The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-11-03
THE w. C. T. Z. IN OCALA

During the past year the Ocala w.
C. T. U. with Mrs. George Martin as
the efficient president, has been IN
usually active. Few of the meetings
however, and little of the work have
been adequately reported to the pa
pers. We are therefore giving the
following resume of the years work
The year began in November and
during this month the W. C. T. u.
conducted restaurant on the fair
grounds by which, with hard work
and generous donations by many of
our merchants, friends and other
unions in the county, they cleared
about three hundred dollars. The sue
cess of the undertaking was due to
these donations and to the untiring
efforts of Mrs. B. II. Seymour, the
general manager for the Ocala union.
Mrs. Seymour, in recognition of her
services, was presented on behalf of
the union by Mrs. Van Hood, then the
acting president, a beautiful w. C.
I. U. pin, the white ribbon bow done
in pearls set in gold. The presenta-
ton was made at the silver tea held
at the residence of Mrs. w. T. Gary,
on Willard Memorial Day, Feb. II,
1916.
On December 7th, the wet or dry
election was held at which time the
sale of intoxicants in open saloons
was discontinued in Marion county.
In this campaign the w. C. T. u. took
no small part. 1t paid the expenses
and fee of Mr.. VIM. D. Upshaw from
Georgia, who spent two weeks speak
ing throughout the county. 1t spread
literature in every precinct and held
meetings at which it's state president,
Miss Minnie E. Neal spoke. It paid
for the use of the Temple theater for
several evenings and paid the band to
play for the open air meetings. Many
incidental expenses were also met by
the w. G. T. u. at this time.
On March 9Th Mrs. Mary Harris
Armour, one of the greatest woman
speakers in the world, spoke in the
Temple theater to full house. A gen.
erous collection was taken at this
meeting which went into the state
treasury to aid in state work.
Much literature has been sent out,
especially by the medical temperance
superintendent, Miss Emma Wash
burn, who has mailed ALL pages to
fifty physicians residing in Marion
county. Miss Washburn received the
prize at the last state convention for
the best work done in medical tenn
perance.
One hundred copies of the cigarette
laws printed on cards were placed in
conspicuous places. Literature has
been placed in the jails and tesla
ments supplied the prisoners by Mrs.
r d. Loveridge, superintendent Of
jails and prisons.
Mrs. Van Hood, superintendent of
work among the colored people, has
held meetings and had speaking in
their churches by Mr.. Upshaw, Miss
Neal and Mrs. Armour, beside doing
much personal work and keeping the
colored hospital supplied with litera-
ture.
AS superintendent of medical con-
tests Mrs. G. D. Washburn has held
more contests than any ether super
intendent in the United States and for
this work she received from the ma
tional superintendent a beautiful gold
medal and also one from the state
superintendent.
The flower mission under Mrs. d.
w. Tompkins and Mrs. Baxter earn
has done much good work sending to
the sick and "shut ms" beautiful
flowers and delicacies and groceries to
the poor. Nursing and visiting the
sick have also been done as mission
work of the union.
Through the influence Of the w. c..
T. u. many of the whisky signs have
been removed from our streets.
The following red letter days have
been observed with special programs:
March LIST, Union Signal day, the
birthday of the national president,
Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, at the Presby-
terrain church with special program
by Mrs. E. E. Packham.
Feb. 18th, Frances Willard Memoir
ial day, silver tea at the residence
of Mrs. w. T. Gary. A part of the
silver gift from this tea went into the
memorial fund.
June 9th, Flower Mission day, at
Presbyterian church, with program
by Mrs. w. D. Tompkins. Many beau
tiful flowers were brought to this
meeting and distributed afterwards