The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-01
Hundreds of Women Present from
all Sections of the State.
ELOQUENT SPEECHES MADE
Feature of Meeting was Address of
Mrs. Robert ID. johnson. OF Alabama.
Religions Denominations. Women >
Organizations and Press Of the State
Represented.
Especial To The MesSengerD

Raleigh, n. c., January 30-Public
interest Centered in the bearing this
,evening on Preston's reformatory bill
before tho senate md house committee
on penal institutions. Hundreds OF
ladies were present, Mrs. Robert D.
Johnson, of Alabama, having a special
seat in front. Senator AyCock called
the committee to order, and Mr.. Stick
ley acted as master of ceremonies in
announcing the programme and max
ing introductions. He said he was in
structed by his people to vote for this
measure. He then introduced Mayor
James Iredell Johnson, of Raleigh, who
declared the time was ripe for a re-
fOrmatOry to redeem children and citeo
cases under his official eye to show
the need for it. Rev. Z. 4 Osborne
spoke in behalf of the womanhood OF
North Carolina, representing w. c. T.
u, Kings Daughters, Daughters OF the
American Revolution, the State FEEDER
alton of Women'S Clubs, Women's
Daughters of the Confederacy, Wo-
mems Auxiliary of the Protestant
Episcopal church, Women's Missionary
Union of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and other organizations. He
declared he thus representa- the wo-
manhood of North Carolina. He pre-
sented a petition signed by those Or
mi CT hy n
the foremost men in the state. Repre-
sentative Preston, author of the re-
formatory bill under consideration,
here made a telling hit by appearing
at the entrance to the hall with az
immense petition, rolled, and the
pages unrolled as he walked around
the speakers desk so that ii made
great loop, while there was repeated
applause Preston said this was only
one of the petitions the people had sent
up for reformatory, asking that
something be done for six thousand
cases of youthful criminals which in
the past IL months had been tried in
North Carolina Mrs. Johnson was the
next speaker, and she made very re-
markable impression from start to fin
ish. Womanly, yet strong, simple In
language, yet persuasive to the last de-
gree, she held her audience in thrall.
Her story Of no n she had saJed BOYS
in Alabama and built up til orphan
age with two hundr=d inlnares was SD
inspiring that senator's, as she conclud-
ed it, rose and moved that the commit
tee take immediate vote to show It's
sentiment and also as a compliment
to this remarkably winning woman,
but it was stated that quorum OF the
committee was not present. Mrs. John
son, in her plea for the North Carolina
| boys, said it was a great deal cheaper
! to save them than to try to save crimi-
] nails Rev. DR. Alfred II. Moment. OF
| Raleigh, spoke for all North Carolina
Presbyterians who stood as q unit in
favor of a refOrmatory.
Mr.. Guthrie, Of Charlotte, made a
brief but telling plea on beralf &C that
! city. w. C. Dowd, made another on
| behalf Of the press of North Carolina,
saying that the newspapers, backed by
women and churches, would make life
unbearable for the Legislators If they
did not do their duty in this matter.
Rev. DR.. T. n. Ivey, editor Of the Ra-
! leigh Christian Advotatt spok" in be-
half Of North C2rotina Methodists, Cd
itor Joseph W liam halle, Of the BIB
/ lical Recorder. 10 behalf Of North Car
olina Baptists. Representative Mai T.
/ ing spoke III behalf OF 'he people ot
Durham. ii 6. IOha>o1 was given N
informal reception at the close Of r-eet-
ing. Her address was the best ever
made here o. : woman. 1t is found
that some rem rars OF the commit es
opposed this bill, OEe Of them rHins
Representati~- o"T0ar:, who q ihi-
mated tOnigl.