Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-26
CONSTITUTION is
GIVEN A STRAIN
Vehement Crusaders for Progress in
W. G. T. U. Convention Win
Victory.
TWO LEADERS ARE OvERRULED,
Official Parliamentarian Backed by
President, but Fails,
STRUGGLE OVER INTERPRETATION
Newly Established Young Peoples
Branch Ready for Work.
NO DOUBLING UP ON OFFICES
Convention Decides that Two offices
Cannot he Held by the sHme
woman, with Several Lead
ers InvOIved.
Official Parliamentarian Backed by
President, but Fails,
OVER INTERPRETATION
Newly Established Young Peoples
Branch Ready for Work.
o DOUBLING UP ON OFFICES

After = parliamentary tangle, in which
the decision OF the chair was appealed from
at least once and the ruling of the official
parlamentarien entirely set aside, the con-
ventlon Of the National wcman's Christian
Temperance union, in session at the Audi
torium. construed It's constitution to suit
it's convenience Monday afternoon and
thereby saved one years time in launching
the new young peoples branch and took
chances on the legality OF its action.
The greater part of last Saturday morn
ing was spent amending the constitution to
combine the two branch organizations, the
Young Woman's Christian Temperance
union and the Senior Loyal Temperance
legion, in one branch, to be known as
the Young Peoples branch. When further
amendments were bein= made Monday
morning to make the constitution conform
to the new organization Mrs. A. S. Ben.
| jamin, official parliamentarlan, announced
| that the Young Woman's branch would
continue in existence for another year. be.
cause under the constitution one years
notice must be given before a new branch
could be formed The immediate action
hinged upon the election Of a general secre.
tary for the Young Woman's branch which
Mrs. Benjamin contended is stu In ex.
isterce, but which, being ready for the
new Young Peoples branch, some Of the
delegates insisted had been abolished when
the two branches were merged.
The discussion was continued from the
morning session and occupied half the
afternoon and was only settled after the
house. by a majority vote, Interpreted the
constitution to admit OF the formation Of
the new branch without further notice,
II spite Of Mrs Benjamin's protests and
the fact that the chairman had sustained
her when called upon.
No Doubling on offices.
Further amendment of the bylaws and
reports from iss organizers contributed 70
a very full morning Upr' 1mmendation
of the official board Il e conye ention voted
that the office of national Kanizer or
lecturer ana that of tate pres ldent or ma.
tional superintendent cannot De held by
the same woman at one time. This was
proposed with a view to concentrating ef-
forts and Strengthening to the utmost
every office.
The action affects several prominent
women now serving in two offices, among
them Mrs. Ella Boole president of the New
York state union and one of the national
organizers, Miss Frances II. Ensign presl-
, dent of the Ohio union, and also a national
, lecturer, and Mrs. Mamie NJ Curtlss of
r Texas, national superintendent and also
national organizer, besides several others.
Another amendment causing much dis
cussion provided that national superin-
tendents may not send blanks and such
> literature to local unions but must SEND
Z them through the state suporintendents.
Another important measure provided that
in congressional measures, local unions
, shall take their direction only from the
= national organization and another, that
credit for supplies from national to state
p superintendents shall not exceed So with.
out the knowledge and consent of the gen.
: eral officers of said state.
E Hon. John Marshall assistant attor
A ney general of Kansas, asked the support
of the unions for a measure to be pre-
sented TO congress providing for federal
prohibition OF interstate commerce in in.
+ toxicating liquors.
Fraternal greetings were received from
= number Of national, state and local
organizations working along reform lines.
Plea Against white slavery.
DR.. o. Edward Janney of Baltimore
e chairman of the National Vigilance com
?, mittee, made a plea against the white slave
T traffic at the afternoon session, urging all
o the delegates TO work for the enactment
h of a law in their respective states which
!. would make this crime felony instead of
# a misdemeanor 1t was the most important
S address of the day session and aroused
: great interest
o Or, Janney said:
1T is not necessary before this assem-.
blage of well Informed women to enter
D into the details Of the traffic. You know
la, Iavs @I,.e
e girls, aye, and our boys too.
What you must be assured Of is that
the traffic is widespread. reaching its armi
ID out into the country for victims, and ever
y across the seas, and selling these victim!
e In all Of our cities. That these traders
70 find their business extremely profitable II
r evident receiving from s. to 5000 for each
le victim. and many Of them making an sasl
is living off the nightly gains of their vic
y, Tins
y In the face OF a situation so terrible al
ID this you viii ask what steps are being
taken to suppress the EVIL?
: Let us turn TO the constructive worl
that is being done.
In this country the situation is belns
thoroughly investigated, as a first and
| neoeShary step There is always the hope
a hope that is proving itself 10 be wei
founded, that when our people become
m well informed concerning the present situa
lg ton, they will act; act promptly intelll
20 gently and efficiently. We must be ab
TO feel, and make our officials feel, tha
we represent the moral sentiment Of ever!
O. state in the union. for we are sure tina
- the people OF this nation win not tolerat
" this evil much longer
~ Government Pm Earnest.
H "The federal government Is earnest II
ie It's endeavor TO suppress the white slav
% traffic among immigrant girls. It's Off
C. clals In New York, Baltimore, Chicago ant
o. Denver have been actively at work an,
n have accomplished much, although ham
he pered by a recent decision OF the suprem
Lr. court. which limits the activity OF the gen
aral vo,yernmapt ~ "a qae a Fnoner frnunigra M