WOMANS COMMITTEE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 375, 18 September 1926, Page 2

WOMANS COMMITTEE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

This National Committee of women w r as the idea of one woman, who fired with a desire to save her country from a lawless spirit, resolved that she would call the women of the Churches, the women from the clubs, the women in political life together, and make plans to take a stand for allegiance to the Constitution and lav observance. This woman was Mrs Henry Peabody, who explained that * while the Convention will he mainly for the purpose of bringing out the facts accounting for imperfect enforcement, it will also give the facts concerning the remarkable progress w hich has been made.” The 609 registered delegates present represented 12,000,000 women pledged to uphold the dry law . They were received by .’resident Coolidge. First meeting they had a stock-tak-ing, and issued the following statement of their .Assets and Liabilities. ASSETS. Citizvns w ho count U a sacred duty to keep the law; Men and women who vote intelligently; Those who insist that high character is necessary for a public official; Good men and women willing to stand as candidates; Citizens who give time and effort to secure good government; Women willing to accept responsibility as citizens. LIABILITIES. Corrupt politicians; instinct to hide the sins of one's own party; indifferent citizens; political patronage, -and the political machine; unwillingness of good men and women to sacrifice themselves for the good of the country; timidity, and dread of being unpopular; discouragement; desire to leave all to the Government while we do nothing. There w-as a prayer service held in the Hall of Nations of the Washington Hotel. Mrs Ella Boole, the National President of the W.C.T.U., gave the report for the commission on Morals and Economics in Prohibition. Commander Yandell, in charge of the Coast Guard activities against rum-runners, gave graphic descriptions of the small w’allowing boats out on the waters on dark nights, loaded with determined men who are bound to see their country’s laws

obeyed. One scene w’as stirring, he told of a big Belgian ship flying its own flag, and a French boat sailing under its own flag lining up in u position to protect a swift rum-run-ning American boat, which w; s carrying a cargo of liquor from thos vessels to <m shore, and necessitating the C» r ast Guards to open fire on the American boat. France and Belgium once their allies, now were protecting and causing the lawless element of their population to defy authority and right. A luncheon was presided over by the wife of a Justice of tin* Supreme Court. Mr Sargant, Attorney General, gave a very strong address, and w’as followed by the Assisting Attorney General, Mrs Mabej Willebrandt. Mrs Pinchot, wife of <he dry Governor of Pennsylvania, sine e on practical lines. The following practical resolutions were passed and forwarded to proper quarters. Resolved that as women of many creeds, they urge upon the churches of the I S.A., the need to keep before their congregations the sanctity of the law’, that they urge members to uphold the law’s of the land, that they keep public conscience aroused to the need of a better enforcement of the laws, that they urge all Church members to remember that the Prohibition Amendment was approved by the people after mature judgment, based on the realisation that the liquor trade had become an intolerable menace. They called upon the 4 7,000.000 Church members to seek for the election of legislators, local officials, and Executive officers pledged to the enforcement of laws and the strict upholding of the Constitution of the land.