The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-06
Madame Keelhof and the
Drink Question IN Belgium
BY BELLE KEARNEY.

BY BELLE
The men in power refuse to listen.
The situation is pitifuI," she ex-
claimed. Madame Keelhof was seated
in her library at Brussels telling us
about the drink question in Belgium.
The history OF her entrance into the
struggle is freught with the deepest
interest. There is a national bpnd
against alcoholism in this country,
which has been in existence for TWEEN
ty-five years. A few women belong,
but the organization is composed prin-
cipally OF men. Every year they pub
lish an almanac, which is a brochure
against the use of alcohol, and sell
copies 10 their committees and in this
way make a good deal of money.
Other copies are given away Nothing
is ever said for total abstinence and
the members drink everything but gin.
once a year the society holds a pub
lie meeting and some one lectures for
them.
How Temperance Movement Began.
On March %, 1899, Madame dp Clos
came from PariS-sO deliver the address
for the bund in Brussels. The speaker
OF the movement of women around the
world against IL. She said that in
France they had done very little. Then
she exclaimed And you, Belgian
ladies, what have you accomplished?
Just as we do, you look on undisturbed
at the horrors perpetrated and the in
justices heaped upon your sistersl"
Madame keelhof, who was present,
touched friend who accompanied her
and said, DO YOU hear that? We
-l,.afl nk h. .
such Indifference"
When the lecture was over, she went
forward 10 congratulate the speaker,
ana told her that the women of Bel
GUM would go TO work as the women
OF the world had done. Tke following
day Madame du Cos was speaking for
the Society of WOman's Rights" AT
the close OF her address Madame Keel
hof asked the privilege Of announcing
that an effort would be made 20 form
an association among women against
alcoholism, and she presented a MEM
bership paper, securing twelve names
They were ladies who were Madame
Aeelofs personal acquaintance.
Trying to Solve. the Problem.
The whole summer was spent in re-
search, trying 10 find out how 10 work
against alcoholism. Three days after
the annual meeting, Madame Keelhof
and Madame Nysssns went to the
prominent minister Of state, Monsieur
Jules ie Jeune, and asked him IL his
wife would act as president OF the
union if one should be organized. This
gentleman was in sympathy with the
movement While a member OF the
Belgian parliament he had spoken
strongly for nOn-aicohOiism and Is now
president OF the bund against alcohol.
He gave consent for his wife TO act
as president of the new women s or
sanization. but with the understanding
that the ladies should follow his d.
rectiOn In the conduct OF the society.
This they promised to do. At that
time a widespread movement had been
made among the people to present a
petition TO parliament against alcohol
ism. The idea or the minister was
that the women's union should last
only long enough TO push the petition
through. He wished them to go from
house 10 house TO obtain signatures.
After the conference with Monsieur
fe Geune, a meeting was held in the
home OF Madame Keelhof 10 effect an
organization Twenty persons We're
presept-bOth men and women: nearly
all of high station In life. The minister
was there. also one alderman. three or
four sherifts, with thelr wives, and one
priest, Able Naslet, who has written a
paper against alcoholism The men
thought only OF the petition. Amons
the women was Madame Mary Parent,
VINO had written, years before, a Iittle
book in opposition to alcoholics Sew
erai days later, another meeting was
held in the home of Madame KeelhOf.
and at that tinle an organization was
effected and Madame lie JeUne was
made president. Madame Keelhof. sec
rotary, and four other ladies were given
offices.
One Woman's Effort.
That same year the women's union in
yited a great speaker, Able Lemiere, a
Catholic priest, who was a member OF
the French house OF representatives, 10
80 10 Brussels and deliver an address
against alcoholism A large audience
assembled TO hear him in the Palace
acadamie, hut the speaker made no
strong appeal tor the society and not
one member was secured. Madame
NYsseD began 10 Write many letters 10
different places in Belgium. asking that
organizations be formed among women
10 work against alcohol. As a result of
her work there are now six in existence
besides the one at Brussels. At the time
time the unions were formed not one
woman was total abstaiuer; even
Madame Keeihof had not taken the
pledge and had no strong convictions on
the subject. AfterWard DR.. FoFei came
10 Brussels from Lausanne, Switzer-
land. to organize the order of Good
TEN plars. He explained 10 Madame
Keelhof why It was necessary TO be a
total ahstainer.
When the union among women was
formed, the men did not want ahem 10
so beyond a certain limit, not outside
Of Brussels, but they had a wider hori-
zon than that. Madame KeeIhof wished
To have newspaper for a temperance
propa SandaA but the president objected
TO serve il this was done. Madame
Keelhof declared that they must have
the paper, so now il is an assured fact
The name az first was Social Action
and the editorship was in the hands OF
man, and was largely taken up With
political matters. The name has now
been changed 20 La Clariere," and all
political tendencies are excluded. The
one aim is to fight alcoholism. Every
year the government gives money to the
woman's association; during the first
year, 500 franc were received; the Sec
ond, 1000; and since that time 800
francs are given annually. LA
Ciariere" is edited and managed by
Madame KeelhOf, who is making a dis
tinet success, Doctors and other learned
persons often send scientific articles for
the paper,
Secure Church Cooperation.
Madame Keeihof and Madame Nys-
sen undertook a very novel method to
gain the cooperation OF the Catholic
church in their work against alcohol
ism. They asked TO be admitted for
conferences with several OF the bishops