U.S.A. and the W.C.T.U.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 9, 1 November 1950, Page 5

U.S.A. and the W.C.T.U.

By Victoria Grigg

Washington is noted for its high consumption of liquor, and it certainly is the worst place for such high consumption with its large percentage of Government employees. I read in an American paper of a newspaperman who attended a dinner there, and who was astounded at the confidential information given away voluntarily by an official who had been imbibing freely.

A highlight of my visit to Washington was my attendance at part of the Annual Conference of the National Council of Negro Women. The difference in colour and feature of the delegates was fascinating. Their president was a wonderful old Negro woman, Mrs; Mary nethune, who was the daughter of slave parents, with nothing but her own natural ability to help her. The great night of the Conference was the one when representatives of over 40 embassies attended and,' with the Negro delegates were addressed by Mrs. Pandit, the Indian Ambassador, President Truman and Dr. Kalj h Bundle—a notable trio, which any audience would have been glad to hear. The Negroes have serious problems of housing and education to overcome, and these women from the different States were concerned in the wellbeing of their fifteen millions. In Washington School and University, facilities are good. From there l travelled to Chicago. The hitter cold did not deter me from a visit to Evanston, some miles away, where the warmth of my reception was a compensation for the cold weather. It was a great thrill to be taken over . Rest Cottage, old home of Frances Willard, to see her vvell-W’orn Bible, and to play on the organ purchased by her in her early teaching life. It was interesting also to see the famous Polyglot Petition. There is so much to say, but Headquarters was fully described in a recent article in the “White Ribbon.” I was fortunate in that TV. and Mrs. Leigh Colvin were at home, and that they kindly inVited me to dine with them. • I was greatly impressed by the character and qualities of Mrs. Colvin, who carries such a load as President of the W.C.T.U. of U SA. She and her husband done outsta iding work for ternperaoce, and, to me. they the very best in American life. Kijndness, courtesv, humility, ami' great abilitv were their characteristics, these qualities having a truly spiritual basis. I went on to Denver in Colorado, where I located the W.C.T.U. offices. The typist there had met New Zealanders who went to U.S.A. for the

World Conference of the Churches of Christ. They go under the name of Disciples in L 7 .S.A. I met the State President, Mrs. Teller, who impressed me with her alertness. She had been President of the Federation of Women’s Clubs of Colorado. She arranged to take me to the Christmas meeting of the Washington Park Union. I addressed them on our work in New Zealand and would have been the recipient of much more hospitality if I had stayed longer. Mrs. Teller told me she was going to Washington in January of this year to attend the Hearing before a Senate Committee of the Legislative Committee of the National Temperance and Prohibition Council. The Legislative Commit teg was supporting the Bryson Bill, introduced into Congress, and the Langer Bill, introduced into the Senate. Both hills sought to prohibit advertising of all alcoholic liquors over the radio and in newspapers and magazines, which cross State lines. Douglas Crockwell’s beautiful coloured scenes of Home Life in America are used, but they depict life as it is in homes where liquor is not served, or before it is served, never the “morning after the night before,” or the homes which drink has robbed of comfort and caused neglect of children. These advertisements are used in “Life,” “Look.” “U.S. News,” "McCalls,** ami "The Woman's Home Companion,*’ with a combined circulation of over IK million subscribers, and an audience of over 72 million people. Just prior to Father’s Day in U.S.A. last year, over 150 daily papers carried half- or full-page advertisements of one of the four big whisky concerns — the advertisements being both subtle and dangerous.

Over 40 out of 48 State Presidents attended the Hearing, of the Bills in Washington, but they did not obtain their objectives.

From Denver,,! had a long tfain journey to Los but this was broken by a visit to the southern hem of the Grand Cai%on in Arizona. I saw this great wonder of nature by moonlight, at sunrise, in the noonday sunshine and at sunset. Its colours seemed to change continually and of all the sights I saw on my trips abroad, it was the most interesting, aweinspiring and breathtaking. From Los Angeles, T visited Pasadena to the home of dear Mrs. I.eeCowie and the lovable Susan and Matilda Pyle. 1 had been Vitiated bv Mrs. LeeCawie, as a bride at a Garden Party in Christchurch, and for this reason was very pleased to meet her again.

In spite of their advancing years, they all lived lives of active service and goodness to others and truly the j»eace of God rested on that home where none could enter its doors without receiving a blessing.

In Los Angeles there is a W.C.T.U. Home for women, where over 10U elderly ladies find sanctuary. While in that city, I saw a newspaper which carried liquor advertisements, editorials containing acid comment on the very light sentences given to drunken drivers, some who had caused loss of life and who had more than one conviction against them. In both Los Angeles and San Francisco, I saw' many liqtoor hops. There are 43,000 licensed premises in California, but by the numbers I saw, I would have estimated that there were double that number. At night, passing these places, their lighting was so poor, that I could hardly sec the details inside. I felt they were habitations of darkness in more ways than one and that they were dimly lit for a purpose which was not a good one. I heard much about the corruption of Californian politics by the gambling and liquor interests and how difficult it was for any politician, who opposed these interests wholeheartedly to stay in office.

Opposition to the Liquor Trade in U.S.A., as in New r Zealand, requires • constant and unremitting warfare on our part. Wherever we slacken, the enemy will press home his attack. Where we stand firm and rise to the attack, he is repelled. No wonder, our members have to pledge themselves to work and pray till death or victory. The W.C.T.U. of U.S.A. is ihnyi on the alert. It has spent thousands of dollars on the production of motion pictures and slide films. These are in constant use in the schools and other organisations.

The teacher training programme of • the W.C.T.U. has prepared alcohol education specialists who train teachers in methods and techniques in alcohol education, and its research department provides accurate information for temperance organisations and the general public. It fights, not flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places. May God strengthen its members and all other Temperance workers throughout the w’orld.