Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-11-18
TEMPERANCE IS
GAINING GROUND
IN THE STATES
Great Progress for Cause
Shown by Reports at w.
T, G. u. Conventionn.

SitSS tof the cause OF ttNlDeYaOCp WAS
SFoWn in reports of various branches
CT the national w. c. r. t.. presented
at the opening session OF Shat body's
annual convention here today.
Membership gains IN Is states were
reported by the Young People's
branch for the year. and the reporra
OF the Loyal Temperance Lesion
showed $50 now legions organized
Florida, california, Kansas, Miebj-
gan, Missouri, North Dakota. Virginia
Washington and West virginia re-
CelVed honorable mention for The
number Of new legions formed.
Address Of welcome by Governor
Ralston and others We're delivered to
night.
"The Challenge of a Big Task" was
outlined by the national president
Miss Anna A. Gordon, of Evanston,
Ill.
Plan Besiege Congress.
Miss Gordon's address was, i'll part
as follows:
"The allied temperance forces are a
unit In the fight for national consti-
tutional prohibition. They are deter
mined that the partnership of the gov
eminent with the liquor traffic shall be
dissolved. The passage Of federal
amendment will help license states in
which the liquor traffic is so deeply
entrenched that national prohibition
and that only-is adequate for It's
determination.
CAS- the sixty fourth congress re-
ASSEMBLIES for it's second session, it
will be stormed by men and women
representing the leading temperance
organizations and the aroused prohi-
bltion sentiment of the country The
words Of warning, the liquor traffic
must go are writ large on the United
States. Let US reiterate our cAal-
longing cry, con to Washington
"The big task really eenters in the
big cities. These are the strongholds
of the enemy. One-half the saloons
in the United States are 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 commemorative than in
the city of Chicago. II Seattle, Port
land (Oregon(, Denver, Birmingham,
(Alabama). Memphis, Nashville, Des
Moines and Kansas City can go dry
why also should not Chicago, New
York and Philadelphia
All Evidence Favors Prohibition.
evidence from mayors, judges and
sheriffs of large dry cities is all in IA
vor of prohibition. Mayor Gill Of Sc
attic declares that prohibition has
been wonderful thing for his city.
Seattle has a population of a third Of
a million and is the first seaport city
Of i+c ei1o To oo Jryr C,11
son Of Colorado says prosperous con-
Denver. The $4,000,OG0 a year for
merly spent for liquor has been turn
ed into legitimate channels and there
bauchery and crime.
birmingham is really like differ
ent city, testifies the city chief Of
police. Prohibition is responsible in q
great measure for the Improvement.
Mayor Hanna of Des Moines declares
prosperity has come since that city
dissolved partnership with the liquor
traffic. He says the 100000 est
mated to have been spent in Des
Moines saloons annually, now goes
over the dry goods and grocery coun-
ters, 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, zone country, one language, one
flag
"rhe W. C. T. U. through it's Fran
ces E. Willard Memorial fund, it's mis-
sionaries at the ports Of entry, its
temperance literature in many Ian
guages, and it's department of work
among foreign speaking people, is
rapidly advancing the 'Americaniza
ton of immigrant women.
"Our faith in young people and in
our Young Peoples branch makes US
feel assured that we shall not only Sc
cure national constitutional prohibit
ton but also enforce it. Nearly sew
enty colleges and universities offer
courses in the study of the liquor prob
lem and more than hundred colleges
have volunteer temperance study
classes.
"a serious feud in the liquor family
is threatened. Beer is beginning to
look askance at it's own first cousin,
whisky. Whenever beer explains that
it is liquid food and sober drink
scientists hit it with the sledge ham,
mer fact that beer is Intoxicating"
In closing her address Miss Gordon
told the story of the adjustment of
vodka in Russia, saying that its elimi-
nation was, as has been told by the
Russian temperance worker, Tchely-
shoy. due to peasant women who,
starved and cold and driven to despair
bv the excuses of their men, tried to
destroy the vodka shops, thus forcing
the hand of the authorities till the
traffic was prohibited.