The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-22
Action of the President in Turn
ing Down His Glass
Is Strongly Commended by the
w. G. T. U. President.
HER ANNUAL REPORT.
Is Delivered to the National
Organization at Omaha.
She Blames Speaker Cannon 10r
Blocking Legislation.

Omaha, Oct pat an early hour To-
day the delegates to the th1rty-slAlh
annual convention of the Natfonal Wo
mans Christian Temperance unloh' elie
second largest annual gathering OF wo-
men in the world. began f1ocling to
the big auditorium. where the prlnclpal
sessions of the convention are TO De
held The convention was called 10 OF
der at $50 a. m, but the preceolns
hour was devoted to a service OF prayer
and praise under the leadership OF Mine'
Iayah Barakat, national evangelist.
The convention hall had been reSeat-
cd with opera chairs for this convention
at the request of Mrs. Stevens, the pres
ident and every preparation made 1or
the comfort and convenience Vi en0 O
vention. 49,
After the roll call of delegates the
arnuaI report of the executive commit
tee was presented The Iollo"lnS coiii
nittees were named:
On credentials, publication, courtesleS,
kilograms, finance. subscriptions to the
Union Signal and the Crusaders
Monthly.
with a note of congratulation to Presl-
dent Taft for his stand on the temper
ar ce question. In reviewing the actlon
of corporations and organization IN
have placed a ban on employment OF
persons addicted to the liquor haplt'
Mrs. Stevens says:
Taft's Example.
There have been many similar de-
Examinations during the year by or
esDizations and prominent individuals,
the latest and most notaoie belng shal
of Mr.. Taft, who. soon after his cleo
ton as president of the United states
at a banquet turned his wine glass
down and said it would ever remain SO,
and in harmony with this action and
through his request, no liquors were
served at the inaugural ball at Wash
1ngton.
For Mr.. Taft to set the example Of
total abstinence is cause for great
rejoicing by those who care for hu-
manity's veal. Mr.. Taft IS entitled
TO grateful thanks and appreciation
of a thrice grateful nation"
- The report says that Nebraska is
to be concentrated on the action of
the last legislature which passed a
day light saloon bill, but adds that it
was in Nebraska that the high license
idea was born, and that it was In this
state that the fallacy of the idea was
demonstrated. The report then
states the national conference was
brought to Omaha with a view to Sc
curing in this state a statewide
prohibition law.
Victories Reviewed.
review of victories is then given
by Mrs. Stevens, the work III Ten
nessee, Alabama. Florida. South
Carolina Indiana, Ohio. Nebraska
and otner states peing particularly
mentioned.
Considerable stress is laid on the
work in Alabama. where. the report
states, was furnished wonderful
chapter in prohibition conquest.
A general review on total alb
stinence says: There is in the public
mind a clearer understanding than
ever before concerning the relation of
total abstinence to prohibition. All
well meaning, intelligent people know
that liquor drinking is demoraliz1ng;
that it is destructive to health and
happiness, to commercial and in
dustriaI efficiency"
In proof of this statement Mrs.
Stevens quotes from numerous
authorities and especially refers to
statements made by heads of thirty
nine of the leading railroad sys-
TENS of the country in response to
letters sent them by the national w.
c. T. U. asking for their policy with
regard to drinking men.
Prohibitive Rule Against Liquor.
All replies received stated that
there was an absolutely prohibitive
rule against liquor. at is con-
servatively estimated therefore" the
report states that 80 per cent of the
railways and 10 per cent of the manu-
facturers. so per cent of the trades
and 70 per cent of agriculturists dis
criminate against workmen who
drink"
Mrs Stevens deplores the fact that
many daily papers accept extensive
advertising contracts from liquor
dealers.
An appeal also is made to the
various church denominations to in
crease their zeal for the cause of
prohibition and those which have
taken decided stands against en-
couragement in any manner of the
LIQUOR traffic by their members are
commended.
The work of securing federal law
which will prevent interstate ship
ments of liquor into dry territory
is commended and action along that
line already taken is reviewed at
length.
Sneaker Cannon is charged with
having prevented the passage of a bill
designed for that purpose through the
last congress. the report stating that
"the feeling prevailed that the Little
field bill would have passed had it
been given a fair chance by Speaker
Cannon"
The report strongly favors a fed
eral commission of inquiry on the
alcoholic liquor traffic but admits that
II is not so greatly needed now as it
was twenty years ago. The report
closes with an urgent appeal for
renewed zeal in the temperance work.
uIc NAME WAC M'l EkM