Evening star., 1937-06-03
MATERNAL DEATHS
LAID TO DRINKING
Mrs. BooIe Addresses 1000
of W. c. T. u. as Con.
vention Opens.

Mrs. Ella a. Boole, president OF the
World Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, told 1000 members assembled
in convention at Constitution Hall
today that steadily increasing drinking
among women is the ''one great cause
of maternal DEATH
To the delegates to the sixteenth
triennial meeting of the world Or
ganization, waving the fans in the
sweltering hall, she urged scientific
study to cope with the problem.
Many organizations are promoting
child welfare" she said These must
deal both with heredity and environ
ment. Any study that ignores the pre-
natal effects of alcohol on children
born of drinking parents, or the effect
on the environment of the child is in
| complete, and so fails to accomplish
its purpose. AS social drinking has in
creased, this should be a matter of
grave concern to all lovers Of the race"
Children, toward whom the tenn
| perance organization has directed the
| greatest force of its five-year program
OF educating the public on the affects
of alcohol, were discussed by Mrs.
Boole in the light of juvenile crimes
committed while under the influence
of liquor, and as the child as affect
ed by the mtemperance of it's parents.
Delegates From Sc Countries.
The audience at this mornings ses-
slon-flrSt in the siX-day convention
contained visitors and delegates from
36 countries, including Egypt, China,
Costa Rica, Esthonia, Finland, Guate-
mala, India, Japan, Newfoundland,
Siam, Uruguay and all the other
larger nations. Visitors to the con-
vention, numbering about 1900, pay
50 each for the privilege of attending
all open sessions.
The official opening Of the session
was followed by two songs, in which
the entire audience took part; mass
recitation of the Crusade Psalm and
the roll call of eX-of6cio members.
The Executive Committee, which met
in morning and evening sessions at
the Washington Hotel yesterday, was
to make its report, following which
the consideration Of amendments to
the constitution, appointment of COM
mlttees and the announcement of
members of the Nominating Com
mittee were to be taken up.
To Review Activities.
Miss Agnes E. Slack of England and
Mrs w. T. G. Brown of Canada were
to present review of activities from
1884, time of the last triennial con-
vention, until the present
Included in this afternoons pro-
gram will be ceremonies at Statuary
Hall, where wreath containing ever
! green sprays from more than a score
of the countries represented at the
| convention will be placed on the
statue of Frances Willard, founder
in 1884 of the World Union of the
w c. T. U. Miss Slack will make
the memorial address at these cere-
monies.
The Loyal Temperance Legion will
make its report this afternoon and
Mrs. Mary B. Egbert, Worlds w. c.
T. U. representative in Central
America, will address the gathering
Also the following delegates will be
presented: Mrs. Sporri of Austria,
Mrs, H, C. Herbert of Australia and
Mrs. E. H. Pruden of China.
Tonight's program, to begin at 8
O'Clock, will include the reading of
a message to the convention, written
by President Roosevelt and read by
Secretary of State Hull.