Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1889 — MRS. FOSTER’S DISCIPLES [ARTICLE]

MRS. FOSTER’S DISCIPLES

lOWA W. C. T. U. DELEGATES LEAVE THE CONVENTION. Their Differences with the Main LadySuch as to Preclude Possibility of Staying in the Old Organization—Convention Proceedings Detailed. Chicago dispatch: The sixteenth annual convention or the W. C. T. U. came to a close after a day of most exciting debate and action. The breeze was started by the introduction of the following resolution: “Its object shall be to institute a unity of Christian women of this nation in nonsectanan ana non-partisan temperance work for the reformation of the intemperate and the education of the public sentiment in behalf of total abstihence and the prohibition of alcoholic liquor, the development of social purity, the suppression of vice, and the education of the masses in the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. ’ ’ The discussion was hot and Was led by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster and Mrs. Aldrich of lowa, who urged the adoption of the proposed amendment, while a score spokeagainst it. The proposed amendment was finally voted down With a view to ascertain what sort of women were present in the convention Miss Willard asked all that had been school teachers at any time to rise. Of the 467 delegates present 379 rose. All who had been Sabbath school teacherswere asked to rise. Every delegate in the convention rose. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk was invited to the platform and made a few remarks. Mra. T. B. Carse read a report concerning the National Temperance temple, which is to be erected in Chicago at a cost of $1,100,000. Stock amounting to $542,000 has already been, subscribed for. Mrs. L. D. Carhart, of lowa,, read the report on “Ethical Culture” and Miss Mary Allen West on ‘ ‘The School of Methods. ” J. B. Hobbs was introduced. He formally presented the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union the lot at Lake Bluff on which the Palmetto cottage stanks. A resolution of thanks was adopted. Mrs. Caroline B. Buell, of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance union, wished to deny the statement that the total membership of the organization has decreased in a year. She said that on the contrary it had increased about 5,000 members during the last twelve months. This she learned by consulting the treasurer’s report and reckoning from the amount received on dues. At the evening session of the convention the report of the executive committee’s afternoon meeting was received. The executive committee considered the charges preferred against the national officers by Dr. Weeks Burnett, of the temperance hospital, and returned a resolution declaring that the national offieets were altogether wirhont blame in the matter. The lowa delegation bolted from the convention as the session was about to close. Mrs. J. Ellen Eoster, chairman of the delegation, rose and read a very long protest in which she reviewed the fight the lowa delegation has waged against the body of the convention on the non-parti-san issue. She stated that the lowa delegation had been met by rebuffs and insults until forebearance was no longer a virtue. The other members of the delegation, with the exception of Mrs. Carhart, rose and went out of the hall with Mrs. Foster. On motion of Mrs. Lathrop of Michigan, the convention authorized the executive committee to immediately take steps to reorganize the union in lowa. At Miss Willard’s suggestion Mrs. Carhart and other lowa ladies in sympathy with the sentiments of the convention stepped forward and occupied the seats that had been vacated by Mrs. Foster and her friends. The convention adopted a resolution censuring Vice-President Morton for allowing liquor to be sold in his hotel, the Shoreham house, in Washington. The convention adopted a resolution discountenancing the union of church and state, recommending the establishment of an educational test for citizenship, declaring in favor of full franchise for women and rejoicing in the efforts that are being made for the enforcement of the Sunday law.