Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-18
NATIONAL W. G. 7. j.
CONVENTION OPENS
President Anna Gordon Makes
Annual Address to First
Session at indianapolis.
CHALLENGE OF BIG TASK"

indianapolis, Nov. H.-"Ihe chal-
lenge of a big task" was outlined at
the formal opening of the national
convention of the Woman's Christian
Temperance union here today by the
national president, Miss Anna A. Cor
don of Evanston, III. In her annual
address she discussed national consti-
tutional prohibition, law enforcement,
new Americans" "our young people"
Beer" world wide work OF the
Woman's Christian Temperance
union, ''the big city" and Russia's
crusading women. The presidents
address,wss.pssceded by-fhSs report Of
the executive committee and was fol-
lowed by memorial service.
Miss Gordon's Address.
Miss Gordon's address was in part
as follows:
"The allied temperance forces are
a unit in the fight national consti-
tutional prohibition. They are deter
mined that the partnership of the gov.
ernment with the liquor traffic shall
be dissolved. The passage of fed
eral amendment will help license
states in which the liquor traffic is so
deeply entrenched that national pro-
hibition-and only that's adequate
for its determination.
Gas the Sixty-fourth congress reas-
sembles for its second session it will
be stormed by men and women rep
rcsenting the leading temperance or
and the aroused prohibi-
ton sentiment of the country. The
words of warning, The liquor traf-
fc must co. are writ large on the map
of the United States. Let us reiterate
our challenging cry, On to Washing
tom
Task Centers in Cities.
"The big task really ccnters in the
big cities. These are the strongholds
Of the enemy. .One-half of the sa-
looms in the United States are found
in fourteen cities. New York City
alone has more saloons than are
found in thirty-six states. There are
fewer saloons in all our southern COM
than in the city of Chi
cago. If Seattle, Portland (Ore),
Denver, Birmingham (Ala.), Mem
phis, Nashville, Des Moines and Kan
sas City can go dry, why also should
not Chicago, New York and Phila-
delphia?
Evidence from mayors, judges and
sheriffs of large dry cities is all in
favor of prohibition. Mayor Gill of
Seattle declares that prohibition has
been a wonderful thing for his city.
Seattle has population of third of
a million and is the first seaport city
of its size to go dry. Governor Carl
son of Colorado says prosperous con-
ditions have followed liquors exit
from Denver. The $4,0O000O a year
formerly spent for liquor has been
TUNED into legitimate channels and
there is great decrease in drunken
ness, debauchery and crime.
Birmingham is really like diff
fcrent city, testihes the city chief of
police. Prohibition is responsible in
Il cat lllSdSulC lOl tIllS Improvement,
Mayor Hanna OF Des Moines de.
clares prosperity has come since that
city dissolved partnership with the
liquor traffic. He says that $3,000,-
600, estimated to have been spent in
Des Moines saloons annually, now
goes over the dry goods and grocery
counters, into bank deposits, lumber
yards and real estate Offices.
"The foundation for the American
ization of our great foreign speaking
population is laid in the public
schools. Eighteen million school
children are saying, one country, one
language, one flag.
The Womens Christian Temper
ance union, through its Frances Will
lard memorial fund. its missionaries
at the ports of entry, its temperance
literature in many languages, and its
department. Of work among foreign
speaking people, is rapidly advancing
the 'Americanization' of immigrant
"A serious feud in the liquor family
is threatened. Beer is beginning to
look askance at its own first cousin,
Whenever beer explains thai
It is liquid food and sober drink,
scientists hit it with the sledge-ham-
mer fact that beer is Intoxicating"