Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-24

to the great assembly.
The meeting was called to order promptly
OF 7i0 o'clock and was opened with the
song america" followed by Coronation
the entire audience Joining In the singing.
The invocation was delivered by Rev. b.
r. Fenmah OF Omaha.
The fret Of the nine addresses Of wei
como was given by Governor shallen-
berger. who upon being Introduced BY
Mrs. Stevens was received with clapplng
OF hands and the wOmen's Christian Tenn
perance union salute. He said:
1t is, indeed, an honor for me to be per-
mitted to deliver the opening address Of
welcome to this great meeting, especially
since I was denied the opportunity to vel
come the president Of the United States
10 Nebraska except by telegraph. l am
glad to be permitted TO welcome the
women In person, and l do not know but
that l would sooner meet the ladies. any
The saloon question has not yet been
women Sill succeed in settling ii. There
Jig a question about that, for the only states
mat nave statewide prohibition are those
in which the women are not allowed to
vote. 1 have been accused Of being partial
TO water since ] have been in office, but
as l come from the western part Of the
state. where we know the value of water.
l am in favor Of a free and unlimited sup.
ply OF water.
l am friendly to all law. You women
possibly. do not always understand the
difficulties under which officials labor to
compel the enforcement OF law,
l have been criticised for my action on
the eisht.hour law, but possibly my vindi.
cation viii come after I am dead. But In
any event l Know / was right. The demo-
cratic tenure OF office in Nebraska is very
short, seldom longer than two years. vet I
made a resolution when ] went into office
flhat i would not do anything while ! was
In office that / would be ashamed Of after
l was out OF office.
Mayor Dahlman delivered the ad-
dress OF welcome on the part Of the city.
He said in part:
I knew you would love Omaha when you
saw It. We welcome you here and / am
glad TO be here to welcome you and that
you are holding this great convention in
our city, coming as you do from all parts
OF the nation. Your organization is made
4 up OF splendid women who stand for every
thing that is pure and good and II is with
sincere pleasure that 1 turn over to you the
keys of the city.
Bishop John l.. Nuelsen babe the women
welcome on behalf Of the church at large
in most eloquent terms.
Frank L.. Haller extended the welcome In
behalf Of the Commercial club and Rev.
F. L. Loveland welcomed the visitors in
behalf Of the general convention commit
tee.
Mrs Francis B. Head spoke In behalf Of
the Nebraska Women's Christian Temper
ance union, Of which she is president. Sim
liar welcomes were extended by Mrs. Ed
ward Johnson for the Woman's club Of
Omaha, by Elmer r. Thomas for the Anti
Saloon league and by Prof. w. M. David
son in behalf of the schools and eachers
OF Nebraska and Omaha.
In the absence of Mrs. Mabelle Welpton.
Mrs. F.. W. raham sang THE Coming
Day.
Miss Elizabeth p. Gordon OF Boston, act
ing president of the Massachusetts wom-
ans Christian Temperance union. re-
sponded In behalf Of New England, and
said In part:
1t rs q high privilege to represent New
England in responding to all these splendid
addresses OF welcome, We most heartily
welcoming us to, the great state of Ne
braska and city of Omaha. I represent
sig states OF historic interest. The great
middle vest may smile somewhat conde-
scendingiy at New England, and yet a
large number of this audience are proud
their veins and are glad that their fore
mothers and forefathers had a vital inter-
est In Plymouth Rock. Bunker Hill,
have rocked. You have a right to help
US give our New England cry:
New England, New England set the ma
Foremothers, foremothers, founder of a
race,
New England. Rah, Rah, Rah."
Yes sii M, Name Is our Prohi6itiSn star, ana
viii 60 Names way-that is, for state
vide prohibition. OF the ten largest sa-
l~oonless cities In the world, six are In
Massachusetts and five-eighths of the state
has gone dry. We are out for statewide
prohibition and are here/to learn how to
secure II.
Mrs. Mary e. Kuhl, president of the
Illinois womens Christian Temperance
union. responded in behalf Of the northern
states.
Mrs. Lulu A, Markwell, president Of the
Arkansas Womens' Christian Temperance
union, responded for the south, saying In
part:
While as an organization, we know no
north, south, east or west, we come to-
gether once a year as sister. as women,
bearing q common burden. and looking for
ward to a common hope.
The closing response was by Mrs. Mar
garet S. Plat, president OF the West
Washington Women's Christian Temper
ance union, who spoke in behalf Of the Pa
cifio coast
A telegram Of coincidence was ordered
sent to Mrs. Claflin, editor OF the Union
Worker at Lincoln, because Of her sor-
row in being detained at home by the dan
gerous illness Of a relative.
Bishop Nuelsen then pronounced the
benedictlon, after which the national presi-
dent, Mrs. Stevens, asked that notice be
given tina the citizens Of Omaha are cor
daily invited to attend the day and eve
ming meetings of the convention.