Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-22

hour today the delegates to the thirty
| sixth annual convention of the National
Womens Christian Temperance Union
began flocking to the big auditorium.
| The convention was called to order at
$50 a. M. the preceding hour having
been devoted to service OF prayer and
praise under the leadership of Nine.
Layah Barakat, national evangelist.
Besides the voting delegates. officers,
department superintendent, organizers
and other official workers, there were
present at the opening many hundreds
| of visiting members from all parts Of the
United States:
The convention hall had been reseated
with opera chairs for this convention at
| the request of Mrs. Stevens, the pres-
dent. An elaborate plan of decorations
| had also been carried out
Opening Exercises.
The convention came to order at the
| tap of President Stevens gavel promptly
at $50 Singing, led by Mrs. Frances W.
Graham of New York, was followed by
devotional exercises. After the roll call
the annual report of the executive COM
mittee was presented.
The following committees were named:
| On credentials, publication, courtesies.
| Union Signal and the Crusaders Monthly.
| Mrs l.. NJ. Stevens, president Of the
, organization, made her annual report.
Congratulates President Taft.
Mrs Stevens featured her report with
a note of congratulation TO President
Taft for his stand on the temperance
question. In reviewing the action Of
corporations and organizat lions in differ
nf 10 which have
placed a ban on the employment of
persons addicted to the liquor habit Mrs.
Stevens says:
There have been many similar deter
limitations during the year by oreanlza-
lions and prominent individuals, the lat
est and most notable being that of Mr..
Taft, who. soon after his election as
President Of the United States, at Il ban
quet 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 Washington.
For Mr.. Taft to set the example of
total abstinence is cause for great re-
joicing by those who care for humanitys
veal 1t is an example safe anu benefi-
cent for all to follow. Mr. Taft is en-
titled to grateful thanks and apprecia-
ton Of a thrice grateful nation.
Victories in the States.
In review of victories won by the
temperance cause, the work in Tennessee,
Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, In
diana, Ohio and Nebraska are particularly
mentioned Particular attention is given
also to the death of Senator +. w. Car
mack of Tennessee, the report in this re-
spect saying:
ITO the old Volunteer state Of Tennessee
have come the saddest and gladdest of
days. The saddest day was when a muir
derous bullet pierced the heart of Ed
ward Ward Carmack. Tennessee's most
gifted and gallant soma man who stood
fearlessly for civic righteousness and who
nobly challenged the right Of the liquor
tra1rlc to live"
Considerable stress is laid on the work
in Alabama, where, the report states was
furnished a wonderful chapter In prohi-
bftion agitation and conquest Gov. Co.
mer of that state is congratulated on his
action In calling an extra session Of the
| legislature to adopt more stringent laws
against the liquor traffic.
Progress in Total Abstinence.
general review on total abstinence
says:
"There is in the public mind clearer
understanding concerning the relation of
total abstinence to prohibition. All we'll
| meaning, intelligent people know that
IquoI uflhhiHS. is OefIlordllZlng, that 1t is
destructive to health and happiness, to
commercial and industrial 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 ra ~
| road systems of the country in response
| to letters sent them by the national W.
| c. T. u, asking for their policy with re-
! gard to drinking men. All replies re-
ceived stated that there was an absolute
| ly prohibtive rule against liquor
| ut is conservatively estimated, there
| FORE the report says, that 80 per cent
| of the railways, 20 per cent of the manu-
facturers. 80 per cent of the trades and
| 20 per cent Of agriculturists discriminate
against workmen who drink"
Interstate Shipments Of Liquor.
The work of securing federal law
which will prevent interstate shipments
of liquor into dry territory is COM
| mended, and action along that line al
| ready taken is reviewed at length
| Speaker Cannon is charged with having
prevented the passage of a bill designed
| for that purpose through the last Con-
gress the report stating that 1.-The feeling
prevailed that the Littlefield bill would
| have passed had it been given fair
! chance by Speaker Cannon
The report strongly favors a federal
commission of inquiry on the alcoholic
| liquor traffic. but admits that it is not SO
greatly needed now as it was twenty
| years ago.
1t pays to read the want columns Of
The Star. Hundreds of situations are filled
through they