The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-10
PAPER OF MRS. JEFFRIES
 BEFORE THE W. C. T. U.

The address of Mrs Mary T. Jeffries before the Alabama Womens Christian Temperance union during the week just past was considered one of the most thoughtful of the convention. Mrs. Jeff fries was reelected president for the en- suing year.
 The address in full is as follows:
 Comrades and Friends: Coming togeth- CT again in annual convention from all parts of our beloved state to bear wit ness to the progress of the cause whose symbol we wear, to review the record or the twelve months past, to gather in spiration from success and wisdom from failure, to profit each by the experience of the other, to interpret the slgnlncance of each message from local unions as "a measure of the way achieved, and to plan for the morrow, is the object of this glad occasion.
 know that each one of you rejoices with me in the increased interest in our work, attested by this assembly Of rep resentative women before me. As l face this presence many thoughts crowd for utterance. I wish, however, first to say that I am deeply and profoundly grate- ful for the strength and support of your prayers and sympathy during the past year.
 The cause which brings you here Is, perhaps. the most sacred that ever ap- pealed to the woman-heart or enlisted the woman-strength. It Is deep-rooted in the affections and bulwarked in the love of little children. Its inspiration comes out of the home, where the sane titles of life are born and nourished Its strength is derived from sources that are divine, and perseverance in 1t is sus tained by the practical. tangible results that have rewarded our efforts. The ban ner of temperance is moving forward. and the army that Is marching under 1t Is gaining yearly In numbers, in zeal, and in courage to destroy the drink de- mon and compel the allegiance of the American conscience and intelligence, to civilizations cause. The testimony in this behalf is so abundant, so compre- hensve and so various that 1t Is diff- cult to select the more salient and strik- ing features of it for your encourage ment and mine.
 The w. c. T. U. commands today the. respect Of the world. It ois an infiuen- tial factor in the social development; its wide field of labor bring it into contact. and often conflict, with many of the forces of selfshness, that hinder advance ment. and wherever 1t Is met in the so- cial and civil arena. whether In unity of purpose or in conflict, it commands re- spect for its presence and its office. It Is grateful to us to know that the seal upon the commission of the w c. T. U. bears an impress that it credited wher ever God Is known: It's strength Is the royal signet of the Most High in that it is a commission of unselfish service in behalf of humanity.
 Conservation Needed.
 Conservation is not to be had for the asking 1t comes out of striving for the higher planes of life after toilsome climbing up the way the soul appoints, flo VI In Of compel the spiritual allegiance. That you are here, that you have journeyed hther from our homes to participate in this council for humanity's sake. Is evi- dence of your fitness to bear the com mission that gives you place in this gathering; your lamp is trimmed and the seat of the honored guest Is yours at this spiritual feast.
 There Is a decided advance along tenn perance lines to be noted in the recent elections in Ohio when John M. Patti son. the democratic nominee, an avowed prohibitionist, forced the saloon issue In the campaign and changed a republican majority of a year ago of 225,000 into democratic majority of 43,0 ,000. Governor Herrick recognized the strength of his opponents position and assured the peo- pie that he was very friendly. indeed, to the cause of temperance. He did not dare meet the issue, but the clear cut war upon the saloon made by MT. Pattison more completely commanded the respect and confidence of the ant-saloon ele- ment, and that vote in Ohio accom- plished a political revolution.
 Only recently. in our neighbor state, Governor Vardaman of Mississippi, grown weary of the evasions of the liquor laws by one of the express companies, that insisted upon doing a retail whisky business through the c. O. D. subter- fuge, issued proclamation denouncing this nefarious traffic. and again pro- claimed to the world his unalterable ad- herence to the cause of temperance. In