The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03
NATIONAL WHITE :
RIBBON PARLIAMENT
6keeG or Otrlho Was called on In
OefeE1nco 70 the Thousands OF
Women visttors

6Eoee CIR Ose1no Was Called On I'm
DeNeEenco 70 the Thousands Of
Womcn Visitors.
BY MRS w. M. BICKERs.
The National w. c. T. U. Conven-
Hon Of eight busy days in the pretty
city Of indianapolis. from which we
have recently returned. was a record
White Ribbon Parliament In point of
numbers and enthusiasm. Nor has the
national gathering been more cor
daily received and Hospitality enter
tanned than In the capital of the
Hoosier State. The teeming hundreds
Of delegates and visitors hailing from
every portion Of our great nation were
provided with comfortable homes. and
the municipal authorities and trans-
portatioH companies We'd with tho re-
ception and entertaining committees
heartily and even Enthusiastically. The
sessions Of the convention were held
in the splendid Murat Theater build
ing. centrally located, and the Cham
Der Of Commerce paid $500 for the
use Of the building. We arrived in
the city when q street car strike was
pending and when negotiations be-
tween the companies and the employees
seemed to hang fire. when after
practically aii-night conference be-
tween tho parties In dispute and the
city authorities, the car company an
nounced that rather than have a strike
while 90 many hundreds OF women Wis
itors from all parts OF the United
states were in the city attending a ma
tional convention that they would
grant the demands of the men. Nice.
wasn't 1t? The Mayor made a most
excellent address for q non-prohibi-
ZIONIST and admitted that the organi-
xation was q power for good. Several
score automobiles were delivered to
the entertainment committee and we
were given a sightseeing tour of the
great metropolis. Courtesy everywhere
abounded and the only trouble with
Indianapolis IL that II Is wet. which
unfortunate condition will be remedied
and the conventions influence will
give an additional impetus in this d.
rection.
The churches. fraternal and civic or
CARNATIONS were all hospitable and the
great theater was filled to overfiowing
at every session. The night meetings,
held specially for the public. attracted
the most prominent men and women
OF the city and the programs were all
excellent and reflected credit upon the
committee. There were many prom
inent visiting speakers, including w. J.
Bryan, whose splendid address on pro-
hibition created increased enthusiasm.
or course there were scores of w. c.
T. L. celebrities who made ringing adj
dresses, including fraternal delegates
4 fer Ign lands, The program COM
prisei twenty-six page pamphlet and
IS. e2anui here be detailed, but
it embraced the consideration of every
branch OF the w. c. r. u. work and
was carried out In an enthusiastic
manner.
A Red Letter Year.
Over $4,000 new active members
were added to the rolls last year and
II will not be long ere the white rib
bon army in the United States will be
100000 strong
Reports from all the States indicated
Increased activity and an suspicious
future for the organization and the
cause. While the faces Of the delegates
reflected their Joy at the high tide OF
temperance triumph. there was no in
dications OF anyone's regarding the
final victory az having been won and
a desire to rest on their laureis. The
old slogan. educate. agitAte. organize"
was even more vigorously sounded
than ever and there was displayed a
splendid united purpose to press the
battle until America has become a sa-
ioonless nation and the public educated
to regard alcohol as a deadly. poison
Gus drug.
Virginia to the Fore.
II was very pleasing TO the Virginia
delegates to notice the prestige which
our beloved State has gained by her
magnificent and successful a h I
againet the common enemy. Probably
nothing has given q greater impetus to
the cause than tho great Virginia cam
paign and victory. Our State was on
the honor roll of new MEMBER &C