Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1898 — TEMPLE IS GIVEN UP. [ARTICLE]

TEMPLE IS GIVEN UP.

Thd-W. C. T. U. Abandons the Chicago Building by a Vote of 285 to 71. By a vote of 285 to 71 the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, in session at St. Paul, dropped the Chicago Temple as an affiliated interest and disclaimed all connection with the building, which was intended to be a memorial to the late Frances E. Willard. Absolute action wad not taken until after a debate of six hours, which at times was very much heated. Mrs. Carse’s methods came in for a great deal of criticism. It was shown that she in issuing $300,000 worth of bonds. The debate abounded in accusations, insinuations and recriminations. Mrs. Carse read the report of the 'J em-., pie trustees. She also read a letter from Marshall Field, dated Nov. 2, in which he said if the friends of the cause would subscribe a sufficient amount to cancel the remainder of the issue of $300,000 of bonds he would give $50,000 of stock and $50,000 in cash, the latter to be applied toward the payment of a $20,000 floating debt and $30,000 interest on the first mortgage bonds. "* Mrs. Carse showed that $173,500 of the amount asked for had been provided, leaving $12(5,500 yet to be secured. Mrs. Clara H. Hoffman of Missouri, national recording secretary, said that pledges were getting cheap. The W. C. T. U.’had heard nothing but pledges for ten years. “I wish to add,” she continued. “that the donations received from young people’s societies and philanthropic organizations, which have been pouring a perfect avalanche of telegrams upon us demanding we shall stand by the Temple, have amounted to only a few hundred dollars in spite of some rainbow promises.” Miss Anna Gordon* Miss Willard's companion for twenty-one years, read from memoranda to show that Miss Willardhad begged Mrs. Carse to be content with a SIOO,OOO to $200,000 buiflling. She intimated that worry over the Temple hastened Miss Willard’s death. A resolution of thanks to Mrs. Carse for her efforts on behalf of the Temple was adopted. An adjournment was then taken. At the Session Tuesday Mrs. Stevens of Maine was elected president of the National W. C. T. U., she receiving 317 of the 356 votes cast.