Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-08

/ iaid down by Der FORMER GAleA. nv
leadership Of the Maine organization
! and her four years of intimate assoc
citation with Miss Willard and Miss
/ Gordon, had given her real capacity
for efficiently diseharging the duties
of the National work. Heroicaily she
| took up the direction of the work and
/ yet with no feeling of over-confidence
! nor with the assumption Of authority.
Humbly, she sought the cooperation OK
/ White Ribboners throughout the
! length and breadth of the land and
| loyalty did they respond to her call.
At the National convention held in
ST. Paul in November, 1898, Mrs.
/ stevens was chosen to fill the Office of
president made vacant by Miss Will
lard's death. She bespoke for the
organization a support and loyalty on
the part Of the members which would
secure the onward progress of not only
the organization, but more particular
ly of the temperance reform which was
then showing increased hope and
promise That the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union was to be a great
factor in the advance of temperance,
through its emphasis upon total
abstinence, social purity children's
temperance organization bands, scien-
tific temperance instruction in schools,
and the signing of the pledge, not to
mention the influence which it was
TO have indirectly in legislation and
administration of law, was not only the
dream of the new leader, as it was of
her predecessor, but the firm conVic-
ton.
Later Mrs. Stevens was honored by
being chosen vice prcsident-at-large
Of the Worlds W. c. T. L, the move
ment several years ago extending I'M
til it beited the globe, and was real
influence in foreign countries. in no
small degree as the advance of tenn
perance reform abroad must give in
dicatfon. At the Worlds conventions,
Mrs. Stevens was figure Of much in
terest as we'll as marvel, the force and
energy of her personality being the
object of pride to members of the
organization, and an occasion of great
interest to all.
Presided at Worlds Convention.
In the absence of the president,
Lady Carlisle of England, at the ses-
sion of the Worlds convention last
{
Stevens presided at all of the sessions
and with marked ability. 1t is OF in
terest to note at this time that it was
the unanimous vote of the members OF
the w c. T. L. of Great Britain, upon
their learning that Lady Carlisle would
not be able to attend the convention
that Mrs. Stevens take her place as
the presiding officer of the convention.
As indicated, this she did with ability
and with special satisfaction to mem
hers of the Maine V. c. T. L.
AS will be recalled Mrs. Stevens
took an active part in the campaign
for the retention of the prohibitory
amendment in the constitution of the
! State of Maine in 1910, being at the
head of the notable movement which
the State W. c. 7. T., outlined and
promoted. At a great mass meeting
in Jefferson Theater early in Septem-
Der on which occasion Congressman
Richmond Pearson Hobson gave his
memorable address entitled The Great
| Destroyer" Mrs. Stevens, who pre-
sided, promulgated her pronouneement
in favor of National constitutional
prohibition The advance which the
movement in this direction has made
in the years that have followed, adds
significance to the declaration which
she mace at that time.
In this connection mention may be
made Of Mrs. Stevens part in the
demonstration at Washington last
November. when resolutions calling
for National Constitutional prohibition
were presented in both the Senate and
House of Representatives. She had
taken a great interest in the movement
from the first, as need not be sald
and planned the part which the w. c.
r. T. had in the notable occasion
She was one of the three women who
made addresses at that time, and she
was heard in stirring address which
was held the Sunday previous to the
demonstration in the Capital City.
Mrs. Stevens will ever be remembered
as one of the greatest leaders in the
movement for National prohibition.
Active in Other Work.
But not alone in specifically tenn
per2nce work did Mrs. Stevens give
of her time and ability. She was in
terested in work for the unfortunate
and contributed of her time and means
in this direction. She was a member
of the Maine Prison Reform move
ment, and in its work took an active
interest She was greatly interested
in the movement for a reformatory for
women, in this State, and spoke in
support of the same She was for
several years the Maine representative
in the National Conference of Chart
fiac aD1 CprrapfiOn
In a secular capacity she also con-
tributed of her strength and ability,
notable among these services being
her work as lady manager Of the
Colombian Exposition in Chicago, in
1928. Mrs. Stevens contributions To
the magazines and to the press gener-
ally have been Volumnous, and what
she had to say has always been read
with interest for she spoke not only
with authority but with definite know
ledge of what she was writing.
In connection with Mrs. Stevens
services as a temperance reform
leader, one thing always stood cut as
a possessing quality of her mind and
soul. This was her courage of con-