
and prayer occupied the flrst halfhour.
Tho roll call showed nm attendance
Of upwards OF 500 delegates, while
the number OF other visitors present
~ twice AZ large. The states largely
represented at the convention include
Michigan. New York. Nebraska.
Kansas. California Illinois. Indiana,
Minnesota. Pennsylvania, Iowa and
the Dakotas.
The annual address Of the president
Was the leading feature Of the open.
Ing session. In the course Of her re-
marks Mrs. Stevens touched upon
. large variety Of subjects,
directly and indirectly relating to
the great problem Of drink evil. As
to the progress Of the temperance
movement she spoke In the most con-.
fdent language. or particular signi.
ficance, she said, was the constantly
participation Of women in
the AFFAIRS Of the world. Mother and
child are radidly taking their rlghtful
place Is the central figures OF the
great world problem. The president
had = good word to say for athletics as
= promoter Of temperance and good
morals.
R~eassembling after luncheon the
delegates listened to the reports of
the national corresponding secretary
Miss Susanna M. d. Fry. and the
national treasurer, Miss Helen NJ.
Barker. also the reports OF the
young women's branch by Mrs. Clara
Parrish Wright, general secretary.
one Of the Loyal Temperance Legion
branch by Mrs. Helen g. Rice. and
reports by the national superintend.
ents Of departments. These reports
for the most part were OF a most en-.
nature and showed the past
year 70 have been one Of extraor.
binary activity in all departments OF
the organizations work. A feature of
the session was the reading OF mes.
sagcs ef congratuAtion from Lady
Henry Somerset and Mrs. Ormiston
Chant. Of England.
Arrangements have been complet.
Ell for holding . big welcoming demon.
stration this evening. The visiting
white.ribboners will be greeted on
behalf Of the city and III churches and
temperance societies Of Cincinnati
and vicinity. The responses win be-
by Mrs. Emma Bourne. president OF
the New Jersey w. G. r. u, Mrs. O.
II. Howe. national organizer and
other prominent visitors.
The completed programme arranged
for the succeeding sessions Of the con.
yentIon Is as follows:
neutrality-suspicious. reports, In,
PRODUCTION OF fraternal and visiting
delegates and distinguished guests,
addresses by Mrs. Maria Wood, rep.
r~esenting the international council
Of women. on THE Menace OF Modern
Mormonism,p and Mrs. G. G. Faxon.
W n ~ m communication. ~