MARCH! RANKS UNBROKEN.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 275, 18 May 1918, Page 1

MARCH! RANKS UNBROKEN.

“All round the world our ribbon white is twined.” Our beloved President, Miss Anna Gordon, has sent a ringing triumphant call to all ranks of White Rifiboners. She is rallying the forces for the last great struggle with King Alcohol. With inspiring words she bids us press on now that victory is within our reach. We commend lor words to the c.ireiul attention of every N.Z. White Ribboner: Rest Cottage, Evanston, 111, U.S.A., March 19th, 1918. My Beloved Comrade,— You w ill be interested to know about the remarkable petition we have presented to the President of the l nited States. Accompanying the handsome document prepared in book form on parchment, with the hag its only decoration, was the following statement, which explains and justifies the appeal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States: “March 1, 1918. “Mr President, — “We deeply appreciate the privilege of presenting to you a Memorial representing six million women patriots of the United States. “We believe this is the first petition in the history of our country in which all leading organisations of women—civic, fraternal, social, patriotic, and religious -as well as hundreds of notable wonvn in the educational and official life of the Republic, have united. It comes to you, Mr Presides as the voice of the womanhood of America. It comes to your, our Cci t-mander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, at the time of an appalling crisis which peculiarly concerns the mothers of the nation.

“Educated by the Government to believe that food will win the war, these women, whose magnificent war service and sacrifice everywhere are attested, plead for the maximum conservation of food materials for the duration of the war. They earnestly and respectfully ask that all food materials now used in the production of malt liquors be divert 'd to food supplies, desperately needed by our arm) and the armies of the Allies. “On behalf of these six million petitioners, Mr President, we thank you for the steps in this direction already taken, and we beg your early and favourable consideration of the prayer of the Memorial we have the honour to place in your hands. “ANNA A. GORDON, “President National Women’s Christian Temperance Union.” “Washington National W.C.T.U. Headquarters, Hotel Driscoll.’’ Unless radical conservation is speedily proclaimed, the united temperance forces of the nation, including churches of all denominations, will get back of a war prohibition bill in the Congress, and vigorously push its immediate passage. Already steps iu this direction have been taken. Petitions, resolutions, telegrams, fitters—an avalanche of them —asking for wartime prohibition, are reaching Senators and Members of the House of Representatives of our United States Congress. The individual States are doing splendidly in their State legislatures ratifying the prohibition amendment to the national constitution submitted to the States last December. 1919 will be the great year for the ratification of this amendment; more than forty Legislatures will then be in session. This year only eleven States

meet in regular st ssion. Other States have been called 111 special session, and have ratified the amendment. Thus far, we have eight States toward the necessary thirty-six. Since we have twenty-seven Prohibition States, it is fan to assume that all the Legislatures of these States will ratify the amendment. Among the eight States thus far secured, there are three license States. Another Slate in the license column, Delaware, has just been called in special session, and will no doubt be the ninth State to ratify the amendment. As this awful war is sure to develop a wonderful new mt-ernational-ism, it is vitally important that our organisation everywhere shall hold steadfastly together, and win all possible new members. With unbroken ranks we must help the mighty movement for a sober world. Our war service is imperative. Nothing less than “the full measure of devotion” will satisfy us. But we can do war work along relief lines as an organisation co-operating with others, and still maintain our W.C.T.U. identity, while adding to our patriotic service our efforts for total abstinence and prohibition. In my opinion, this special temperance work is the greatest constructive piece of war work entrusted to any body of women since the world beg. >n. News from most of our national auxiliaries shows that they fully realise this vital need, and are grandly measuring up to it. Our World’s White Ribbon Missionary, Miss Flora E. Strout, during a few months’ furlough in the United States, has greatly helped the work of the World’s W.C.T.U., through forceful addresses in many States. Miss Strout soon sails from San Francisco for a term of five years’ service

in the Orient. It has been a joy to iiave her with us in Evanston for a few days en route. She will spend two or three months in Manila, going thence to her new foreign field, Malaysia and Ceylon. The VV.C.T.U. of Scotland has invited Miss Mary Campbell to organise in India, under the Catherine Forrester Paton Fund, for W.C.T.U. missionary work in India. Miss Campbell plans to sail for India in the autumn. M iss Hardynia K. Norville, in South America, is achieving remarkable victories for our cause. Your American comrades, dear friend, now feel the same sorrow that for the past three years has been smiting the hearts and homes of White Kibboners in many lands, bound together by the sacred tie of the white ribbon. Our hearts go out to all in very close, tender sympathy. The comfort of God upholds us. We feel a just pride in those who are m.iking a supreme sacrifice for sacred principles. We at home each and every one belong to the vast civilian army “back of the lines” helping sustain the noble, heroic fighters in the trenches. With prayerful good wishes. —Affectionately, ANNA A. GORDON.