The Republican journal., 1909-09-23
THE w. c. T. u. CONVENTION.

A most successful convention was the 35th
annual meeting Of the Maine Woman's Christ
ian Temperance Union, in Bangor, last week.
Chief among the new features was the much
talked of "parade," when some 400 or more,
delegates and members, headed by the marshal
of the day, the Bangor band, a platoon of
police school children, and some of the prom
nent citizens, "swung round the circle" The
children bore many banners and flags, and
each county delegation had several, its own
county banner, and one bearing some motto
that of Waldo county was, "no people need
intoxicants.'
The membership has been increased this
year through membership contests, and it was
voted to continue the plan another year. While
some unions made very large gains-SkoW-
hogan 125, Madison, Dover and Foxcroft and
Bowdoinham and others-some counties We're
put on the losing side; not so much by actual
loss of members as by failure in collecting
and forwarding the dues. The Maine W. Z. L.
u has a balance in its favor, according to the
Treasurer's books, but the convention expenses,
appropriations for literature, ETC., for State
superntendents, and other bills, will soon take
all, or most of it. No organization does as
much work with so little money. The Presl-
dents appropriation of $4,000 for postage and
expenses is more than given back into the
State work. Miss Gordon asks no remunera-
tion. the secretaries and treasurers receive
postage only, and no county or local officer has
salary, or receives as much as she puts out.
The Maine union occupies Headquarters IN
Portland, for which we have been offered more
than we paid for it. There Miss Flora 5.
Dunton. State Superintendent of Literature
and agent for the Union Signal and Crusader
monthly, works all day and often into the
night. Her small salary is largely diminished
by living expenses, while she gives much more
of her strength and time than is strictly PAID
for. This all shows how the passion for hu-
manity' holds our women, and also shows one
reason for the success of w. &. L. U. work
the women put themselves into it.
Several made themselves life members by
the payment of $40. Miss E. M. Hall, presl-
dent of the Winterport w. c. L. w., was one
Somerset County made their treasurer, Mrs
Annie Frost, life-member; also Mrs. l.. w.
Weston. for 80 years president of the Show
hogan union. Some memorial memberships
were also presented.
At one time the platform was filled with
fathers and mothers bringing their babies for
Miss Gordon to tie the white ribbon on their
wrists, thus becoming members OF the cradle
Roll One county president was accompanied
bv her husband and baby. Among the many
ntrod nett ons were Rev. ]. W. Hatch Miss II
in. Millett; and Miss Ethel Baker OF winter
port once ''Y'' in that town, now president
of the Somerset "Y'' in Carmel Announcer
Young woman present was Mrs. Grace Coburn
Smith of Skowhegan, who gave charming
tall, nm ..The Girls and the Ribbon White
Another young woman of exceptional ability
and charm is Mrs. Rose Wood Allen-Chapman,
who came from Brooklyn on her first visit to
Maine She is National Superintendent of the
Department of Purity, and her talks were of
great helpfulness.
The address Thursday evening by Mrs. Mar
paret DYE Ellis National Superintendent of
Legislation, was full Of interest. She gave
glimpses of her recent trip to Oregon, and of
her work in Washington, d. c. The welcomes
of the first evening, by Mayor Woodman, Pres
ident Fellows of the University of Maine, Mrs
Mitchell, President of the Bangor w. G. I. u,
and Rev A. B. Lorimer, pastor Of the End
Baptist church, were outspoken. The re-
Spouse, by Mrs Gertrude Stevens Leavitt was
equally able Mrs. Stevens followed, with
most earnest address.
The last evening Miss Anna Gordon was in
charge and introduced some twenty little
people, dressed in the costumes of as many
different countries, representing the Loyal
Temperance Legion in those countries.
The election Friday morning was unanimous
not one scattering vote. The old officers
were reelected: Mrs. Stevens, president; Miss
l. H. Stickney, E. Brownfield, cor. Sec, Miss
Farwell, Rockland, rec. sec Mrs. A. 7. Quinn
by of Turner asst. rec. Sec; Mrs. A. ]. john
ston, of Fort Fairfield, treasurer.
The prize banners held last year by Waldo
county were awarded to Androscoggin and
Somerset, the Union Signal banner going to
the former, the Membership banner to the
latter. Portland and Skowhegan invited the
convention for 1910. E. F. M.