The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-10-13
|W.C.T.U. STARTS
WAR-ON LIQUOR
1000 Delegates Instruct
ed to Campaign for Pro.
lection of Homes

Rochester. N. Y, Oct. l3-Home
protection through abolition Of the
legalized liquor traflc still is the
guiding star of the half.million adj
herents to the National Woman's
Christian Temperance Union.
However, home protection through
abolition of war was for the moment
even heavier in the thoughts of
more than 1000 delegates and guests
who met recently In 65th annual
convention in Rochester, N. Y.
Convention-goers expressed them
selves as "being appalled, at the IN
roads alcoholic drinks have made in
the morals, health, and economic
well-being Of the United States In
only six year since repeal"
They cheered to the echo reports
from As states, from the District Of
Columbia and Puerto Rico Of grow
ing public sympathy with the aims
of the temperance forces. They
heard that the increasing drinking
youth problem, the drinking wom-
an problem, the drinking driver
problem, the economic phases under
re-legalized liquor were responsible
for the rapid swing of the pendulum
Of public sentiment away from pro-
alcohol to a point at least strongly
critical of alcohol.
But, on convention Sunday It
wasn't only prohibition of the IL
quor traffic for which these sin
cere temperance women prayed. In
their hour of spontaneous prayer,
presided over by Mrs. Ida B. Wise
Smith, their national president, full
ly half Of the prayers were for
peace.
The final day kilograms, voted
unanimously by the convention,
were sent to the President and to
Congress, not suggesting which con-
troversial method should be select
ed, but demanding that everything
possible be done to prevent war.
The two outstanding temperance
decisions made were: For continual
ton Of the scientific temperance
education program, with goal of
teaching youth, and adults, what al
cohol Is and what it does to the
human body; and decision to push
nationally a wide program of local
option elections.
The convention again affirmed,
after hearing wet proposals for
"moderatio min drinking" torn to
pieces by its leaders, its belief in
total abstinence for the individual
and prohibition of the alcohol trade
as the only permanent solution of
the liquor problem.
In addition, it urged:
Comprehensive programs OF COM
munity service to recognize the eff
fects Of alcoholic liquor on public
health, morals, safety and security.
That local communities provide
recreation facilities and wholesome
amusements for both adults and
youths, facilities free from the sale
and use of alcoholic liquors.
That lotteries and all other forms |
OF gambling whatever for money be !
abolished, including pari-futuel bet
ting; that prize-f1ghting and the
showing Of prize-f1ght pictures be |
prohibited.
Citizens wage a relentless war on |
sale and distribution of indecent !!
That blind selling and block book
ing Of motion pictures be abolished,
and that federal supervision at
source be provided to eliminate OBJ
jectionable films. |
That hoStesses provide non-alco-
holic fruit beverages as a measure of |
protection from the alcohol habit |
and in the interest of safety on the
Enactment of the uniform drug act
in seven states which have not acted
and pledged cooperation with au-
thorities in the suppression of the
marijuana traffic Opposition was
voiced to a proposed system of mar
cotic clinics.
The convention also:
Deplored the sacrifice Of human
life due to the moderate use of al
cohol by the drinking driver and the
pedestrian.
Protested our government placing
all Of it's citizens in the position of
through the manufac-
ture and sale of Government House !
Rum.
time to be announced later. Friends