CORTLAND COUNTY W. C. T. U. Convention

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 12, 1890.

Cortland County W. C. T. U. Convention.

   The W. C. T. U. of Cortland County, State of N. Y., met in convention on Sept. 3, at 10 A. M. in the M. E. church at McGrawville. The convention opened with devotional exercises conducted by Mrs. L. A. Dibble, of McGrawville. After the singing of Coronation, the 42d chapter of Isaiah was read, also one verse of the 43d chapter and Mrs. Hill led in prayer.

   "To the work" was then sung and the convention was open to the order of business. The secretary's report was read and approved, followed by the roll call of officers. The usual committees were appointed, and Miss Helena Bryant was elected reporter for the convention.

   Mrs. Mary E. Hoag delivered an address of welcome, followed by a very interesting response by Mrs. Emily Blanchard of Solon.

   Reports of the various departments came next upon the programme which consumed most of the morning.

   Mrs. Dean, of Utica, (formerly of Cortland) conducted the noontide hour of prayer, after singing,

   "Blessed be the tie that binds,

    Our hearts in Christian love"—the the convention adjourned till evening.

   Wednesday afternoon session opened at 1:30 by singing. Miss Flora Gilbert led the devotional exercises.

   The convention being open to business, the annual report of the corresponding secretary was read; followed by the treasurer's report.

   A parliamentary drill was conducted by Miss Libbie Robertson, of Cortland, followed by the reading of a carefully prepared paper on Narcotics, which was read by Mrs. S. Mott. The superintendent's reports were continued for the remainder of the afternoon.

   Wednesday evening at 7:30, the session was opened by a selection rendered by the choir and the marching in of more than twenty boys and girls, members of the Loyal Temperance Legion, who took their places at the front.

   Mrs. Schermerhorn read the 144th Psalm, which was followed by prayer and singing.

   Rev. Mr. Groves, pastor of the Presbyterian church of McGrawville, delivered an address of welcome. His greeting was very impressively and earnestly rendered. He thought it very fitting that the women of this land be bound together to fight this terrible evil, intemperance, which threatens to destroy their homes. Said he was anxiously awaiting the day when the ladies of this land, old and young, would say to the young men, whose person was contaminated by strong drink, that while he is thus contaminated he can never associate with them.

   Rev. Mr. Usher, pastor of the Baptist church, in his greeting stated he was very glad that the women of our land had taken this great work of temperance in their own hands. Said he considered it a work that they could well carry on. He expressed great gladness to see the Union there assembled in the County Convention and prayed God would speed the day when the terrible curse of intemperance would be put down. He ended by entreating the workers in the cause of temperance that they come closely together in this great fight till the terrible curse shall be put out of existence.

   The M. E. pastor was out of town.

   A very able response to the pastor's greetings was made by Mrs. Hattie J. Smith, of Blodgett Mills. Following Mrs. Smith's response, a selection, duet and chorus was very finely rendered by children, members of the Loyal Temperance Legion.

   Miss Winfred Smith of McGrawville gave a fine recitation.

   A very interesting and well prepared paper was read by Mrs. Jennie June, of Blodgett Mills, showing the excellent work which is being accomplished by the Y. W. C. T. U.

   After the singing of "Onward Christian Soldiers," our county president, Miss Sara Collins, gave a concise and very interesting report, showing that two Unions had been organized in Cortland county since the last annual convention, that six members of our local Union have been called home. Also that of the 40 departments of work laid down by the National Union, Cortland county is now engaged in 24 lines of work.

   She stated that the principal work for the coming months, would be along the line of the prohibitory amendment.

   A bright little girl made a speech preparatory to the collection, which was taken up by four of the delegates.

   After the singing, the benediction was pronounced and the convention adjourned to meet at 9 A. M.

   Sept. 4. The convention was called to order at 9 A. M. and participated in a Temperance Love Feast of speaking, singing and prayer, led by Mrs. M. A. Benjamin of Cortland.

   At 10 A. M. the convention was open for business. The secretary's report of the last meeting was read and approved and the convention took up the regular order of work.

   Report of Workers Institutes held in Blodgett Mills, in June last, was read followed by the report of committee on credentials. The report showed 46 delegates present.

   It was moved and carried that the officers for the coming year should next be elected. Mrs. Jennie June took the chair. An informal ballot being cast for president showed the whole number of votes cast for Miss Sara Collins. The vote being unanimous it was the pleasure of the convention to declare Miss Collins their "old new president." Mrs. Gilbert of Homer and Mrs. James S. Squires of Cortland were delegated to escort the old-new president to the chair and she was greeted with the "Chautauqua Salute" to which she most impressively responded.

   The following officers were then elected:

   Vice-President—Mrs. Jennie June of Blodgett Mills.

   Recording Sec'y—Mrs. Julia Tanner of Blodgett Mills.

   Corresponding Sec'y— Mrs. Minnie Starr of Homer.

   A discussion on whether the Y's could hold county office took place and the decision was that they were to be eligible as county officers.

   Mrs. Boynton was elected treasurer.

   Mrs. Squires reported Mother's Meetings as increasing in interest, and encouragement was given from white cross and white shield.

   Secretary then read a report of temperance literature which showed that a good work was going on in that department.

   Report on statistics reported a large per cent of paupers made, directly or indirectly, through strong drink.

   A parliamentary drill, conducted by Miss Libbie Robertson, was an interesting feature of the programme.

   Question box was opened by Mrs. Anna Rathbun of Blodgett Mills, questions discussed and answered.

   Prayer by Mrs. Hutchings of Virgil.

   The following report of committee on Resolutions was read and adopted:

   Resolved, That we as Christian women and members of the W. C. T. U. do all in our power, by prayer, by influence, and money to aid in the work of the constitutional prohibitory amendment.

   Resolved, That we watch with great interest and solicitude the contest now on hand in Nebraska, and that our prayers now ascend daily for the success of the homes against the saloons in that state.

   Resolved, That as money as well as prayer is needed that we, as county Union, send from our treasury the sum of $5.00 to aid the work in Nebraska.

   Resolved, That this county W. C. T. U. are thankful to President Harrison for signing, and to the Senate and House of Representatives for passing a law which prevents the framers and originators of the "Original Package Bill" from overriding the laws of prohibitory states.

   Resolved, That our thanks as a county be heartily extended to the McGrawville Union for inviting us to meet with them in their beautiful village and extending to us the hospitality of their homes, to the trustees of the M. E. church for granting the use of their building, to the pastors for their hearty welcome given us, to the choir, to the janitor, and to all who have in any way assisted in making our meeting so pleasant and successful.

   Signed,

   MRS. MARY A. BENJAMIN.

   MRS. HOWAR.

   MISS JENNIE HUTCHINGS.

Undesirable Immigration.

   The annual immigration of nearly half a million of people who have no knowledge of our language, no conception of our government, no traditions or habits of free institutions, no general intelligence, ability, or skill, and who come because they cannot hold their own elsewhere, is certainly one of the most important of public questions. But it is the one which receives the least attention, because parties and Congress are mortally afraid of alienating the support of the most unintelligent vote in the country if they ask whether it is expedient to foster its increase.

   The immigration during the year ending June 30, 1890, amounted to 451,219, an increase of 12,600 over that of the preceding year, when the numbers were 438,619. The Chicago American has been looking at the details, and finds that while this was the increase of the whole year, that of the first six months of this year was 24,536 more than that of the corresponding months of last year. This is not in itself an agreeable fact, because the desirability of immigration lies in the quality, not in the quantity.

   But it appears that the whole net increase is of the most undesirable kind. The immigration from Germany, England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and Switzerland has fallen off this year by 47,931, while that from Austro-Hungary, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, Russia, and all other countries has increased by 60,531. While the decrease of the better kind of immigrants is nearly 50,000, it is more than made up by the increase of the worse kind.

   Such a vast and continuous augmentation of the population by those who are in every way alien to American life and character and institutions is in no sense a benefit to the country. It taxes unreasonably its power of proper assimilation. The movement of our population is toward the cities, and the cities are ceasing to be distinctively American. We are no longer the rural Republic of our fathers, and the conditions which make such a republic the harbinger of a better future for mankind are changing. Such facts, with the situation in parts of the Southern States due to the war, are among the circumstances which make the problems of American statesmanship exceedingly interesting.—Harper's Weekly.

Teachers' Institute.

   The teachers' institute for the first commissioner district will be held in Taylor Hall from September 15 to 19, under the conductorship of Prof. Isaac H. Stout. On Tuesday evening Prof. D. L. Bradwell will lecture upon "Teachers' Investment." Wednesday conductor I. H. Stout will present "Some Objects of Interest in the Empire State," interspersed with illustrations. Thursday evening an opportunity will be presented to listen to a lecture by Chancellor Sims. School districts entitled to public money will be closed during the session in conformity of law.

Kinzua Viaduct.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   George C. Cooper, a veteran journalist and prominent resident of Rochester, died of apoplexy, Monday evening, aged 67 years.

   The Groton Journal reports that the apple crop in that section will be better than was anticipated. The fruit is fair and of good size.

   Michael Sullivan, father of the noted John L., died in Boston Sunday morning at the age of 65 years. Death resulted from typhoid pneumonia.

   A snapping turtle was recently caught near Schenevus which weighed about forty pounds and had the date 1438 carved on the shell, indicating that he was 452 years old! He must have been branded in the Old World. [Call that a whopper not a snapper tale—CC editor.]

   The famous Kinzua viaduct which spans the gorge of Kinzua creek is about to be replaced by a detour. The present structure is 2,000 feet long and 310 feet above the water. It is on the Erie branch from Bradford to Elk county, Pa.

   Mrs. Adah Baird was discharged from the Utica asylum on Thursday of last week, August 25, and arrived in Moravia on the following day. A. J. Camp, her father, received notice from the asylum authorities that she would be discharged on that day, and he, with Mrs. Baird's little boy Willie, was there to meet her. Camp had driven his team to Auburn, but on reaching that city Mrs. Baird declined to return home with him, but took the train for Moravia, next morning. She was very soon in consultation with a prominent lawyer in town, and in the afternoon went with her boy to the home of her mother-in-law, Mrs. Abbie Baird in Montville. On Monday Camp was served with a writ, involving a claim for damages to the amount of $11,000.