Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-01
Activities of the Women

While the abolition of the liquor traffic is the chief aim of the
Women's Christian Temperance union. it is not it's only aim and the
lines along which its activities re directed many and varied
making it of the great educational movements. The splendid
ornsIah - bot gentle and remarkable woman, Frances willard,
with whom the movement was 81 closely denthed many years.
placed it upon an educational basis, realizing that s. established its
principles were sure-to win out Realizing the determination o.
women when once aroused and righteousness Of their cause MISS
Willard also realized the advantages of a peaceful contest, and h
and her co-workers planned well the campaign of education which
has accomplished Sc much by combating ignorance and vice with
Intelligence and Christianity. For God and home and native land
is the motto of the union. and 1t has recruited ns workers
women of every station in life.
rhe various branches of work are carried on under six general
departments. Under the department of organization there are
lecture courses and evangelical work for the colored people Indians
and foreigners. Under preventive work n the study o neaItn'
,heredity and medical temperance. Under the educational depart
ment ire scientific temperance instruction in the public schools
physical education, distribution of Sunday school temperance htera
ture, presentation of temperance before assemblies cooperation
with missions and with labor organizations the conduct OF Womens
Christian Temperance union institutes "ork TOT the prevention :"
narcotics and for the promotion of school savings banks. child labor
laws, compulsory education laws. juvenile courts, kndergartens'
domestic science and manual training. Under the eVangelstc e
partment is the conduct Of meetings and temperance work in aims
houses. jals and prisons, detention homes and retormatories' work
among railroad employees, lumbermen, miners soldiers and Sailors
mothers meetings. Sabbath observance. rescue work and the re-
cruiting of members. Under the social department are social meet
ings. fairs and open air meetings and flower missions. Under the
legal department are the study of parliamentary practice, Christian
citizenship, franchise and peace and arbitration. The Loyal Temper
anoe legion is the department for the children. 1t secures member
ship and trains the young people to take up the work as the elders
All Of these departments are supported in the local union. the
various branches being emphasized according to the local need.
over 500. 900 women are now associated in the National
Women's Christian Temperance union of America which is one OF
the largest branches of the worlds organization and about 500
delegates, besides the speakers and visitors. will represent the
unions IN the Omaha convention next October. To avoid an I'M
wieldy body. representation in the national meeting has been re-
duced to one delegate for each 500 members but n attendance OF
visitors is always equal to and usually larger than the voting body,
which makes the meeting one of the largest gatherings of women
held in this country. The convention proper is preceded by a con-
ference OF superintendents and officers that direct the several de-
vention. Among these superintendent r. women of the highest
attainment, who have been recognized as authorities in their re-
spective lines at home and abroad. and many of them have been
entrusted with special commissions by the government state and
national.