Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1889 — THEY HAD A LIVELY TIME. [ARTICLE]

THEY HAD A LIVELY TIME.

‘ The W. C. T. U. had a lively time Tuesday, when the following amendment came up for consideration: “To interest and unite the Christian women of this nation in nomaectarian and non-partisan temperance work for the reformation of the intemperance and the education of public sentiment in behalf of total abstinence and the prohibition of the traffic in alcoholic liquor, the development es social purity, the suppression of vice and crime and the education of the masses in the duties and responsibilities of good citizenship.” It was evident from the commencement of the debate that the feeling of the convention was overwhelmingly against the proposed amendment. The delegates were not disposed to listen to the speeches of the women who favored its adoption,, and several times there was hissing and cries of “Sit down.” Mrs. Henry, of Evanston, Ill.; Mrs. Wells, of Tennessee; Mrs. H. M. Barket, of South Dakota, and Mrs. Perkins, of Ohio; Mrs. Buell, national secretary, and others, spoke in opposition to the adoption of the amendment as a reflection on the previous action of the union, and declaring that the union was non-partisan, being ready to support any party which would put a prohibition plank in its platform. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster then spoke. She said the convention was partisan despite its declaration to the contrary. The name -oThonorable men in the Republican party has been dragged in the mud on the convention platform. “I repeat,” she said, “that the convention is partisan; partisan in its assaults on Republican statesmen.” Hisses interrupted the speaker. “Yes, and those hisses are partisan. They come from the delegates themselves, and not from the spectators.” The resolution was voted down by a very large majority. The majority of the committee on resolutions reported in favor of standing by the Prohibition party. Mr. Bailey of the lowa delegation offered a minority report setting forth that the work of the organiza tion should be purely educational and evangelical: therefore, no declaration in favor of any party should be made. The majority report was adopted, only the lowa delegation voting for the minority report. Thereupon the Io va delegation formally withdrew after presenting, through Mrs. Foster, a protest, or declaration of independence, which set forth the history of the partisan movement. The executive committee of the National W. C. T. U. Friday decided to accept the invitation tendered by the State and other officials of Georgia, and hold the next convention in Atlanta. It was i esolved to invite the lowa members of the W. C. T. U., regardless of their sympathies with any political party, to meet and consult as to the best method of procedure, in view of the withdrawal of the lowa delegation, headed by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster. Mrs. L. D. Carhart, of Marion, la., will furnish cards admitting to the privileges of the conference women who desire to adhere to the National W. C. T. U., and who avow this on their arrival at the conference. The National W. C. T. U. disposed of the Vice President Morton saloon-license matter by the adoption of the following resolution: Inasmuch as Vice President Morton occupies the second position in authorityA an administration that favors the policy of high license, I move that the whole matter be dismissed from the con of the convention, as he could not have done otherwise without rebuking the policy of the party. A new woman’s temperance organization will be started by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster and the faction which she led out of the W. C. T. U. here. The women who are organizing the society say it will start with a membership of 15.000.