The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-04
De man whut laughs at er
petticoat may live ter buy
manv of 'em. Yassum!


with the w. C. T. T." Mrs. Weisel re-
| Piled. THE National w. c. 7. Y. is the
| lcrystalized effort of the woman's cru
sade of 1874 The characteristics of
the National w. C. T. U. are simplicity
and unity, with emphasis upon indi-
vidual responsibility. 1t is organized
lby states and territories, and they in
turn are organized oy districts, counties
and local unions"
Coming closer home," said Mrs Wei
sell take our own state, Alabama 1t
has had an organization for 29 years
now, and among the things accom-
plished through the w. C. T. U. I may
mention the passage of the scientific
temperance instruction law through the
efforts of the state officers, of whom
Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce of Tuscaloosa
was the president. Mrs. Judge Brooks
and others
"And in connection with the child
labor law, the Boys club and other
local organizations, hasn't the W. c. T..
U. had some part in matters of that
sort and similar import?" l asked
| ut was the first organization to take
up the cause of anti-child labor said
Mrs. Weisel. Mrs. Ashby MeFadden of
England held her first conference with
the w. c. r. L. committee, with whom
also she visited Legislators and others
when investigating cotton mill condi-
tions in the south, a number OF years
ago. The w. c. T. L. was the first or
,fxaf r. tc l,ax. he
age of consent raised in this state The
Mercy Home of this city is Immediately
under the care and ownership of the w.
| c. 4. L., and its work in this communi-
| ty for over 20 years speaks for itself.
This institution comes under the pre-
ventive department The Civic Study
club of this city is also the outgrowth
of efforts on the part of the w. G. T. u.
to interest young women in philan-
thropic work. TO the splendid work
done by Miss Julia s. Tutwiler for pris-
on reform in this state under the aus
pices of the w. c.. Il. u. as well as
| her efforts for peace and international
arbitration, unstinted praise should be
given Her song, Alabama, was
adopted by the Alabama state w. c. T..
U. as their state song some years be-
fore the public schools adopted it
These are only a few things that may
help the public to understand just what
the W. c. T. U. is doing outside of its
work for prohibition"
1.-THE work Is so much larger than any
mere personality Mrs Weisel continued
modestly. that hesitate to discuss such
a tremendous subject. Jefferson county, |
MAJ say right here, however, was the
| first county organization in the state OF
Alabama. This was a preparatory step
toward county work all over the state"
''At present how many counties are or
| ganized?" l asked
| There are so far II organized counties
was the reply. land there are local unions
in 2S county seats
1.-THE organization of the w. C. T. U.
has not been an easy task" Mrs. Weisel
resumed. "It has been accomplished
through prayers and tears years ago when
the women interested in the W. c. T. U.
| first brought up the subject of legislation
| regarding prohibition. They were told to
| go back to their homes and mind their
children and attend to their household
cares, where women belong. They abided
by the decision, and the result is that
| many of the voters for prohibition today
| are the men who were boys at that time,
and learned the lesson at their mother 8
knee. If those who are Interested in the
| w. C. T. L. would take the time to read
| the little pamphlet called The story or
tne Crusade, by Mrs. Eliza j. thompson,
| JUST what small beginning and with
what fire and blood the campaign was
fought would be easily lecrned. Mrs.
Thompson tells very appealingly of the
evening in December, way back in 1873,
when Dr. Dio Lewis, noted Boston ply
sician and lecturer. delivered lecture
! in Hisboro, o.. his subject being our
| Girls f"
| II did not hear Dio Lewis lecture (al-
| though he was our guesD, >because OF
home cares that required my presence,
but my son. youth of 16, was there,
and ie came to me on his return home,
and in a most excited manner related the
| thrilling incidents of the evening" Mrs.
Weisel quoted from Mrs. Thompson's 8
story. He told how Dr. Lewis told of his
own mother and several Of her good
Christian friends uniting in prayer with
and for the liquor sellers of his native
town. until they gave up their soul de-
stroying business. and then said: Ladies.
You might do the same thing here in
fiilisboro if you had the same faith and
turning to the ministers and temperance
Ien who were upon the platform. he add
cd Suppose ] ask the ladies of this aud
ience to signify their opinions upon the
subject They all bowed their consent.
and 30 or more women stood lid in token
| OF approval. He then asked the gentle
men how many of them would stand a.