Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1908-11-06
w. c. T. U. Column.

Denver, Colo, Oct. 50.
The nations going dry,
The nations going dry.
Pass along the watchword,
The nations going dry!
With this significant and triumphant
rally cry, the thirty-ftith annual con-
vention of the National Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union closed its DELHI
eratlons at Denver on the evening of
October IS. Six days of consideration
of the reports submitted by national
and state leaders, covering territory
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
from Alaska to the Gulf. amply justified
the prophecy. And ii undaunted cour.
age. untiring energy and neasureless
resources of faith and conservation can
contribute to the desired end, no other
reform organization is so well panoplied
for war upon the liquor traffic.
Opening with the magnificent and |
comprehensive address of the national |
president. Mrs. Lillian NJ N Stevens of |
Maine, which closed with S. mposium
of achievement in 81 states which re-
suited in state membership gains rang
ing from 100 to 1000, the convention |
touched high water mark in the organi-
zation's history. That it has not only !
laid the foundations for the work now
being successfully presented by other
reform agencies, but has been in the |
val guard of every fight for God and
country, was the unanimous testimony
OF fraternal delegates from the Prohibit
ton party, the Anti-Saloon League, the
several No-License leagues and church
temperance societies. Meanwhile it has
originated and developed plans for So
different lines of educational and phil
anthropic endeavors, with total absti-
nence and purity as the fundamental
principle of each, all of which were re-
ported to the convention in facts and
figures by the sr ecialists who have these
departments in charge. In addition,
they were set before an audience of
5000 people by means of series of
Giving pictures that conveyed to the
eye the exact purpose and scope of the
organizations matchless plan of work.
This pageant, known Familiarity az" De-
monstration Night" is always reve.
lation to those who have imagined that
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union is exclusively pledge-signing
vehicle for the promotion of general
temperance cause. Denver audiences
were no exception to the general rule,
and press and people united in praise
of the wonderful machinery by which
the only exclusively woman's temper /
ance organization prosecutes its labors.
The concrete gales of the year may be
briefly summarized as follows: A net
gain in membership of 81, 463-bringing
the number of members in the United |
States alone up to 225,00O. An increase
of more than one thousand dollars in
the amount annually contributed to the
Francis E. Willard memorial fund-a
fund created to send organizers i.,se
missionary territory and which is ~
official tribute of the Woman's Chris /
an Temperance Union to its great lead
err, No monument of marble, or building
ofbrick and stone. could so fittingly per-
petuate the memory of one who gave her
life to the service of humanity, as does
this carrying of the temperance gospel
to the frontier posts of our country.
That there is still much practically ''un-
discovered country''in our apparently
well-settled west, lis evidenced by the re-
ports presented to the convention. One
county president in Oregon travelled 80
miles by stage to be present at a one
day meeting of her constituents return
ing home Immediately oyer the same
hard road. Distances are great and rail.
road rates are high in the west. hence
the work is prosecuted under special
difficulties Twenty-seven states re-
ceived help last year from the memorial
fund, resulting in 10 cases, in crafty
ing gain in membership. Even to far
away Alaska the message of the white
ribbon has been carried by dauntless
woman, and two local unions, one "Y'
and one LOYAL Temperance Legion, have
paid dues to the national treasury as
the result'of her efforts.
TConcluded next week
rheumatism promptly driven from
the blood with DR.. Shoop's Rheumatic