The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1918-01-10
National w. C.. T. u. Conven-
ton.

al PrOhlbltlOn comes, JneTe VIII De l1tLle
left for the w. C. T. U. to do" 1t is
even limited that interest is already wan
ing These sayings are refuted by the
great convention just closed in Washing
ton, D. C. More new members, more
delegates, more money used, more enthu-
siasm than ever before! Over 900 dele
gates and visitors uncounted were pres
emit each elected delegate representing
500 members
Friday and Saturday, the two days pre-
ceding the convention, were filled with
board and department meetings Sunday,
in the Metropolitan M. + church, praise
and prayer service was held and the pas
for nreached the convention sermon. In
the afternoon, at Polls Theater, VIM.
Jennings BRYAN made an earnest appeal
for prohibition and suffrage. In the even
ing. Mrs Philip North Moore, Pres. OF
Nat. Council of Women, spoke; also sew
eral congressman. Mrs. Baker, wife OF
the Sec. of War, was the soloist. Monday
at go a. m, the convention was formal
" epened. Standing, the large audlance
sang America; the last verse, with bow
ed heads, as a prayer. Then Old Glory
was unfurled and all Joined in the salute
to the flag, and the pledge of allegiance.
The Crusade Psalm was read IN unison,
the Crusade Hymn sung and prayer offer
ed. The salute and the pledge were
part of each days opening exercises. Ia
trIotism was dominant note throughout
the convention.
The presidents annual address, entitl-
ed "The Path Of Patriotism is the Path
of Prohibition, set the keynote, and
every speaker toned up to it.
Reports showed that 8 States have
gained 500 or more new members, above
all losses; "a States have made smaller
gains from 300 down to 100; the Young
Peoples Branch has gained in "a States,
and there are 600 new Loyal Temperance
Legions, where the children are trained.
Monday evening was "Welcome Night,
when district officials voiced their cor
dial feelings toward both the W. c. L.
and Prohibition-and Suffrage, too!
The nearly so departments were group
ed, six or eight together, as patriotic
Congresses, with the general topic OF
How my department helps the Nation
and DR.. Anna Howard Shaw gave us one
of her inlmita Bile addresses
When reports Of our papers, the Union
Signal and Crusader Monthly were given
and subscriptions asked, the States quick
ly responded, some pledging 500, or even
1000
It was pleasure to listen to Mrs. John
Meigs, as she told of the war work OF the
Y. M. C. A.; to Miss Julia Lathrop of the
CbiIdrens' Bureau, the new department
not long ago created by the government;
and to DR.. Harvey Wiley. Among the
unexpected happenings was a call from
the Temperance Board of M. E. Bishops,
in session in the city. Bishop VIM. Nc
Dewell, Clarence True Wilson, Deets
Picket, Dr. Elmer Williams, the fighting
minister of Chicago, and others made
brief and pithy speeches.
The Anti Saloon League, gathered in
Washington for convention, also came
in body to make us call. One day it
almost seemed that Congress had adjourn
ed and come to visit US, so many OF that
august body were present The Maine
men were appropriately greeted by the
delegation of white ribboners from the
Pine Tree State Miss jeanette Rankin
made brief little speech on free press as
related to temperance work.
Among our many other distinguished
visitors were Ex-Gov. Frank l. Hanly,
Mrs. Daniels, wife of the Secretary of
the Navy, who invited the convention to
an informal reception at her home; Mrs.
Thomas A. Edison, Miss Elizabeth PIERCE,
chaplain general of the D. A. r., Mrs.
Wilbur F. Crafts, Mrs. VIM. Mcdowell,
President of M. E. Woman's Foreign
Missionary Society, Mrs. S. r. Wright,
president of the Canadian W. C. T. u,
Miss Flora Strout, Worlds W. C. T. u,
missionary to Burma, soon returning to
Ceylon and the Straits Settlement, Mrs.
Gilbert Bowles, Fraternal delegate from
Japan w. C. T. u, Mrs. Etsu iSngimoto
Of Japan, and Miss Time Watanabc,
president of Kobe w. c. T. U. in Japan
when we see these women and hear of
their work along the same lines that we
in America follow-the world does not
seem SO very big, after all.
A most picturesque visitor was Mrs.
Gertrude Bonnin, every part of whose
costume was beaded in harmonious colors.
Mrs. Bonnin is Secretary of the Society
of American Indians, and came to ask
the help of the W. C. T. U. for bill now
pending in Congress, which aims to pro-
tect the Indian from the traffic in peyote,
a certain kind of cactus, sometimes called
"dry whiskey." This drug is akin to
opium in its effects. DR.. Harvey confirm
ed Mrs Bonnin's statements as to the
destructive effects of the drug, and the
need of legislation against it.
The resolutions emphasized total alb
stinence, prohibition, purity and suffrage