The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-11-10
Aims OF the w. c. t. L. As Expresse
BY President

Aims OF the w G. T. L. As Expressed
by President.
In speaking Of the recent national
convention held in Los Angeles, the
Times Of that city. has the following
TO say:
The present national W. c. T. L.
convention has been inspiring and
successful The earnest spirit and
lofty ideals OF the organization have
never been more manifest than in
these sessions in Los Angeles The de-
legates apparently have taken their
cue from the eloquent annual address
Of Mrs Lillian II. y. Stevens, the ma
tiOnal president. which expressed in
vigorous words the aims and purposes
as well as the achievements Of the
union and has made a deep impress
upon the convention
Mrs. Stevens declares that southern
California has done much towards
whitening its map in relation to the
saloon In fifteen Of the neighborin
cities around Los Angeles the saloon
has been Outlawed and in the state the
area OF prohibition is steadily increas-
ing. Throughout the country while
there has been some encouragement
says Mrs. Stevens, the shadows have
been spanned by the bow Of promise
and many state leaders tell Of gains
and victories.
Mrs Stevens expresses diSappOint-
ment that the closing session Of the
Fifty-eighth congress incOmpleted so
many reform bills in which the organ
izatiOn has an especial interest. On
this subject she says:
With increased vigOr and persist
eny we must help to secure the pas
sage Of those bills in which are in
yOlved that which touches the life
and well-being Of the home. At men
ton of this, there rises before YOU
visions Of petition you have circulat-
ed. memories Of weary miles you have
Travelled, rebuffs you have endured,
argument you have presented, delays
and pOStpOnments, but no memories
OF defeat, for you have wrought with
d triumphant spirit and that same
spirit is ours today as we look for
ward TO the coming months.
The text and object OF the Hep
bUrn-DOlliver bill are well understood
by all who have an intelligent inter
est in the temperance question. The
exhaustive congressional committee
hearings on this bill furnish proof
that the liquor fraternity will use its
combined strength to defeat il. It
is manifestly a great injustice to allow
liquor dealers in one state to ship Ii
quOr in the original package or in
any form into prohibition states, or
into nO-liCense territory in other
states, such liquor not being subject
to the law Of the state into which it
is shipped until it is delivered to the
person who has ordered it.
Since, liquor selling has been ban
ished from the national capitol build
inc 10 hrrSrz@~-e-r
immigrant stations, il is not too much
for US to expect and to work for its
Punishment from soldiers homes and
other government buildings where it
is still allowed. Sentiment to the ef-
feet that the federal government
should not be connected with the Ii
quOT traffic is evidently on the in
crease. The refusal Of the United
States government to give federal aid
this year and last to state soldiers
homes which maintain a bar or can
teen for the sale Of intoxicants has
led to the prohibition Of liquors in all
Of the state soldiers homes. We
hope this decision will continue in
force
Mrs. Stevens devUres considerable
space to a discussion Of the anti
canteen law and declares that the
United States is far behind some Of
the other countries in protecting its
army from the ravages Of strong
drink She quotes an army officer as
saying that it is an insult to every Of
ficer in the United States army to
claim that the army canteen assists
in the management Of his men. No
reliable statistics have been brought
forward she adds, to prove that the
men were better of under the canteen
system than they have been since its
adjustment The charge that sick
ness has increased, Mrs. Stevens meets
with the statement Of Secretary Taft
in his report Of 1904, showing that the
rates Of sickness and mortality more
nearly approach low-water mark than
at any time since the outbreak Of the
civil war. The assertion that enlist
ments would stop when the canteen
was abolished IS disproven by the fact
that FIVE times as many candidates ap-
ply as can be accepted.
Mrs Stevens reiterates her recon-
mendatiOn Of several former years
that the states having no prohibftory
law endeavOr to secure the enactment
Of law prohibiting the sale Of in
tOxicating liquor within a radius Of
three miles from all army posts and
government reservations Mrs Stew
and their allies for attempting to re-
store the canteen in the army and
says Let congress again hear from
the people If need be and let not the
mothers and sisters Of the soldier boys
be silent She confidently predicts
that congress viii take no adverse
action the coming winter.
Mrs. Stevens states that an immense
amount Of good has been accomplish
ed through the mothers meetings and
other work OF the ". c 7. L. in purf-
flying the press and the mails. in the
exclusion Of immoral literature from
the news stands, railroads, etc, IN re-
moving questionable pictures and ad-
vertisements from billbOards. Mrs.
Stevens utters a burning protest
against the licensing or segregation OF
vice
1T is our duty" she says, ito con-
tinue 70 petition for a constitutional
amendment forever prohibiting poly
gamy and we can use our utmost in
fuence- for the removal Of Reed SmOot
from the senate OF the United States
The president calls on the W G 7