Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-12-26
National w. G. 7. u.

The great convention 10 now thing OF
the past, the delegates Lave nearly all
reached their homes and taken up the
work of another year.
It was Q most successful meeting
never as large before, and Maine was
we'll represented. We were entitled to
thirteen, and the quota was filled with
three extra White Ribboners in attend
ance.
Mrs. Stevens was at her best, and Is q
marvel of courage, patience, promptness
and power of endurance. Her election
would have been unanimous-and was
nearly so-but for the ambition of the
Illinois president, Miss Brehm. For
five years, it is said, she has aspired to
the honor, and this year made more
effort than ever before, but she polled
only 80 votes, out of the nearly 800 cast;
developing but slight strength, and 1t Is
as it should be. The Office should seek
the woman, not the woman the office.
When Miss Willard chose Mrs. Stevens
as her successor, she made no mistake.
The Maine delegation missed the
leader, Miss Dow. Ever since Mrs.
Stevens election to the presidency,
Miss Dow has stood at the head, and her
going away on the eve of our departure
for Los Angeles made her loss more
heavily felt. She had expected to 60,
her section in the official car was secur-
ed, and she did not give it up till the
very last. Miss Dow will be loss in
the National as we'll as the State.
Maine did not make the 500 gain in
membership, 80 was not entitled to be
in, on Jubilee night. We all regretted,
especially Mrs. Stevens, that we were
not up to the mark, but should not have
joined in the festivities, out of respect
to Miss Dow.
Next year the convention comes to
New England, will be held in Hartford,
Conn.,, and Mrs. Stevens is already
Appealing to the Unions of the State to
make heroic efforts to increase our num-
Der of unions, and also the membership
of these now at work. How about Ok
ford County? Can not we "arise and
shine"?
One could but be impressed with the
hope and trust of the officers and dele
gates, who witnessed the impressive
services on the outgoing and home
coming trains. Morning, noon and at
eve one could hear the song of praise or
the voice of prayer, sometimes in one car
and then in another.
The official party and many of the
delegates came home by the Grand Can
yon, stopping there for day or more.
A part of the Maine delegates were of
the number. 1t is too wonderful, too
vast for pen like mine to describe:
Your correspondent could but gaze and
be silent.
We are now face to face with the work
of another year. Maine is the observed
of all observers. Shall we hold our
prohibitory law and 60 on to vigorous
enforcement? This is what the nation
waits to see. The result of the Sturgis
bill, or law enforcement commission,
which is a better term, is watched with
the keenest interest.
That the w. c. T. U. will measure up
to it's responsibility is the hope of our
leader, and all interested. Mrs. Stevens
plans to be in the state in the spring,
and intends to be at the Oxford County
conventions; this, of course, provided
there are not more urgent demands.
She says that in helping retain our law.
she ia working for the nation. May her
hands be stayed up by all temperance
societies and people.
MRS. E. A. G. STIcKNEY,
161 Cabot ST., Beverly, Mass, till
April, 1906.