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 in 2017 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/historyofwomansc01spen 
 
"Our Dorcas" at AVork 
 
MRS. MARY E. COXGDOX 
 Organizer of the State Union and 
 First Secretary 
 
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 OAKLAND, CAL. 
 
DEDICATION 
 
 To the <Tvomen of the rank and file, 
 this labor of Idhe, is tenderly in- 
 scribed. 
 
 Dorcas J. Spencer 
 
PREFi^CE 
 
 To compile the history of a society, covering less than half 
 a century, would seem a small matter, were it not that the 
 very nature of the organization implies an individuality of 
 character in its membership, that is rarely found elsewhere, a 
 devotion to a fixed principle and purpose, and a personal 
 altruism as the actuating motive of its existence. 
 
 Some one has said that history, telling of achievements, 
 must of necessity leave out of the narrative the greater and 
 most important portion of the people concerned, and the high 
 lights be thrown only on the smaller number, who, however 
 able and worthy, must have been powerless without their fol- 
 lowing. This is a matter of deep regret to the writer, whose 
 personal recollection includes thousands of heroic women, 
 whose very names are lost in the aggregation of time and 
 effort, that has gone to make the body and soul of the Wom- 
 an’s Christian Temperance Union of California. 
 
 The number of those who should be distinguished is be- 
 wildering. Two hundred and twenty-seven women have 
 served as state superintendents, each developing a special line 
 of study, many of them successively in several departments ; 
 what an educational force, working through local, county and 
 state to national influence. Two hundred and thirty women 
 have been county presidents, each directing her battalion in 
 the greater army of the state. With organizers and other 
 special workers there are fully five hundred who should have 
 personal sketches in these pages, but all concede that the work 
 is greater than the workers, so no biographical attempts have 
 been made. All have wrought together, each standing in her 
 place 
 
 “The lofty vision of triumph, that sees afar the end. 
 
 Needs the true unselfish service of the nameless toiling 
 friend” 
 
 and it may well be believed that this unity of purpose and 
 action has cleared the way for greater victories near. 
 
 “For the roads cannot be broken except through the helping 
 hands 
 
Of the nameless unthanked toilers who do but their lord’s 
 commands.” 
 
 The destruction by fire of all the archives of the state union, 
 made it a tedious process to secure data, and only by pro- 
 longed efforts and much difficulty has the material been gath- 
 ered for this work. Of the Annual Minutes, there are several 
 of which it seemed hopeless to find a single copy, at last the 
 the file of these has been completed except the very first, a tiny 
 affair that cannot be found. Of the Minutes of 1881, there was 
 known to be but one copy in existence ; this had been kept by 
 Mrs. Mary E. Congdon, the first secretary, as an heirloom in 
 her family. Her kindness in donating this is hereby gratefully 
 acknowledged. 
 
 An especial debt of gratitude is due to the well beloved com- 
 rade of so many years and labors, Mrs. Beaumelle Sturtevant- 
 Peet, whose systematic habit of preserving data, whose faith- 
 ful memory, and invaluable scrap-books have been an unfail- 
 ing resource. 
 
 The kind reader who does not find in this book all that she 
 expected, is not less satisfied than the historian, who most 
 cordially thanks the whole sisterhood for the patient loving 
 kindness, thoughtful letters, and items of interest, that have 
 made this long task a labor of love. 
 
 D. J. S. 
 
CODSTTEISTTS 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 I. In the Beginning. Local Organization - 10 
 
 II. State Organization. School Essays. Visit of Miss Will- 
 ard 18 
 
 III. Division of State. Movement for Constitutional Prohibi- 
 
 tion. County Organization 29 
 
 IV. Incorporation. Passage of Temperance Education Law. 
 
 Pacific Ensign 41 
 
 V. Success of Ensign. Pacific Coast Conference. The First 
 
 Dry County. Sanitary District Law 53 
 
 VI. Uniform License Bill. Suffrage Campaign. Deaths of 
 
 Miss Willard, Gen. Bidwell and Mrs. Skelton 63 
 
 VII. Jubilee Convention. Congresses. Earthquake and Fire 77 
 
 VIII. Election of Mrs. Dorr. Tragic Death of Miss Kennedy-— 85 
 
 IX. Purity Conference. Red Light Bill, Suffrage Campaign. 
 
 Victory 92 
 
 X. Transfer of Two Counties to Southern California. Red 
 
 Light Campaign 99 
 
 XL Young People’s Branch. Loyal Temperance Legion 105 
 
 XII. The Evolution of Departments 108 
 
 XIII. The Evolution of Departments (Contniued) 126 
 
 XIV. Organization. Pioneer Work. Reminiscences 138 
 
 XV. The Official Organ and Its Editors. Local Head- 
 quarters. Fountains. Campaigns. Dry Ground. 
 
 Benefactors 148 
 
 The State W. C. T. U. Hymn 159 
 
 Declaration of Principles 160 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is a pleasant task to write an introduction to this book 
 which tells the story of the Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 Union of Northern and Central California, our part of the 
 great organization of which, Mary A. Livermore said, “So 
 grand in its aims, so superb in its equipment, so phenomenal 
 in its growth, and has done so much for woman as well as for 
 temperance, that it challenges the attention of Christendom 
 and excites the hope of all who are interested in the welfare of 
 humanity.” This organization has made history in the State 
 of California, and it is the desire of the workers of this time, 
 that the record of its earlier years shall be preserved. The 
 heroic and efficient labors of the noble women of the past, who 
 hold such a large part in the achievements of the present, 
 should not be forgotten. 
 
 Foundations have been laid broad and deep, and because of 
 this fact we are enabled to go on with the building of a great 
 structure that shall stand through all the ages. 
 
 The object of the State Union in having this history writ- 
 ten, is to give to the women of this time, with their added 
 powers, a sense of the debt due to the past, and their respon- 
 sibility for the future. The period covered by this record 
 culminates in the enfranchisement of women, a definite epoch, 
 and the forerunner of an era of yet more aggressive service, 
 for which the long process of organization has furnished full 
 preparation. 
 
 It was conceded by all, that no other woman was so thor- 
 oughly equipped by ability and experience to prepare this rec- 
 ord as Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer. She has been continuously 
 engaged in the work from its incipiency, having filled various 
 responsible positions, become a specialist in several lines and 
 proficient in many. She lives in the great past to which she 
 has given so much of herself; in the present; and projects her- 
 self with the work into the greater future ; a woman who has 
 a vision, and whose love for the work of the Woman’s Christ- 
 ian Temperence Union has been sufficient to make a pleasure 
 of the drudgery of details, if thereby it might be made a school 
 to fit women for better service. 
 
 “We never know for what God is preparing us in His 
 schools for what work on earth, for what work in the here- 
 after. Our business is to do our work well in the present 
 place, whatever it may be.” 
 
 SARA J. DORR, President, 
 California Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. 
 July 30th, 1913. 
 
^"Fear not, I am thy shtelcF 
 
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, GRASS VALLEY 
 Where the first local union was organized, March 25th, 1 874. 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PETALUMA 
 Where the state union was org-anized September 17th, 187!) 
 
PIONEERS ANTEDATING THE ORGANIZATION OF 
 THE STATE UNION 
 
 MRS. MARGARET DTE ELLIS 
 National Superintendent of Legislation 
 
MRS. A. B. DIBBLE. 
 
 MRS. EDWARD COLEMAN 
 
 President of Grass Valley 
 local Union 1874 
 
 Treasurer Grass Valley local 
 union 1883 
 
 MRS. G. A. STODDARD 
 
 MRS. C. M. BOALT 
 
 Treasurer Sacramento union 
 1875 
 
 An Ohio crusader, a Califor- 
 nia veteran 
 
STATE PRESIDENT 
 
 JIRS. G. S. ABBOTT 
 First President 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 In the Beginning. Local Option Elections. Local Organi- 
 zation Preceding That of the State. 
 
 1874. 
 
 Like narratives of individual lives, the story of the Cali- 
 fornia Woman’s Christian Temperance Union cannot be told 
 without considering the prenatal conditions that led to its 
 existence. 
 
 The temperance crusade in the Middle West marked the 
 beginning of an era of great interest. The intensity and 
 rapidity of the movement can never be realized by any but the 
 generation that felt it. So marvelous were its direct results, 
 so simple its methods, so lofty its aims, yet so profound the 
 depths it sounded, that the thought of the whole country was 
 at once arrested. The thrill and throb of its spiritual force 
 was felt — sometimes unconsciously — but surely felt in every 
 condition of life the land over. The purposes of the serious 
 were intensified ; the thoughtless reflected ; public attention 
 was secured, new ideals and new hopes took shape ; courage 
 and confidence grew, and a desire to do something was every- 
 where evident. Many states passed some form of liquor laws 
 in that wonderful winter, the early months of 1874. The 
 legislature of this State enacted its first local option law — 
 which even its friends recognized to be sadly defective. It 
 was not expected to meet the criticism of the Supreme Court 
 and it did not, being very soon declared unconstitutional, but 
 it served as many a better, but still imperfect enactment, has 
 done, as a means to agitate the subject and educate the people. 
 The value of that education has justified the passage of a law 
 that was in itself too weak to stand. 
 
 Seeing its certain failure, there was hesitation in calling 
 elections under its provisions. Many small towns tried it ; 
 besides the cities of Eureka, San Jose and Oakland. The 
 latter, the largest of these, cast 309 votes, of which 201 were 
 against license, and 108 for it, but legally it counted for noth- 
 ing. 
 
 The new law was immediately submitted to the test of 
 
10 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 the courts, and pending their decision, no attempt was made 
 anywhere to carry it out, though majorities favored it. 
 
 Alameda Election. 
 
 The election in Alameda, July 2nd, was the scene of a dis- 
 graceful riot. After the Oakland election the liquor men were 
 desperate. There was in Alameda a well organized Temper- 
 ance Association, conducting its campaign well and vigor- 
 ously. On election day they had a spacious tent near the 
 street, handsomely decorated with flags, evergreens and 
 flowers, where an elegant collation was spread for their 
 friends, who made it a rallying place. Both sides began early 
 to distribute tickets and solicit votes. Soon a train load of 
 rowdies from the “Barbary Coast” of San Francisco arrived, 
 and literally took the town. As the villainous looking crowd 
 poured out of the cars, a gentleman present exclaimed : “This 
 is the vomit of hell.” They filled the street with an irregular 
 march back and forth, led by a brass band, and full of whiskey, 
 howled and shouted in coarse ribaldry and gross insolence. 
 Miss Sally Hart, an able and attractive young woman, whose 
 activity had contributed largely to the success of the Oakland 
 election, had been notified, by the leader of the mob, a prom- 
 inent saloon-keeper of Oakland, that she would not be safe 
 on the street. His words proved true. She was pulled about, 
 spit upon, her bonnet pulled off, and her clothes outrageously 
 torn, before she could be rescued by friends. Dr. W. P. Gib- 
 bons took her to his home. A gentle lady of sixty was sur- 
 rounded by a howling mob and most grossly insulted by a 
 German. She sprang upon a box and cried out : “I am an 
 American,” only to be answered in language unprintably vile. 
 Mr. Joseph Knowland, pale and excited, took her away from 
 the midst of the drunken men who were brandishing pistols 
 around her. Other ladies, victims of similar outrages, were 
 rescued by friends before the Oakland police, summoned by 
 telegraph, could reach the scene. The hoodlums fled back to 
 the city. 
 
 The Alameda police were in sympathy with the temperance 
 workers but were helpless. When all was over the Chief of 
 Police said: “We are defeated, but the best people are with 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 11 
 
 The day was not lost, for it served to consecrate to the cause 
 a life than which none greater has been laid upon its altars — 
 that of Margaret Dye Ellis, now, and for many years past, the 
 National Superintendent of Eegislation and Petitions, — the 
 woman who more than any other has directed the course of 
 the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in its efforts to 
 secure better laws for the nation. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis writes : “I was one who worked at the polls that 
 day. We had held prayer meetings several days; some of us 
 visited saloons, and on that day the liquor men of San Fran- 
 cisco sent a train load of roughs to intimidate ‘those women’ 
 but it only made us stronger, and from that day I have been 
 in the work, and look back to it as one when I received my 
 baptism for the service.” 
 
 The other election of that day, at Grass Valley, was also a 
 triumphant defeat. Only these two elections of that summer 
 became historic, — the first in bringing Mrs. Ellis into per- 
 manent relations with the Cause, and the second with the 
 organization of the first local union. 
 
 The First Local Union. 
 
 At that time the Atlantic and Pacific shores seemed more 
 distant from each other than now, with the present easier and 
 more rapid communication ; but remote as it was the echoes 
 of the crusade in the East were heard, and the glow of its fires 
 felt in California. To the minds of men it was wonderful; to 
 women it was divinely miraculous. Eagerly they scanned the 
 meager news brought by the daily press. In the mountain 
 towns the mails arrived late at night; the men might see the 
 papers then, but busy women could not until the next day. 
 One of these, as soon as her children were off to school, used 
 daily to cross the street to discuss the crusade news with her 
 neighbor until as the winter drew near its close, their hearts 
 so burned within them that expression forced itself, and they 
 agreed to call a mass meeting of women. One of them wrote 
 notices, the other took them to printers and preachers, and, 
 because neither of them belonged to the Congregational 
 church, the meeting was called there March 25th, 1874. It 
 was well attended, a society was organized, and by prophetic 
 inspiration it was called “The Woman’s Temperance Union.” 
 
12 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Mrs. A. B. Dibble and Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer, the two who 
 had called the meeting, were elected respectively president and 
 secretary. There was nothing remarkable about this Union 
 but its pledge — in its allusion to their homes, — and that did 
 not seem so then. 
 
 Pledge: “We hereby solemnly promise to abstain from all 
 intoxicating liquors, distilled or fermented, including wine, 
 beer and cider, as a beverage, and we will not have them in our 
 homes if it is in our power to prevent it.” 
 
 That pledge involved a heroism no less than that which had 
 led their eastern sisters to pray in saloons or on the streets ; 
 for in many of their houses stood well-stocked sideboards, or 
 the less pretentious corner cup-board with its staples, whiskey 
 and wine. It is worthy of record that the carrying out of that 
 pledge in no case caused any domestic friction. 
 
 The Union adopted the general methods which have since 
 prevailed, and soon entered upon a Local Option Campaign, 
 and instead of a weekly meeting held a prayer meeting in a 
 church every night, Sundays excepted, for twelve weeks, cul- 
 minating with the election of July second. 
 
 The Local Option Campaign of 1874 had no precedent. The 
 women took their own initiative. Canvassing for signers to 
 the necessary petition was done entirely by women, but they 
 did not always escape the attentions that the men no doubt 
 apprehended. The secretary of the union was one day fol- 
 lowed into a quiet street, by a leading saloon-keeper, who de- 
 manded to see her petition. Looking it carefully over to see 
 who had signed it, he said in a very angry tone, “Madam, this 
 is a game two can play at. You are trying to break up my 
 business, I shall return the compliment and break up your 
 husband’s. You’ll see.” Of course she told her husband. His 
 reply was, “Let him try it.” The boycott began but whatever 
 effect it had, was in the nature of a boomerang. 
 
 Campaigning. 
 
 Those daily prayer-meetings were a source of power in 
 many ways. The women were building better than they 
 knew. Not only their religious zeal was sustained, but latent 
 ability was developed, their acquaintance widened, and a pub- 
 licity was given to their movements that created a general 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 13 
 
 interest in each day’s proceedings, and a growing importance. 
 Each evening a leader was appointed to conduct the next 
 meeting. Not all had been accustomed to duties of this kind, 
 but no one flinched. Yet it was felt that something special 
 must be done to focus attention. Rev. George Newton was a 
 new man in the community, in full sympathy, but nearly a 
 stranger. He made the wild suggestion that “You must have 
 a public speech by one of your own women.” He was told that 
 possibly Mrs. Spencer might be able to find a woman to ven- 
 ture it. She tried in vain, but found a lady willing to read a 
 paper if it was prepared for her. Accordingly she wrote the 
 desired paper. Her husband, coming in before she had finished, 
 asked: “What are you doing?” She replied: “Don’t bother me, 
 just read it while I finish, and I’ll tell you.” On hearing that she 
 was writing an address for another woman to read, he said : 
 “You are a little goose, go do it yourself.” 
 
 She was amazed, for even the attendance and participation 
 in the regular meetings had seemed to her so bold a thing, that 
 she had half expected him at any time to say, “I think this has 
 gone about far enough, you’d better drop out.” However, she 
 dared not refuse what she recognized as a call higher than his, 
 to go forward, and the next morning when Mr. Newton called 
 to know what her success had been, she timidly told him, 
 under the seal of absolute confidence, for they must depend 
 on the curiosity of the people, — to see who the woman was 
 who would thus face public criticism, — to secure an audience. 
 Mr. Newton advertised well, through pulpits and press, that “a 
 lady of this town would address a mass-meeting at the Meth- 
 odist Church on Wednesday evening. May 28th.” Mr. Spencer 
 came home daily in the quiet hour when the youngest was 
 asleep, and the other children at school, and patiently drilled 
 his wife, from his post at the front door, to her’s in the kitchen, 
 to say her little piece audibly at that distance. On the ap- 
 pointed evening it was delivered before an audience of 800. It 
 was well received, and published in full in the Sunday morning 
 papers. Whether it served its intended purpose or not, this 
 deponent cannot say, but it was not fruitless. It was in the 
 course of Mr. Spencer’s duties to call at the stage office on the 
 arrival of every stage from “above or below” on the mountain 
 roads. The stage office was also the bar-room of the principal 
 
14 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 hotel, and a general resort of men who desired to meet each 
 other. As a customary social observance there was much 
 treating with very little thought, in the place. When Mr. 
 Spencer next entered the office conversation stopped, and he 
 was conscious that his wife was its subject. There were 
 forty-five other saloons in the town no doubt similarly en- 
 gaged. That experience caused an arrest of thought, on his 
 part which made him a total abstainer. To his wife, that came 
 so distinctly as a reward for her response to that special call 
 so shrinkingly done, as to place her under perpetual obliga- 
 tion to answer every call for service, even to the preparation 
 of this history. 
 
 Public Meetings. 
 
 To women of those days, it was a deed of daring, even to sit 
 on a platform, and to undertake a mass meeting without ever 
 a man in it, was the wildest scheme yet concocted. Mrs. Abi- 
 gail Scott Dunniway had once been there, but had all the min- 
 isters in town on the platform behind her. These women hav- 
 ing organized since then, felt that they must live up to the 
 requirements of the occasion. Mrs. Dunniway had scandalized 
 some by appearing without a bonnet. It was gravely settled 
 that bonnets should be worn, so with their broad ribbon 
 strings tied under their chins, five women took their places. 
 The president, Mrs. A. B. Dibble, being a Methodist, was 
 used to hear a woman’s voice in prayer meeting and probably 
 suffered less than the others from the strangeness of the posi- 
 tion. Mrs. Norton, a Mother in Israel, from the Congrega- 
 tional church, read the Scripture lesson. Mrs. Taylor, a sweet 
 young woman from the Christian church, heroically led in 
 prayer; she had memorized her petition, but forgot her lines 
 and went bravely on ; the speaker was an Episcopalian. Mrs. 
 Wesley Peck, the wife of the presiding elder, whose presence 
 was felt to dignify the occasion, offered the closing prayer. 
 The audience that had largely come to see “who would do 
 this thing,” gave breathless attention, and showed its sym- 
 pathy by the heartiness’ of the congregational singing, but 
 nevertheless was amazed to find that these modest home-lov- 
 ing women could venture on a proceeding so bold, for a prin- 
 ciple they wished to promote. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 15 
 
 This incident is of interest only as it illustrates the condi- 
 tions of the time and the ways by which women entered upon 
 a work that meant so much. It is typical of many others in 
 different localities. 
 
 Election Day. 
 
 As the election day approached, the saloon men, presuming 
 that blue ribbon would be required for badges, bought all there 
 was in town. A friendly merchant informed the secretary of 
 the enemy’s move, and forthwith the women secured all the 
 red ribbon, of which they made badges bearing the legend : 
 “WOMAN’S TEMPERANCE UNION; In God We Trust.” 
 They had not thought of badges, but once suggested, that 
 bright oriflamme blazed upon the streets from morning until 
 night of that memorable day. 
 
 A most enthusiastic jubilee meeting was held in the even- 
 ing, which 
 
 “RESOLVED : That whatever the result of the election 
 to-day, we do reaffirm our intention, come what will of diffic- 
 ulty or obstacle ; and are determined to continue the conflict 
 against the great evil, the liquor traffic, until our God, in whom 
 we trust, shall give us victory.” 
 
 In gratitude for their aid during the campaign, the Union 
 voted to admit men to membership ; the plan did not work 
 well, however. The meetings fell off in attendance and were 
 at last suspended, subject to the call of the president. 
 
 This union was supposed by Miss Willard to be the very 
 first organized and enjoyed that distinction until the State 
 of New York proved to have one at Fredonia a trifle earlier, 
 to which the honor has been conceded. 
 
 In 1878, after the National Union was well established, and 
 its influence felt, a meeting was called, at which t-he word 
 “Christian” was inserted in the old name, and regular work 
 resumed. 
 
 1875. 
 
 Organization at Sacramento. 
 
 The National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was 
 organized at Cleveland, Ohio, in November, 1874. Mrs. G. A. 
 Stoddard came to California the following year, and filled 
 with enthusiasm, began talking of it in Sacramento, with the 
 
16 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 result that a union was organized there in December with 
 Mrs. M. C. Briggs, President; Mrs. Rice, mother of Rev. H. H. 
 Rice, Vice President; Mrs. W. H. Mills, Secretary, and Mrs. 
 G. A. Stoddard, Treasurer. Mrs. Stoddard, already familiar 
 with the subject, wrote the constitution for the new society, 
 which held its meetings in the Westminster Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 In the “Sacramento Union” of December 24th, 1875, Rev. M. 
 C. Briggs, D. D., writes: “Here comes the National Woman’s 
 Christian Temperance Union, the most potential temperance 
 organization ever formed, of which California will soon have 
 a state auxiliary, with subordinate unions in every Congres- 
 sional district.” 
 
 This was four years before there was a state union. After a 
 while the local union lapsed. Of its officers, Mrs. Stoddard only 
 remains and is now treasurer of the local union at Sacra- 
 mento. 
 
 1877-1878 
 
 Organization at Petaluma. 
 
 The year 1878 was one of deep feeling on temperance. The 
 Independent Order of Good Templars was very active and did 
 excellent work throughout the State, particularly among 
 young people, and in many places, other less permanent socie- 
 ties sprang up; some were “Reform Clubs,” and some “Tem- 
 perance Unions,” with membership of men and women. Peta- 
 luma became a center of activity ; Mr. G. W. Bain, of Ken- 
 tucky, made an eloquent address there. Dr. Dio Lewis spoke 
 there on November 29th, 1877, and, as he had done elsewhere, 
 prepared the way for the women. About this time — probably 
 due to his influence — a Temperance Union of men and women 
 was formed and began the work of pledge signing. With 
 monthly meetings they had three hundred signers to the 
 pledge in February, and after that they held public meetings, 
 with good programs, every Saturday night, in the Opera 
 House. Women had not then reached the platform as 
 speakers, but contributed the charm of music. Mrs. Mary E. 
 Congdon, a teacher of music, was the first woman to speak at 
 these meetings, and in December, 1878, the society invited 
 Mrs. Emily Pitts Stevens to Petaluma. She had lectured 
 with success for the Sons of Temperance and the Good Tern- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 17 
 
 plars. On this occasion she addressed a mass meeting of chil- 
 dren in the Methodist church on a Sunday afternoon, and on 
 Monday organized a “Band of Hope;” on Monday and Tues- 
 day evenings lectured in the Congregational church and on 
 Tuesday afternoon organized a local “Woman’s Christian 
 Temperance Union,” with Mrs. Congdon as president. That 
 Union has a splendid record. Beginning with twenty members 
 it soon had eighty, and in six months one hundred and ten. Its 
 first work was petitioning for license to be raised to $100 a 
 quarter. They had the co-operation of all the best elements of 
 the town, and as a result of their labors, forty-two of the 
 eighty-four saloons of the town, and the bars of two hotels 
 were closed. Petaluma thereby became the first town in Cali- 
 fornia distinguished by temperance success. The newspapers 
 made it famous. It was unique. 
 
 The association of liquor and tobacco had not been exploited 
 then as it has in later years, but a testimony to its relationship 
 was given by a traveling salesman in the tobacco trade, who 
 said to the writer ; “Do you know what those temperance peo- 
 ple in Petaluma have done to my business? I went there on 
 my quarterly rounds, collected as usual, and sold the usual 
 supplies to the trade. On the next trip I made no collections 
 worth while and sold no goods to speak of. The fact is, when 
 they don’t get one of these things, they care very little for the 
 other.” 
 
 The Union met weekly, raised money by chicken dinners 
 and strawberry festivals to help the Reform Club, Band of 
 Hope and Juvenile Reform Club. Hearing that the Reform 
 Club of Carson City, Nevada, was to have a five days’ fair, the 
 Union expressed to them every day a large box of flowers, the 
 first Flower Mission work. 
 
 A notable and successful effort was made to stop a lewd 
 exhibition which prevented similar shows coming to Petaluma. 
 
 Mr. William O. Clark, Chief Patriarch of the Sons of Tem- 
 perance, was one of their speakers, and gave a most interest- 
 ing talk on the proposed Local Option Law ; — at this writing 
 he still lives and is devoted to the cause. 
 
 Department work was unknown, but the visiting commit- 
 tees seemed to include all phases of possible effort, and noth- 
 ing was overlooked. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 State Organization. School Essays. Visit of Miss Willard. 
 
 1879. 
 
 In the early summer of 1879 a Sunday School Convention 
 was called in Oakland, with Bishop Vincent to preside. The 
 Bishop went to Yosemite first, and failed to reach Oakland in 
 time to open the Convention. The crowd must be held, so it 
 was managed, with little effort, to turn the affair into a very 
 effective Temperance Meeting, with good volunteer speakers 
 and an enthusiastic audience. Mrs. Mary E. Congdon was one 
 of the speakers, and deeply interested her hearers by her ac- 
 count of the recent temperance work at Petaluma. Rev. G. S. 
 Abbott and wife were also present, and recognized the woman 
 who was to organize the W. C. T. U. of California. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Abbott, who had recently arrived from the East, had 
 been charged by Miss Willard to see that California was or- 
 ganized. When they met Mrs. Congdon they at once decided, 
 and so reported that she was the very woman to undertake 
 that work. Very shortly after Mrs. Congdon received her 
 official commission from Miss Frances E. Willard, then Cor- 
 responding Secretary of the National Organization. 
 
 State Convention. 
 
 With this authority, she began at once to lay plans. Existing 
 Unions were found in Grass Valley, Nevada City and Peta- 
 luma. A strong one was organized in April, at Oakland, an- 
 other in Alameda, and by much canvassing one was secured 
 in San Francisco. Mrs. Congdon then issued a call through 
 the papers for a State convention to meet at Petaluma, Sept. 
 17th. Responding to this call, twenty women came from Ala- 
 meda, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Oakland and Santa Rosa. 
 Owing to illness of the delegate, San Francisco was not rep- 
 resented. The Convention began with a prayer service of half 
 an hour, led by Mrs. S. B. Sadler, of Oakland. Mrs. G. S. 
 Abbott took the chair, with Miss Belle Jenkins, of Santa Rosa, 
 as Secretary. Committees were appointed, and the objects of 
 the meeting solemnly discussed. The afternoon session also 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 19 
 
 opened by a half hour of prayer, led by Mrs. G. T. Allen, of 
 Petaluma, Mrs. Abbott presiding. 
 
 The constitution as recommended by the committee was 
 adopted. 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 WHEREAS, Intemperance, with its fearful resulting evils, is on 
 the increase in the State of California, and whereas, woman is and al- 
 ways has been the greatest sufferer from this vice, which invades her 
 home and destroys her loved ones; and whereas, in our land God has 
 signally blessed the efforts to reclaim the inebriate and suppress the 
 infamous traffic in intoxicating liquors, therefore. 
 
 We, the undersigned, women of California, covenant with one 
 another in a sacred and enduring compact against the wicked sale of 
 alcoholic stimulants, under whatsoever name or form it may be con- 
 ducted, and, although sanctioned by law, we pledge ourselves now to 
 work for such a change in those laws as will give us power to reclaim 
 the fallen, to prevent the young from contracting tastes and habits 
 that will eventuate in drunkenness; and for the creation of a high 
 moral and religious sentiment in favor of total abstinence from all 
 that can intoxicate. 
 
 For this purpose, invoking the blessing and guidance of Almighty 
 God, who would free our beloved land from a most potent cause of 
 crime, pauperism, waste and general demoralization, we agree to 
 govern ourselves by the following: 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE 1. 
 
 This Association shall be called the WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN 
 TEMPERANCE UNION OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 The officers of this Union shall consist of a President, Vice-Presi- 
 dents, Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor, who shall respectively per- 
 form the duties devolving upon such officers, and who, together with 
 eleven others chosen annually, shall constitute an Executive Com- 
 mittee with full powers to carry forward the general work of the 
 Union, and to fill all vacancies that may occur in their committee. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 One or more Vice-Presidents shall be chosen from each county, who 
 shall supervise the work of the Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 Union within the bounds of the county for which they are appointed, 
 and one of whom shall preside at all conventions held therein. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 These Vice-Presidents may organize auxiliary societies, arrange for 
 public meetings, devise plans of work and take measures for the 
 
20 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 thorough canvass of the territory of said counties, submitting such 
 plans and arrangements to the State Secretary for the approval of the 
 Executive Committee. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 The Executive Committee, together with the Vice-Presidents of 
 the several counties, shall constitute a Board of Management, who 
 shall meet every three months for mutual counsel concerning the 
 work of the State. The date of those quarterly meetings shall be 
 fixed by the Executive Committee. Any Vice-President unable to 
 attend the quarterly meeting shall submit a written report of work in 
 her county; upon failure at two consecutive meetings to render such 
 report her office shall be declared vacant, and said vacancy filled by 
 appointment of the Executive Committee. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 Regular meetings of the Executive Committee for the transaction 
 of business shall be held quarterly. Special meetings of the Executive 
 Committee shall be subject to the call of the Secretary. Special 
 meetings of the State Union may be called by the Executive Com- 
 mittee, or on the written request of the Secretaries of five local 
 Unions. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 The Executive Committee shall appoint three persons from their 
 own body to act as a Committee on Finance, upon whom shall de- 
 volve the responsibility of raising funds. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 The Treasurer shall receive all moneys, keeping proper books of 
 account, and shall make such disposition of the funds as the Execu- 
 tive Committee shall direct, each order of the Committee being 
 signed by the Chairman of the Committee on Finance. 
 
 ARTICLE IX . 
 
 Each auxiliary must adopt the local constitution provided by the 
 National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union; may make its own 
 by-laws, regulate its meetings and those of its Executive Committee, 
 and transact any other business which may be deemed necessary to 
 the efficiency of the Union, not inconsistent with the constitution of 
 the State Union. Any local Union may become auxiliary to the State 
 Union by payment of 25 cents for each member (yearly). 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 The annual meeting of the State Union shall be held on the Wed- 
 nesday and Thursday of the first week in September, at the call of 
 the Executive Committee. At that time the election of officers for 
 the ensuing year shall take place, — the President and Secretary being 
 chosen by ballot, and all officers as the State Convention may decide. 
 
 ARTICLE XL 
 
 Five members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a 
 
 quorum. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 21 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the 
 members present at any annual meeting of the Union, notice of the 
 same having been given a year previous. 
 
 The following officers were elected : President, Mrs. G. S. 
 Abbott; Vice President, Mrs. John A. McNear; Secretary, 
 Mrs. Mary E. Congdon; Treasurer, Mrs. Wm. Elder; Auditor, 
 Dr. Annette Buckel. 
 
 Executive Committee. 
 
 The above officers and Mrs. H. M. Lewis, Mrs. Dr. Cox- 
 head, Mrs. William Hill, Mrs. G. F. Allen, Mrs. P. D. Browne, 
 Mrs. A. P. Whitney, Mrs. J. B. Hill, Mrs. Thomas Gilbert, 
 Mrs. Van Slyke, Mrs. J. G. Wickersham, and Mrs. H. P. 
 Brainard. 
 
 Of this Executive Committee Mrs. Mary E. Congdon, Mrs. 
 William Hill, Mrs. John A. McNear, Mrs. A. P. Whitney, and 
 Mrs. H. P. Brainard survive, and are still interested in, and 
 contributing to the work. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 RESOLVED: That the members of this Convention recognizing 
 that their call to Temperance work is from God, desire to express 
 the conviction of their utter dependence upon Him for all needed 
 wisdom and strength. 
 
 RESOLVED: That since it is easier to prevent than to cure, that 
 we urge upon our Union the importance of organizing and sustaining 
 juvenile temperance societies, and by every available means commit 
 the youth of our land, both by profession and practice, to the prin- 
 ciples of total abstinence. 
 
 RESOLVED: That believing that no legislation can make that 
 right which is wrong in itself, and asserting that whosoever is en- 
 gaged in the sale of ardent spirits is guilty of crime against society, 
 we do hereby protest against the legalizing of the liquor traffic, and 
 call upon women to petition, pray, and work until the license law 
 shall be repealed. 
 
 RESOLVED: That believing the use of tobacco an evil, and evil 
 only in its effects, poisoning the system and corrupting both morals 
 and manners, leading to and fostering an appetite for strong drink, 
 we think it our duty to express our deprecation* of the growing ten- 
 dency to use tobacco in any form, and to labor earnestly for a wider 
 circulation of the Anti-Tobacco pledge. 
 
 RESOLVED: That the women of this Union consecrate not only 
 their hearts, their hands and their money to the work of Temperance, 
 but if need be their voices also. 
 
 The Secretary added to this report: “Thus closed our first State 
 
22 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Convention, and we intend to hold one yearly, until alcohol is ban- 
 ished from our land.” There was an evening session, with speeches 
 by the men and music by the women. 
 
 Greetings, as follows, were sent by the Woman’s Christian Tem- 
 perance Union to the Methodist Conference at San Jose, and the 
 Congregational Association at San Francisco: 
 
 “Christian Greeting: — 
 
 “We would call your attention to the fact that the Lord, by his 
 Holy Spirit, is leading many women to obey his call in doing whatso- 
 ever He leads them to do; to care for the degraded, to rescue the 
 perishing, and to try to prvent our children from falling into the 
 hands of the destroyer. 
 
 “We ask that you recognize our mission, and recommend that the 
 churches under you, take an interest in the whole subject of Temper- 
 ance, and especially in the introduction of its principles among chil- 
 dren and youth.” 
 
 1880. 
 
 The records of the first year are meager, but sufficient to 
 prove that the new Union was well officered. Mrs. Abbott, 
 though hampered with other work, proved a wise and able 
 president. Early in the year another Convention was held at 
 Alameda, and in February the Executive Committee appointed 
 standing committees on Literature, Press, and Juvenile work. 
 
 Second Convention. 
 
 The annual Convention met at the First Congregational 
 Church, Oakland, Sept. 2nd, 1880, the President, Mrs. G. S. 
 Abbott presiding, who, after the devotional opening, made a 
 happy address. The Treasurer reported receipts and expenses 
 for the year, $35.00. 
 
 Thirteen delegates from six unions were present. Ten 
 Unions were reported. The Secretary, Mrs. M. E. Congdon, 
 was Chairman of the Press Committee, and at once secured 
 space in six denominational papers, and during the year sent 
 original articles more or less frequently to all of them, also to 
 several secular papers. New Unions were organized at San 
 Jose, Salinas, Sheep Ranch and Placerville. The Union at 
 Santa Rosa lost its identity by combining with another society. 
 Berkeley and Sonora were organized after the convention. 
 
 The admirable report of the Secretary closes with practical 
 recommendations for the coming year: 1. As a State Society, 
 hold Conventions often; 2. Appoint County Presidents; 3. 
 Hold Executive meetings quarterly; 4. National dues should 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 23 
 
 be paid ; 5. Appoint Press Committee for each religious paper ; 
 6. Officers to preside at all meetings, public and private, — 
 each meeting to be preceded by a prayer meeting; 7. All 
 members should subscribe for “Our Union,” the National Or- 
 gan ; 8. Build on a sound financial basis. Each Union should 
 try to organize a new one in its vicinity, and soon, if we pray 
 for a fund, work for a fund, and believe we shall have a fund, 
 it will be within our reach. 
 
 Mrs. Abbott declined to serve another year, and the follow- 
 ing officers were elected ; President, Mrs. P. D. Browne, 
 Oakland; Vice Presidents, Mrs. G. S. Abbott, Oakland; Mrs. 
 John McNear, Petaluma; Mrs. M. A. Nash, Santa Rosa; Mrs. 
 D. J. Spencer, Grass Valley; Miss Sarah P. Morrison, San 
 Jose; Mrs. J. B. Hill, Alameda; Secretary, Mrs. M. E. Cong- 
 don, Petaluma; Assistant, Mrs. H. H. Havens, Oakland; 
 Treasurer, Mrs. I. G. Wickersham, Petaluma. 
 
 The recommendations of the Secretary were adopted and 
 two more committees added, — one for Sunday Schools and 
 one for Presenting the Work to Influential Bodies. 
 
 University. 
 
 It was resolved to appeal to the Regents and Faculty of the 
 State University to enforce the law that no liquor shall be 
 sold within two miles of that institution. 
 
 It is worthy of note that this appeal, the first that gave 
 expression to the solicitude of women for the moral interests 
 of the State University has in different forms been continuous 
 ever since. 
 
 The resolution provoking most discussion, and which was 
 finally adopted, was to the effect that all meetings should be 
 presided over by their presidents, — some holding that it was 
 unfeminine for a woman to preside at a public meeting. The 
 new president would not pledge herself to do so, or consent to 
 sit, at the day session, on the platform, — although said plat- 
 form (which was that of the Sunday School room) was raised 
 but one step above the floor! Rev. J. K. McLean, pastor of 
 the church, presided at the evening session, to spare the presi- 
 dent’s feelings. 
 
 This incident is given to illustrate the ideas of that time. 
 Mrs. Browne’s views changed, however, and she afterwards 
 
24 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 became a most successful presiding officer and a fine platform 
 speaker, distinguished for her fluency and readiness of speech. 
 
 1881. 
 
 Second Convention. 
 
 The second Annual Convention met at the Young Men’s 
 Christian Association Hall, 232 Sutter Street, San Francisco, 
 September first, 1881. Increase for the year was shown by the 
 presence of two officers and fourteen delegates. Thirteen 
 unions reported. Advance steps in organization were taken 
 in expectation of greater needs. Presidents of local unions 
 were made Vice Presidents of the State. Life membership 
 was adopted, and at the May Executive, Mrs. L. P. Williams 
 of San Francisco and Mrs. Thomas Varney of Oakland each 
 paid $25.00 to become life members. 
 
 Dr. R. H. McDonald and his mother, Martha Sheppard 
 McDonald became honorary members by payment of $100 
 each. 
 
 This was a year of great activity, San Francisco carrying on 
 a Coffee House, at an expense of $1,000 a month, — demonstra- 
 ting, for the first time, that a temperance eating house would 
 pay. This establishment so thoroughly accomplished that 
 object, that it was driven from the field later, by its numerous 
 and more successful rivals. 
 
 The special work of the year was in the schools. Miss Anna 
 R. Congdon, a teacher of Sonoma County, suggested the idea 
 of prize essays in the schools, presenting the subject in an 
 article published in “The Rescue,” the official organ of the 
 Good Templars. 
 
 Nevada county first adopted and carried out the plan; Ala- 
 meda, Santa Clara, and possibly some others followed, each 
 raising the funds required for their respective counties ; but 
 the city of San Francisco, having a school population so large 
 and difficult to reach, made its appeal to the State union. The 
 Secretary brought the matter before an executive meeting at 
 Oakland, but it seemed too big to handle, and it was agreed 
 that it could not be done unless some one would give the 
 money to finance the work. 
 
 Prize Essays in Schools. 
 
 Dr. R. H. McDonald, President of the Pacific Bank of San 
 
STATE PRESIDENT 
 
 MRS. P. D. BROWNE 
 
STATE PRESIDENT 
 
 JIRS. SOPHIA J. CHURCHILL 
 
STATE PRESIDENT 
 
 MRS. ROSAMOND R. JOHNSTON 
 
STATE PRESIDENT 
 
 MRS. BEAUMELLE STURTEYAXT- BEET 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 25 
 
 Francisco, was struck with the idea and at once proceeded to 
 work out a plan of his own. He made a donation to the Union 
 of $1,000 to be used for “Prize Essays” on the “Evil Effects of 
 Tobacco and Intemperance,” by the pupils of the Public 
 Schools of San Erancisco, and also $500 for prize essays on the 
 same subjects in the Normal School at San Jose, and the High 
 Schools of the State. His plans were thorough, and required 
 the personal supervision and constant efforts of the Secretary 
 for five months. To make this possible, he paid her board 
 and one-half of her salary for that time, besides providing desk 
 and supplies for her office, printing circular letters and over 
 80,000 leaflets, as different ideas or occasions had to be met, 
 until the sum of his donations for this special work amounted 
 to more than $3,000. 
 
 The city schools had then 32,000 pupils and 686 teachers. 
 By arrangement with the Board of Education all except the 
 two lowest grades were engaged in the contest, with prizes in 
 varying amounts to all schools, of from $2.00 to $15.00, and 
 two gold medals. Nearly 20,000 children competed for those 
 prizes of which 200 were presented by the donor at a meeting 
 of over 3,000 people at Union Hall. 
 
 With all this, there came a tremendous demand for temper- 
 ance literature. Every source was ransacked for supplies, 
 and the libraries put up notices “No more Temperance books 
 to be had.” This by no means ended the prize essay work. 
 The effort inaugurated a study of the subject throughout the 
 State that was far reaching in its influence. 
 
 Mrs. S. P. Taylor, the president of San Erancisco, being 
 about to go east, was elected the first delegate from California 
 to a National Convention. 
 
 1882 . 
 
 The third Annual Convention met in Oakland, and for the 
 first time filled two days — the 6th and 7th of September, 1882. 
 Two officers and fourteen delegates answered the roll call. 
 The Secretary reported the same number of Unions, but 
 greatly increased interest. 
 
 The first efforts to introduce unfermented wine at Com- 
 munion resulted in its adoption by the Eirst Presbyterian 
 Church of Oakland. 
 
26 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 The general work was aided by the courtesy of the Good 
 Templars, who gave the use of one page of their official organ, 
 “The Rescue.” 
 
 High School Essays. 
 
 The prize essay work of the preceding year was in the 
 graded schools, that for the Normal and High schools was 
 carried out successfully this year; the High Schools of Santa 
 Barbara, Santa Cruz, Grass Valley, Alameda, San Diego and 
 Gilroy competed for the prize of $25.00. San Diego won it. 
 
 Mrs. E. H. Gray was elected President; Mrs. P. D. Browne, 
 Vice-President; Mrs. Mary E. Congdon, Corresponding Sec- 
 retary; Mrs. H. H. Havens, Assistant; Mrs. L. P. Williams, 
 Recording Secretary, and Mrs. S. G. Chamberlain, Treasurer. 
 
 Of these early officers, Mrs. Williams is still in the service, 
 only one other woman having filled so many different posi- 
 tions. 
 
 Mrs. Chamberlain was one whose keen insight gave her an 
 intuitive perception of the latent gifts of others and inspired 
 them with the confidence that brought them into activity. 
 A distinguished writer who had been her pupil in boyhood, 
 refers tenderly to this influence in suggesting the hopes and 
 future of her scholars. 
 
 1883. 
 
 The Fourth Annual Convention met in the Y. M. C. A. Hall, 
 San Francisco, Sept. 5, 1883. Two officers, sixteen delegates 
 and a few visiting members made up the meeting. Twenty- 
 two Unions were reported, many were too remote to send 
 delegates. 
 
 Mrs. E. H. Gray, the president elected by the preceding con- 
 vention having been unable to serve after the opening of the 
 year, the vice-president, Mrs. Browne, resumed the position 
 that she had so ably filled for two preceding years, and con- 
 tinued in that office until she had rounded out a remarkably 
 successful term of five years. 
 
 Vv^ Oman’s Suffrage. 
 
 A memorable feature of this Convention was the reading of 
 a paper by Mrs. Nellie B. Eyster, on the “Adaptation of 
 Women to the Work of Temperance Reform,” that inciden- 
 tally and inocuously touched upon Woman Suffrage, a topic 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 27 
 
 tabooed by the president. The silent audience felt the 
 thrill it produced, and yet remembers just how the speaker 
 looked, as with unconscious movements her falling curls kept 
 time to the rhythm of her voice, as she gave utterance to 
 thought so radical. Mrs. S. J. Churchill rose promptly and 
 with calm dignity followed bravely, in strong words of appro- 
 bation. The Chair gently announced the next number on the 
 program. The work was well done, and without a resolution 
 or a vote, the convention stood committed to the cause of 
 “Votes for Women.” 
 
 Miss Willard’s Visit. 
 
 The event of the year was the visit of Frances E. Willard 
 and her Secretary, Miss Anna Gordon. They came by way of 
 Los Angeles, first organizing Unions there. From there the 
 route was arranged by Mrs. M. E. Congdon, who, with the 
 president, Mrs. E. H. Gray, met Miss Willard at that point. 
 The itinerary covered 65 days, in which Miss Willard gave 75 
 addresses to 35,000 hearers, traveled 2,276 miles, organized 18 
 Unions, added approximately 1,000 members and received 
 collections amounting to $1,000, which was mostly returned 
 to the local Union in each locality. 
 
 This was the first attempt to make dates for a speaker, and 
 was most successfully managed by the Secretary, Mrs. Cong- 
 don. Not one engagement was missed and the whole plan 
 was carried out with the accuracy of clock work. The effect 
 of this visit cannot be measured. Miss Willard’s magnetic 
 eloquence attracted the people, her breadth of vision enlight- 
 ened them, and her splendid, spiritual personality impressed 
 them. The work assumed a position of importance and in- 
 fluence due to the public recognition of its lofty aims and 
 character. 
 
 Plans of expansion were laid and Amendments to the Con- 
 stitution proposed, to bring the work into line with the most 
 advanced. 
 
 The proceeds of Miss Willard’s lectures, in San Francisco, 
 $275.00, were, at her request, used to establish a kindergarten. 
 Like that of the Coffee House, the success of this line of 
 work was so well demonstrated that it was soon taken up by 
 
28 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 others, and later on the Kindergarten Association absorbed 
 this, with others subsequently established. 
 
 A Kindergarten was also successfully carried on by the 
 San Jose union for some years until adopted by the Board of 
 Education. 
 
 As an antidote to intemperance, the Unions generally, ac- 
 cording to locality and ability, took up the special work of 
 Coffee Houses and Reading Rooms. At that time it was 
 recognized as the best thing to do, although many of them 
 were wrecked on financial rocks, all did their temporary part 
 in the creation of enduring sentiment. A Sewing and Tem- 
 perance school was conducted during the summer in the lower 
 part of San Francisco, but for lack of teachers was discon- 
 tinued. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Division of State. Movement for Constitutional Prohibition. 
 
 County Organization. 
 
 1884 . 
 
 On May 29th, 1884, a conference was held in Oakland be- 
 tween the state officers and Miss Hathaway, president of 
 Southern California, at which it was deemed advisable on 
 account of the inconvenience of attending conventions at such 
 great distances, to sever the seven southern counties, San 
 Luis Obispo, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, 
 San Diego and San Bernardino, from the remainder of the 
 State, as a separate Union, to be known as the Union of 
 Southern California. In the evening a public meeting was 
 held, at which Mrs. Foster of Iowa gave an able address on 
 “Constitutional Prohibition.” A midsummer conference was 
 held at Pacific Grove — during the Chatauqua Assembly, an 
 entire day being given to temperance work. The public 
 meeting in the evening was addressed for the first time by the 
 President and the Superintendents of departments. A DIS- 
 TINCT ADVANCE. 
 
 The Fifth Annual Convention met in Oakland, Sept. 3rd and 
 4th. Forty-five unions were reported and twenty-four sent 
 delegates. This told of great expansion. The number of 
 unions had doubled, two at Oakland and Stockton were Young 
 Women’s, the first organized. 
 
 A distinguished clergyman present was invited to the plat- 
 form, and made a ringing commendatory speech, in which he 
 expressed himself as favorable to Woman Suffrage. The 
 president could not then countenance such radical ideas, and 
 very sharply called him to order, with the remark that “such 
 views were not to be advanced on this platform.” It is a 
 pleasure to record that the lady expanded with her work, and 
 later became an able exponent of those same views. 
 
 Departments. 
 
 At Miss Willard’s recommendation Departments were 
 adopted and Superintendents appointed, instead of the pre- 
 vious clumsier methods of committees. The Departments 
 
30 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 were Evangelistic, Legislation and Petitions, Scientific Tem- 
 perance Instruction, Hygiene, Heredity, Song, Prison, Press, 
 Viticulture, Literary Bodies and School Conventions, County 
 Fairs, Religious Bodies, Sunday Schools, Public Lectures, 
 Coffee Houses, Soldiers and Sailors, Free Reading Room, 
 Young Ladies’ Unions, Object Lessons, Fruit and Flowers, 
 German Work and Juvenile Work, each with an able Super- 
 intendent. 
 
 These departments generally duplicated those already estab- 
 lished in the National Union, but two, the department of 
 “Song” and “Viticulture” originated here. Accessions of 
 members from the Fast were adding force and helping to shape 
 the work. Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, fresh from her laurels won 
 in Vermont, had in her first year’s residence made herself felt 
 on the Committee of Legislation and Petitions, of which de- 
 partment she was the first Superintendent, and at this writing 
 ably fills the same position. These Superintendents were ap- 
 pointed after the last preceding Convention, and brought in 
 their first reports at this one. Mrs. Henrietta Skelton, Na- 
 tional Supt. of German Work, came to California in this year 
 and organized German Unions in San Francisco and San 
 Jose. 
 
 The first department literature, was brought out in this 
 year by Dr. C. Annette Buckel, Supt. of Hygiene. The 
 course consisted of twelve lessons, one for each month, in 
 leaflet form, on the subjects, “Air,” “Water,” “Food,” “Ani- 
 mal,” and “Vegetable,” “The Digestive Organs and their 
 Functions,” “Clothing,” and “Exercise.” These lesson leaf- 
 lets were largely used by the Unions, and had they been 
 known outside of the State, would no doubt have had a per- 
 manent value in the national literature. 
 
 The juvenile work was at this time the greatest object of 
 importance to all the Unions, although it was as yet imper- 
 fectly organized, the juvenile societies having various names 
 and methods, though working to the same end. 
 
 Making a Lecture Route. 
 
 Miss Willard’s vision of the Pacific and beyond, was the 
 signal for workers from the East to appear. First came Mrs. 
 Mary Clement Leavitt, commissioned as the first “Round the 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 31 
 
 World Missionary”, to do all she could in California, while 
 plans were maturing for foreign fields. 
 
 Lecture routes do not yet present themselves ready made, 
 and at that time were matters of great difficulty. Railroads 
 were few and far between, and beyond the towns near cen- 
 ters of population, it was not even known to whom to write 
 for such purposes. The president knew an excellent family, 
 of wealth and social position, in a northern county, and to 
 them she wrote announcing that Mrs. Leavitt, a temperance 
 lecturer, would be in their vicinity on a given date, and, “Will 
 you kindly entertain her,” she asked, “arrange for a place for 
 her to speak, secure the co-operation of local clergy, the ser- 
 vices of the choir, and above all see that the meetings are 
 well advertised, etc.” The letter was received by the lady of 
 the manor, with dismay. Her home was famed for its gracious 
 hospitality. It was like a ducal estate, its immense acreage of 
 wheat, its great orchards and wide-spreading vineyards, were 
 the sources of the owner’s wealth, the commercial burden of 
 the Sacramento river, and the symbols of social and political 
 influence. She was equal to anything, but really knew as 
 little of temperance meetings, as the proverbial kitten knows 
 about Sunday school, and what was worse, on the very date 
 given for Mrs. Leavitt’s arrival her cards were out for a social 
 function which would fill her spacious house. Friends from 
 near and far, from the distant cities and nearer towns were 
 invited for that very time. In her perplexity she thought 
 of the Bidwells. The Bidwells lived in another county, but 
 were known to have peculiar ideas about total abstinence, 
 and General Bidwell had been so fanatical as to pull up every 
 wine-grape on his place — the famous Rancho Chico — rather 
 than allow them to produce fruit that would make wine. So 
 she wrote to Mrs. Bidwell, and the General and his wife con- 
 ferred together on the matter. Theirs was a home noted for 
 its hospitality, and the prospect of a discussion on the sub- 
 ject of temperance was more than welcome — but a woman 
 lecturer! They shuddered at the thought. True, they had 
 met Miss Willard, but she was so altogether exceptional 
 that it was a shock to think of any other woman on the 
 platform. Finally the General said, “Well, there is nothing 
 else to do”, and bravely they did their part. They expected 
 
32 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 an unattractive, masculine woman, but instead they met a 
 charming, cultured and motherly lady who leveled every 
 obstacle that Miss Willard had not swept away. 
 
 Mrs. Leavitt organized twelve Unions, but by midsum- 
 mer was too ill to go on with her route, and it was finished 
 by Mrs. H. A. Hobart, president of Minnesota, who had come 
 to the coast seeking health, and in this emergency kindly 
 carried on the work so well begun. She organized six Unions, 
 and spoke in many other places. 
 
 Mrs. Bidwell was appointed a Superintendent of Organiza- 
 tion in the northern counties, including Butte, Tehama and 
 Shasta ; and, with her noble husband, became a tower of 
 strength to the Cause ; they were untiring in their own efforts, 
 and thoughtful to the last degree of other workers. 
 
 Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, of Iowa, a woman of rare ability and 
 oratorical power, also gave a series of lectures in the larger 
 towns of the State and like a magnet drew members involun- 
 tarily into the Unions. 
 
 Legislation. 
 
 Mrs. Foster had been president of the Woman’s Christian 
 Temperance Union of Iowa, and under her leadership the 
 state had achieved prohibition by Constitutional Amendment. 
 This was then an entirely new method. Iowa and its presi- 
 dent became famous. When Miss Willard learned that Mrs. 
 Foster was about to visit California, she at once commissioned 
 her to find Mrs. Sturtevant, late Corresponding Secretary and 
 Organizer of Vermont, whose ability was well known in the 
 East, and make her Superintendent of Legislation for Cali- 
 fornia. Mrs. Sturtevant had in the meantime married Mr. 
 E. W. Peet, come to this state, was already at work as a 
 county president, and just then was revising the constitu- 
 tion of the state union and demonstrating her fitness for the 
 work. The state was not yet well organized, in the north or 
 south, and Mrs. Foster’s plan of having one superintendent 
 include the whole state in her jurisdiction was readily accepted 
 by both. With characteristic energy Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet 
 undertook her new duties, wrote and sent the following mani- 
 festo to all the unions for distribution and action. No sooner 
 was this out, than politicians began to take notice, and a com- 
 
STATE PRESIDENT 
 
 MRS. SARA J. DORR 
 
STATE OFFICERS 
 
 MRS. E. G. GREENE 
 
 MRS. ELIZABETH ROSS MILLER. 
 
 Vice-presidents-at-large 
 
 MRS. ADDIE GARWOOD ESTES MRS. ETHEL ESTES STEPHENSON 
 Vice-president-at-large Secretary Young People's Branch 
 
STATE OFFICERS 
 
 MRS. H. H. HAVENS 
 
 MRS. DORCAS J. SPENCER 
 
 MRS. HENRIETTA E. BROWN 
 
 MRS. ANNA E. CHASE 
 
 Corresponding Secretaries 
 
STATE HEADQUARTERS FROJI 1SS5 TO 1904 
 A juvenile demonstration on Decoration Day 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 33 
 
 mittee of gentlemen drove out from Oakland to her home at 
 Hayward to remonstrate with her, reminding her that a presi- 
 dential campaign was on, and this course might imperil the 
 success of the republican party. 
 
 Prohibition Manifesto. 
 
 Here is the text of the alarming document : 
 
 To the Woman’s Christian Temperance Unions of California: 
 
 “Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the 
 causes unto God.” 
 
 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws and shalt show 
 them the way wherein they must walk and the work that they must 
 do.” — Exodus, 18, 19, 20. 
 
 Dear Women of the W. C. T. U.: 
 
 The Executive Boards of the Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 Union of California and of Southern California, after mature delibera- 
 tion, and in harmony with the work known as the Department of 
 Legislation and Petitions have made me Superintendent of the same 
 in northern California. They resolved further to begin a movement 
 for Constitutional Prohibition, as set forth in the following resolu- 
 tions: 
 
 RESOLVED: That realizing the increasing strength of the liquor 
 traffic in our State, and the dreadful demoralization resulting there- 
 from, we are profoundly impressed that it is our duty to direct the 
 attention of the people of the State to a study of Constitutional Pro- 
 hibition as the legislative remedy for these evils, that through peti- 
 tion, agitation, education and legislation the organic law may be so 
 amended as to favor the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of 
 all alcoholic beverages. 
 
 RESOLVED: That in our opinion the prohibition of the manu- 
 facture and sale of intoxicating liquors in the State should include 
 wine made from grapes grown in the State, for the reason that the 
 same contains a large proportion of alcohol, and is intoxicating, and 
 the experience that comes from other wine-growing countries con- 
 firms this fact, and demonstrates that intemperance increases as does 
 this so-called industry, and on this we solicit facts. 
 
 Since the beginning of our women’s temperance work in both 
 State and Nation, we have sought Divine guidance as to lines of work 
 to be pursued and methods to be adopted. I therefore ask that you 
 will, in your local Union give careful and prayerful consideration to 
 the following: 
 
 We believe Prohibition to be the only legislative remedy, right 
 principle and effective in results. We believe Constitutional Prohibi- 
 tion to be the best form which prohibition can take. We believe this 
 to be the easiest of attainment, the best adapted to woman’s facilities 
 of labor, and that it is, also, the most permanent and effective when 
 obtained. 
 
34 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 You will receive petitions to the Legislature convening January, 
 1885, asking it to adopt and submit a Prohibitory Amendment to the 
 people. But notice, workers of the W. C. T. U., during the next few 
 months the political parties will hold their Conventions for the nomi- 
 nation of members to the Legislature. These Conventions will also 
 adopt what is known as a “platform of principles.” We urge that 
 you send a committee of women to the Convention and to present a 
 memorial in signed writing, asking them to declare in the platform 
 adopted that it is the duty of the Legislature to submit this great 
 question to a popular vote by way of amendment to the Constitution, 
 and pledging the nominees at the Convention that they will, if elected 
 to the Legislature, thus submit. 
 
 We send a form of memorial which may be used. This memorial 
 should be presented at the State and County Conventions of each and 
 every political party. The object of the memorial is to arrest public 
 thought, to provoke discussion, to bring party managers to feel the 
 pressure of the unrepresented sentiment of the homes. While we 
 know very well that the mere politician gives little service, save as it 
 can be exchanged for votes, there are always in every gathering true, 
 brave men who have not bent the knee to the Baal of Expediency — 
 who will stand for “God and home and native land.” If a clear issue 
 is presented to them, wise and brave knights will come to our defense, 
 and to the advocacy of our principles. We recommend that the peti- 
 tion be circulated as soon as September. It is well to open the peti- 
 tion campaign with a public meeting in which the whole plan of action 
 shall be set forth. Remember to clearly state that the signer does not 
 of necessity declare himself a prohibitionist, or to pledge himself to 
 vote for prohibition. The petitioner merely says (in effect) “This is a 
 great question; therefore I ask the Legislature to take the steps pro- 
 vided for in the Constitution, that the people may thus exercise their 
 sovereignty.” 
 
 We further recommend that each Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 Union duplicate this department of legislation, and that a clear- 
 brained, consecrated woman be appointed Superintendent. We fur- 
 ther recommend that on the day of the regular union local meeting 
 following the advent of this message that there be read the Scripture 
 found in Deut. 6, 16-25; also that time be given to prayer for Divine 
 guidance in this new line of work. 
 
 During the circulating of the petition, distribute temperance liter- 
 ature, take note of all objections made to prohibition as a principle, 
 or to this amendment movement bj' which we hope and expect to 
 secure prohibition. 
 
 This movement, though inaugurated by the W. C. T. U., will not 
 by any means be championed alone by our organization, as in other 
 States. Ministers of Christian churches will give it their hearty in- 
 dorsement. The Independent Order of Good Templars, around their 
 lodge altars, sacred with obligations of total abstinence, will pledge 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 35 
 
 their support to this attempt to take the “drink away from the man” 
 as well as the “man away from the drink.” Other temperance organ- 
 izations will see in this the best opportunity for a “long pull, a strong 
 pull and a pull together,” an united onset against the “powers of 
 darkness” as they are intrenched in the liquor traffic, and Constitu- 
 tional Prohibition shall soon be the shibboleth of battle all along the 
 
 line. Yours sincerely, 
 
 BEAUMEELE STURTEVANT-PEET, 
 Supt. Legislation. 
 
 Hayward, July 21, 1884. 
 
 Throughout the state the influence of politicians was greater 
 than that of voteless women, no party endorsed the principle, 
 and the effort was considered premature. However, the next 
 legislature was memorialized by the W. C. T. U. to submit a 
 Constitutional Amendment for Prohibition. The Memorial 
 was introduced by Senator Steele of San Luis Obispo, and 
 lost, thus ending the first direct effort toward the ultimate ob- 
 ject of the W. C. T. U. 
 
 1885. 
 
 The Sixth Convention at Petaluma held three days and was 
 inspirational. Falling upon a day set apart by the National 
 Union as a day of prayer a whole morning session was given 
 to that. Even in the devotional hours there was in those days 
 a striking variety and originality. A delegate reporting to 
 her local Union, said : “That prayer service was wonderful.” 
 The president, Mrs. Browne, with the most amazingly rapid 
 flow of thought and language, began it. Mrs. Sturtevant- 
 Peet, a strikingly beautiful woman of charming personality, 
 read the Scripture ; after her came a modest rural member, 
 slow of speech, but most appealing in prayer ; then an elegant 
 French woman, unused to pray in public, spoke earnestly in 
 tender words of mixed English and French; then another 
 timid saint poured out her soul in praise and petition ; a very 
 old black woman, once a slave, offered a typical traditional 
 plantation prayer, that seemed to raise the very roof in its 
 ascent, and Henrietta Skelton, in her never-to-be-forgotten 
 German accents gave her tribute of grateful praise, calling 
 down all the blessings of heaven, but only this one petition 
 is now recalled : “Bless de dear hoosbands who have shpared 
 
36 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 dere coompanions to coome up here ; may day be better vim- 
 men ven dey coome to dem back.” 
 
 The return to the place of its origin brought out conspicu- 
 ously the rapid growth of the Union. Eighty local Unions 
 had been organized in the year, 57 reported, 21 departments 
 had State Superintendents. 
 
 County Organization. 
 
 County organization began in May with Contra Costa. 
 The president, Mrs. Schott writes ; “I do not know why I ac- 
 cepted the presidency, except that I could not resist the earn- 
 est, appealing face of Mrs. Skelton.” Sonoma and Fresno, 
 also, were organized in May; Tulare in June; Alameda and 
 Nevada in July; San Francisco in September; then Santa 
 Clara, Butte and Napa. 
 
 Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet presented a form of constitution em- 
 bodying all the amendments offered the previous year — 
 which, after full deliberation, was accepted. Under its pro- 
 visions, the election was the first held by the “Nominating and 
 Elective Ballot,” then known as the “Informal Ballot.” The 
 first provision was made for paying the expenses of the presi- 
 dent in this year. 
 
 The Bulletin. 
 
 The necessity of a State organ becoming imperative, the 
 president, Mrs. Browne, early in the year issued a tiny sheet 
 called “The Bulletin,” which so well filled the long-felt want 
 that it soon became a monthly, with larger pages. It was 
 ably edited by Mrs. Browne, and a committee was charged 
 with the care of its finances. 
 
 State Headquarters. 
 
 The establishment of State Headquarters marked another 
 step in advance. The double parlors of the house, 133 McAl- 
 lister street, San Francisco, were rented in the spring, and 
 during the summer well furnished, largely by gifts solicited 
 by Mrs. Henrietta Skelton. On September first, they were 
 formally dedicated by Bishop Fowler, and for more than 
 twenty years — when removal became necessary — were the 
 center of activities that reached the whole State and far be- 
 yond. A depository of literature was at once established, and 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 37 
 
 the Corresponding Secretary required to be in attendance two 
 days in the week, with a salary of $25 per month. 
 
 In the list of “Departments” there appeared one that has 
 never been seen since, the “Industrial Ranch for Boys.” A 
 wealthy gentleman had a philanthropic design to found an 
 Industrial Home, in which boys from the city streets might 
 be gathered in, reared in a wholesome atmosphere and trained 
 in temperance principles and right living. Desiring to place 
 this institution in the care of a permanent and well-equipped 
 organization, and struck with the fitness of the W. C. T. U. 
 for such a charge, he proposed to give the Union a property 
 valued at $30,000, for the purpose, but objected to the word 
 “Christian” in the title of the Union. The matter was dis- 
 cussed at an Executive Meeting, and the gift was declined, 
 without bringing it before the Convention. 
 
 Miss Henrietta G. Moore, of Ohio, a national organizer, 
 then a divinity student, and now a well-known minister, and 
 Mrs. Henrietta Skelton rendered excellent services as organ- 
 izers. Eight Unions in this year maintained local head- 
 quarters. 
 
 Berkeley Liquor Law. 
 
 The persistent violation of the law prohibiting the sale of 
 liquor within one mile of the State University caused the 
 state union to raise a special fund to aid in the prosecution 
 of several cases before a court and jury to test the validity 
 of the law, but the jury in each case failed to agree. The 
 evidence was absolute and certain, no attempt was made by 
 defendants to disprove the facts, the court sustained the law, 
 yet juries would not convict. Many women of the W. C. T. 
 U. were present at these trials, helping by their presence to 
 make better sentiment. 
 
 The growing demands of the state work, in this year of so 
 many activities had taxed even the tireless energy of the 
 president, and Mrs. Browne declined reelection, after an ad- 
 ministration in which foundations broad and deep had been 
 laid for the permanent structure arising. The recording sec- 
 retary, Mrs. Mary H. Field, also retired from that office. She 
 was a rarely gifted woman, whose presence adorned and dig- 
 nified any position. Mrs. S. J. Churchill already well known, 
 
38 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 was elected president, and Mrs. H. E. Brown recording sec- 
 retary. 
 
 Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet led off in county work by holding the 
 first Institute in the State. The success of one day at 
 Chatauqua led to a Temperance Conference of three days at 
 Pacific Grove, and was the beginning from which have grown 
 the Summer Assemblies which the Union has held annually 
 ever since, excepting the year of the San Francisco fire. 
 
 1886 . 
 
 This progressive Convention met at San Jose in October — 
 the date being now fixed by the Constitution. One hundred 
 and two delegates attended. Twenty-one new unions were 
 organized this year, and twenty-seven departments reported. 
 There was general activity in all, but work for the young led 
 all the rest. There were fifteen Young Woman’s unions, with 
 nearly six hundred members. Grass Valley, the largest, had 
 139 members, having for its motto “Talitha Cumi” (in Scrip- 
 tural terms which being interpreted is, “Damsel I say unto 
 thee, ‘Arise.’ ”) Its flower “Echscholtia Californica,” was 
 adopted by the state union. 
 
 This meeting was marked by earnest debates. The depart- 
 ment of Purity was adopted after some hesitation as a pecu- 
 liarly difficult one, and given to Superintendent Mrs. Hannah 
 Bean — a mark of great confidence. Franchise, at first con- 
 sidered so timidly, loomed up, big with importance, and after 
 much discussion was adopted as a department by a vote of 
 54 to 40, and Sarah M. Severance appointed Superintendent. 
 
 Having done this, an earnest debate followed on a motion 
 to ask the legislature to grant the ballot to women. This was 
 conceded to be premature, and it was voted to concentrate all 
 forces this year to secure the Temperance Education Law. 
 
 Another debate followed on the adoption of the famous St. 
 Louis resolution, which resulted in declaring for the principle 
 of prohibition, but leaving the Union non-partisan in its atti- 
 tude. 
 
 Advance steps were made in Finance, and a Contingent 
 Fund created by local pledges, to send the president to the 
 National Convention. Systematic financial plans evolved but 
 slowly. A special fund was made by voluntary offerings, 
 called the “Love Fund,” as a gift to the president. Lectur- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 39 
 
 ers this year were Mrs. Skelton, Miss Narcissa White, of 
 Pennsylvania; Mrs. Wittenmeyer, the first National Presi- 
 dent; Mrs. Youmans, President of the Dominion of Canada, 
 and Mrs. E. G. Greene, late President of Vermont, .well known 
 by her book, “The Pathfinder,” which had been a text book 
 on organization. She originated in her State the W. C. T. U. 
 Institute, since become a most useful factor in all States. 
 
 The one-mile law protecting the State University from the 
 liquor traffic, having passed the test of the Supreme Court, 
 became a definite object of defense and the battle for its en- 
 forcement was renewed by the State, led by the Berkeley 
 Union and aided by President Reid, of the University, and 
 his wife. 
 
 The Bulletin grew from four to eight pages, subscription 
 25 cents — ads. wanted. 
 
 Scientific Temperance Instruction. 
 
 A quiet, but important work was pushed in the department 
 of Scientific Temperance Instruction in 1885 and 1886, as a 
 preliminary to securing a law that should place it in the 
 public schools of the State. The first text book meeting the 
 new requirements, was “Steele’s Hygienic Physiology.” The 
 Superintendent, Mrs. Spencer, at once made herself familiar 
 with all the processes of its preparation, including the names, 
 and officers of all the committee of specialists engaged in it — 
 information which proved invaluable, and then began writing- 
 about it to prominent teachers and Boards of Education. The 
 influential Union at Oakland, and that of Grass Valley simul- 
 taneously secured its adoption. On the theory that the lesser 
 would readily follow the larger towns, San Francisco became 
 the next point of attack. Learning the names of the members 
 of the Board of Education, letters setting forth facts and argu- 
 ments favorable to the adoption of that book were sent to each 
 one, and to many prominent women, asking their influence and 
 personal attendance at the meeting of the Board of Education 
 when the subject should be considered. The book was 
 adopted, and as the ladies left the City Hall it was said “the 
 letters did it.” 
 
 This was, in its effects, a great achievement, and is here re- 
 corded to show the means by which it was brought about. 
 It enabled the Superintendent to say in her next letters. 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 “Boards of Education representing thirty-three per cent of 
 the school census of the State have adopted the ‘Temperance 
 Physiology/ and thereafter she carried with her a copy of the 
 School Census, and whenever any Board of Education adopted 
 the book, a little sum in percentage added force to her argu- 
 ment by showing how many more had done it. 
 
 This first text book reached only the higher grades. A 
 “Health Primer” was soon brought out for the lower grades. 
 By this time the Liquor Interest began to take notice, and 
 opposition was more frequently met. In her home town a 
 most valuable experience was had. A Board of Education of 
 seven members was dominated by its chairman, a lawyer op- 
 posed to the measure. A committee of ladies preferred their 
 request, which was at once granted, only to be reconsidered 
 as soon as the ladies left the room. This was the signal for 
 a siege of parliamentary tactics by which it was intended to 
 defeat it, and continued at every meeting for five months, 
 when the women triumphed. As this was only a city board, 
 having no jurisdiction outside the municipality, the County 
 Board of Education claimed attention next. The same gen- 
 tleman, though not a member of the County Board, conducted 
 the opposition there for three months, when, as before, the 
 measure was carried by a full vote. 
 
 In that eight months the Superintendent received excellent 
 training for duties that devolved upon her afterwards as a 
 lobby member of the State Legislature. That lawyer’s sug- 
 gestions were often helpful ; one night he angrily said, in re- 
 luctantly conceding a point, “A lot of influential women will 
 carry anything.” 
 
 Before the Superintendent retired that night, she was writ- 
 ing to distant clergymen to ask, “Who is the most influential 
 woman in your town?” and before the convention of 1886 met, 
 this thought had been worked so well that seven-eighths of all 
 the schools had some sort of temperance physiology in use. 
 By this time various publishers were striving to meet the 
 growing demand. The books in use were of far from uniform 
 merit, in itself a good reason for asking for a law to secure 
 the best. 
 
 At the Post-executive meeting at the close of this conven- 
 tion, Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer was elected the first State Or- 
 ganizer. 
 
1887. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Incorporation. Passage of Temperance Law. The Pacific 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 The Eighth Annual Convention met at Santa Rosa, and 
 showed a great advance in business methods. It was ruled 
 that none but members with dues paid, were entitled to rep- 
 resentation. Local Unions were asked to give not less than 
 three dollars a year for rent and expenses of State Headquar- 
 ters. The State Union was incorporated under the provisions 
 of the civil law, and nine dmectors elected. 
 
 ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION 
 OF THE 
 
 WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION OF 
 CALIFORNIA. 
 
 KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that at the annual 
 meeting of the Woman’s Christian Temperance LFnion of California, 
 the representative legislative body of the Woman’s Christian Temper- 
 ance Union for said State held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 
 the 12th, 13th and 14th days of October, A. D. 1887, at Santa Rosa, 
 County of Sonoma, State of California, said representative legislative 
 body elected to incorporate the “Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 Union of California.” 
 
 1. 
 
 The name of this corporation is the “WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN 
 TEMPERANCE UNION OF CALIFORNIA.” 
 
 11. 
 
 This incorporation is formed for the purpose of planning and 
 executing, under the special guidance and direction of Almighty God, 
 measures which will result in the promotion of the cause of temper- 
 ance in the State of California, by the suppression of intemperance in, 
 and the banishment of the liquor traffic from this State. 
 
 Pecuniary profit is not the object of this incorporation. 
 
 III. 
 
 The place where its principal business shall be transacted is the 
 City and County of San Francisco. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The term for which said corporation shall exist is fifty (50) years. 
 
42 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 V. 
 
 The number of Directors of said corporation shall be nine. The 
 names of those who were appointed and elected at the Ninth Annual 
 Convention are as follows: 
 
 Mrs. R. R. Johnston, Mrs. H. H. Havens, Mrs. M. H. Field, Mrs. 
 M. C. Hart, Mrs. S. J. Churchill, Mrs. S. G. Chamberlain, Mrs. M. J. 
 Mayhew, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, Mrs. J. Knowland. 
 
 VI. 
 
 There is no capital stock, and there are no shares of stock. 
 
 VII. 
 
 That in furtherance of said incorporation the following resolution 
 was regularly adopted by said representative legislative body: 
 
 RESOLVED: That this, the Eighth Annual Meeting of the rep- 
 resentative legislative body of the Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 Union of California, elect and proceed to incorporate said Union 
 under and by virtue of section 604 of the Civil Code of California. 
 
 That thereupon another resolution was duly introduced and 
 adopted, in words as follows: 
 
 RESOLVED: That the name of the proposed corporation shall 
 be the “Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of California;’’ that 
 it is formed for the purpose of planning and executing, under the spe- 
 cial blessing, guidance and direction of Almighty God, measures 
 which will result in the promotion of the cause of temperance in the 
 State of California, by the suppression of intemperance in, and the 
 banishment of liquor traffic from this State. That the place where its 
 principal business shall be transacted is the City and County of San 
 Francisco, State of California; that the term for which said corpor- 
 ation shall exist is fifty years; and that the number of its Directors 
 shall be nine. 
 
 That a third resolution was adopted in reference to said corpora- 
 tion, viz.: 
 
 RESOLVED: That this meeting proceed to elect nine Directors 
 of said corporation, to serve for the first year of its existence. 
 
 That the presiding officer thereupon appointed Mrs. F. S. Vaslit, 
 of San Francisco, and Miss Alice Freeman, of Santa Clara, as tellers. 
 
 That the said representative legislative body proceeded to vote by 
 ballot for said Directors, and the said tellers reported that Mrs. So- 
 phia J. Churchill, Mrs. Laura P. Williams, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Havens, 
 Mrs. Mary H. Field, Mrs. B. Sturtevant-Peet, Mrs. Lucy M. Hutton, 
 Mrs. Nellie B. Eyster, Mrs. L. M. Carver and Mrs. Vestalia M. Gove 
 had recevied a majority of all the votes cast, and the presiding officer 
 therefore declared that Mrs. Sophia J. Churchill, Mrs. Laura P. 
 Williams, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Havens, Mrs. Mary H. Field, Mrs. B. 
 Sturtevant-Peet, Mrs. Lucy M. Hutton, Mrs. Nellie B. Eyster, Mrs. 
 L. M. Carver and Mrs. Vestalia M. Gove had been duL' elected as 
 Directors of said corporation to serve for the first year, and until the 
 election and qualification of their successors. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 43 
 
 That the proceedings hereinbefore set forth were all duly had in 
 accordance with the Constitution, rules and regulations governing 
 the other proceedings of said representative body, and took place on 
 Thursday, the thirteenth day of October, A. D. 1887, at Santa Rosa, 
 in the County of Sonoma, State of California. 
 
 SOPHIA J. CHURCHILE, 
 
 Presiding Officer Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Califor- 
 nia. 
 
 NELLIE B. EYSTER, 
 
 Secretary Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of California. 
 
 Note. — Duly acknowledged by President and Secretary before J. 
 H. Shermier, Notary Public, San Francisco, October IS, 1887. 
 
 Filed in office of the County Clerk of the City and County of San 
 Francisco, October 20, 1887. 
 
 Certified copy of Articles of Incorporation filed in the office of the 
 Secretary of State at Sacramento, October 21, 1887. 
 
 The certificate of the filing of Articles of Incorporation was issued 
 by W. C. Hendricks, Secretary of State, over the Great Seal of the 
 State, on the 21st day of October, 1887. 
 
 WILLIAM F. GIBSON, Attorney. 
 
 One of the first Board of Directors, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, 
 has served continuously and is a member of the present board. 
 
 Plans for raising $500 for a Contingent Fund were pre- 
 sented. One was “That ten lecturers be invited each to give 
 one lecture five times, for which the Unions would pay ten 
 dollars per lecture, and expenses.” Another, that every organ- 
 ized county pledge a life membership yearly. Both were 
 adopted, and the latter still obtains. 
 
 Securing Temperance Instruction Law. 
 
 Securing the Scientific Temperance Instruction Law was 
 the successful effort of the year. Foundations had been well 
 laid during the two preceding years by the adoption of tem- 
 perance physiologies of various grades and publishers, by 
 Boards of Education representing seven-eighths of the school 
 census of the state. It was a case of striking while the iron 
 was hot, for every one of these Boards might change text 
 books in the next year, if the desired law were not enacted, 
 and the liquor people were aroused to oppose it. 
 
 The National Superintendent, Mrs. Mary H. Hunt, was ex- 
 pected to be here and conduct the campaign, but work before 
 Congress detained her at Washington. The State Superin- 
 tendent, Mrs. D. J. Spencer, having done the preliminary 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 work, entered upon this. The resources of the Union were 
 entirely in the Bank of Faith, so the president borrowed 
 twenty dollars for postage and obtained credit for printing. 
 Classified petition heads were prepared with separate columns, 
 for several professions, as well as for “Business men and 
 other voters,” and “Women.” Never was better work done. 
 One hundred and fifty petitions were sent to local Unions, 
 and they all returned true as the carrier dove to the hand that 
 sent them out, and richly laden. One hundred and fifty were 
 sent to other friends, but generally they did not come back — 
 proving the value of organization, and that there must always 
 be some one whose specific duty it is to do the thing required 
 to be done. This classification showed 400 ministers, 350 
 physicians, 300 lawyers, 225 school trustees, 1100 school 
 teachers, including the entire faculty of the State University, 
 and the officers of the State Normal School, with the longer 
 columns of men and women. 
 
 Southern California sent Miss Emma Harriman to Sacra- 
 mento to share the first legislative work undertaken by the 
 W. C. T. U. Miss Harriman was able, experienced and very 
 helpful, but was compelled by illness to return to her home 
 before the session was over. Nine weary weeks they waited, 
 watched and worked. The bill passed the Senate early and 
 easily, but dragged slowly in the Assembly. Daily, when 
 “Petitions” were in order, members rose and read petitions — 
 over fifty members having to read them from their home 
 towns, signed by their friends and neighbors. The enemy had 
 no hope of killing the bill except by parliamentary tactics that 
 made delays. In some mysterious manner a number of bills 
 were set back on the file, of which this was one, but late on 
 the last day of the session the psychological moment came, 
 when the author of the bill was called to take the Speaker’s 
 chair. A friend called for the second reading of Bill 150. 
 It was objected that 300 bills were still awaiting a third read- 
 ing, but the chair ruled that nearly all counties had petitioned 
 for this one, and it must be heard. The other 300 were not 
 reached, and at 9 p. m. the provisions of the Constitution were 
 suspended to allow its third reading, and it became a law by a 
 vote of 57 members, 54 being necessary for its passage. No 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 45 
 
 one voted against it. It was the last bill of that session. 
 
 California has the honor of having passed this bill unani- 
 mously in both houses. It was signed by Governor Bartlett 
 March 15th. It must not be supposed that all members fa- 
 vored the bill. Many had said in personal interviews, “I can- 
 not vote for that, or, “My constituents will never send me 
 here again if I vote for that,” or “I would like to do it, but 
 am pledged to do nothing that will reflect on the liquor traffic,” 
 or similar excuses, but invariably these men, within a few 
 days, received letters from home ,or were handed petitions 
 from their home towns which they had to present personally. 
 The friendly members were able and strong men, and earned 
 the gratitude of all by their faithful care of “Assembly Bill 
 150.” 
 
 After the session was over, a senator of many years experi- 
 ence remarked to Mrs. Spencer that “there had never been 
 so many personal letters written to members in behalf of any 
 bill as this one.” She held out to him the directory of Local 
 Unions, saying, “Every name there represents a woman with 
 a pen in her hand.” 
 
 How the Bill Was Paid. 
 
 Two weeks before the bill passed, the president, Mrs. 
 Churchill, went to Sacramento to aid and cheer Mrs. Spencer. 
 To others it was already a lost cause, but their unwavering 
 faith that day prepared a program for a “Praise Meeting” to 
 be held by all local Unions, when the bill should pass, at 
 which collections should be taken to meet the expenses of the 
 winter. The Unions responded promptly, and the little blue 
 postal orders from everywhere, exactly covered all the bills. 
 Everything requisite had been fully provided, and like heav- 
 enly manna, the money came to pay for it all. 
 
 After the adjournment of the legislature, the president and 
 Mrs. Spencer gave their time to field work, lecturing, organiz- 
 ing, attending county conventions and visiting local unions. 
 Mrs. Eyster, Supt. Juvenile Work, gave eighteen lectures 
 and organized many Loyal Temperance Legions. 
 
 1888. 
 
 This Convention met at Woodland, and was in session four 
 days. Mrs. Churchill, whose strong individuality, wise coun- 
 
46 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 sels, and perfect serenity of manner had endeared her to all, 
 retired from the presidency and was succeeded by Mrs. Rosa- 
 mond R. Johnston. 
 
 The Secretary records 132 Unions, of which 36 are Y’s with 
 more than one thousand members, the various Juvenile soci- 
 eties, under many names, are not numbered, but give proof 
 of the splendid work by and for the young. The advance in 
 organization is striking. 
 
 A salary of $50 a month was provided for the office of 
 president. 
 
 The St. Louis Resolution. 
 
 This being the year of a presidential election, the St. Louis 
 resolution of 1884 by which the National Convention pledged 
 its sympathy and prayers to the party making the liquor 
 traffic a political issue, which had annually come up for dis- 
 cussion, assumed increased interest, and was endorsed by a 
 vote of 105 to 24. 
 
 The distinguished Pundita Ramabai was a guest and 
 speaker. 
 
 Alameda County. 
 
 The decision of the Supreme Court in the Pasadena case, 
 given last year, favorable to the California Local Option Law, 
 gave a great impetus to that line of work, and many campaigns 
 were conducted in this year, and as usual when campaigning, 
 the Unions grew in numbers and strength. Fifteen organ- 
 ized counties reported. The report of Alameda county, given 
 by the president, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, is an honor to the 
 State. Indeed that county, in 1888, was the banner county 
 in the United States, having 1350 active and 150 honorary 
 members, twenty-two Unions, of which ten were Y’s, and thir- 
 teen Loyal Legions, with 450 members. Used $2,221.00 for 
 local work, $500 for the county, paid $570.00 to State, and 
 pledged $500.00 to the Temple at Chicago. One speaker. 
 Col. Woodford, was engaged for ten weeks at $100.00 a week, 
 Mrs. Skelton and Mrs. Stevens for shorter terms of time and 
 less money, and every town in the county visited by each 
 speaker — 150 lectures being given, the county canvassed with 
 seven different petitions, a local option campaign waged in 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 47 
 
 Berkeley, and all departments pushed. No wonder they 
 gained 450 members. 
 
 The name of the State paper, “The Bulletin,” being the 
 same as that of a popular daily, confusion in the mails oc- 
 curred frequently, so the name was changed to “The Pharos.” 
 
 The Annual Conference at Pacific Grove became the “School 
 of Methods.” 
 
 Reports of local unions tell of conditions of which the later 
 generations should know, for instance: Fall River Valley, in 
 the eastern hills of Shasta, whose members live from two to 
 sixteen miles apart; they meet semi-monthly and carry a 
 Band of Hope ; or the Columbia Y’s, the only union in 
 Tuolumne County, also meet semi-monthly, sustain a Band of 
 Hope, a small Loan Library, a box in the Post Office for liter- 
 ature, and raised $75.00 at a Fair of which they sent one 
 third to the state union. 
 
 These are types of many valiant little unions whose heroic 
 lives may have gone out with the changes and chances that 
 come to all, but the results of their efforts are the rich 
 inheritance of the present. 
 
 In one case a strong union was worked up by the per- 
 sistency and patient efforts of one woman where neighbors 
 and friends lived far apart. She used to drive over the hot 
 plains, where roadside saloons afforded the only drinking place 
 for man or beast. She drove very fast by these, and rewarded 
 her horse by stopping at the next farm house well, until the 
 faithful animal was so trained by habit that he would not stop 
 near the water troughs of the roadhouses. 
 
 Temperance horses of this kind were by no means uncom- 
 mon, and each gave evidence of some woman’s rare devotion. 
 
 1889. 
 
 The Tenth Convention met at Napa with 114 Women’s 
 Unions and 30 Y’s and marked a year of progress. 
 
 The legislative work of the year included splendid canvass- 
 ing with petitions for a “Sunday Rest Bill,” a bill to raise the 
 age of protection for girls from ten to eighteen years, a “Muni- 
 cipal Suffrage Bill,” a “Police Matron Bill” and an “Anti- 
 Tobacco Bill.” 
 
 The Sunday Rest Bill was favorably reported by the Com- 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 mittee on Public Morals, but did not pass. The Age of Pro- 
 tection was raised to fourteen years. A bill to provide police 
 matrons for cities of over 30,000 inhabitants was secured. 
 
 Mrs. Mary M. Negus, Superintendent of Purity, stayed at 
 Sacramento during the entire session, at her own expense, do- 
 ing valiant work for these bills, aided by Mrs. M. J. Mayhew, 
 Superintendent of Sabbath Observance. County reports are 
 all fine — that of Alameda following last year’s splendid work, 
 says: “Better conditions on better foundations than ever 
 before.” 
 
 Mrs. Emma Colwell, president of Fresno county, drove over 
 700 miles in her own buggy, alone, and mostly at her own 
 expense, over roads or no roads, doing all kinds of work 
 successfully — pioneering that should not be forgotten. 
 
 Hoopa Indians. 
 
 Humboldt also had a report of special interest. This county 
 first raised the funds for expenses, and then invited Mrs. 
 Spencer to do evangelistic work for four months, visiting not 
 only all the towns, but the far off sheep ranges, tan bark, and 
 lumber camps — in short, every place in that big county where 
 a hearing could be had. Once a civilized Christian Indian sat 
 in the audience, and caught a new idea of the influence of 
 organized womanhood. He came to Mrs. Spencer the next 
 day and told of the condition of his people, the Hoopa Indians 
 — practically imprisoned in a reservation, under military 
 guard, in an inaccessible mountain gorge, where, as he said, 
 “Everything is done behind the door; no one sees, and no 
 one can tell. I have tried to get some one to tell this to the 
 government, but no one will. The banks and business men 
 make too much money by it. I ask the member of Congress. 
 He knows me ; he say, Tt is all true, but I can’t,’ and I know 
 why, — the men that nominate him, they make money too, out 
 of military post. Now, you represent many Christian women ; 
 you have no money, no politics, and no reason to tell lies. The 
 government will believe what you say. Will you go and see 
 my people, and tell the government what you see?” 
 
 His anxious face was irresistible. She promised. At the 
 end of her four months’ engagement, accompanied by Mrs. 
 John Walker, the wife of his employer, who would not per- 
 
STATE OFFICERS 
 
 MRS. 1^. P. WII.LIAMS 
 
 MRS. NELTAE BEESSTNG EYSTER 
 
 MRS. .MARY H. FIELD 
 
 MRS. ANNIE LITTLE BARRY 
 
 Recording- Secretaries 
 
S'l'ATE OFFICERS 
 
 MRS. IOWA M. HOLSTON 
 
 MRS. EMILY HOPPIN 
 
 Treasurers 
 
STATE OFFICERS 
 
 DR. C. ANNETTE BUCKEL 
 
 MRS. JOSEPH KNOWLAND 
 
 MRS. SARAH C. SANDFORD 
 
 Auditors 
 
 MRS. INA ORVIS 
 
STATE OFFICERS 
 
 MRS. ALICE M. BOWMAN 
 Secretary L. T. L. Branch 
 
 MRS. MARY F. GILLEY 
 Secretary L. T. L. Branch 
 
 MISS SARAH M. SEVERANCE 
 Suffrage 
 
 MRS. ELIZABETH LOWE WATSON 
 Leaders 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 49 
 
 boarding school in the barracks. We want the white man’s 
 law, the white man’s school, and the white man’s church.” 
 
 She reported what she had seen to the Indian Office at 
 Washington, also sending copies of her report to any societies 
 or individuals likely to be interested, but not until one of her 
 letters reached President Harrison was any action taken. He 
 promptly ordered Fort Gaston, the military post, investigated, 
 sending Dr. Daniel Dorchester there for the purpose. His 
 report fully corroborated Mrs. Spencer’s, and as soon as exist- 
 ing contracts could be completed and official red tape brought 
 into requisition, the Post was abolished and the school estab- 
 lished. “The white man’s church” was planted later on, when 
 the Indian Association sent a missionary there. Mrs. Spen- 
 cer continued her plea for the mission before every accessible 
 denominational body for ten years, when the Presbyterian 
 Board of Missions undertook the work. Their missionary. 
 Miss M. E. Chase, was a White Ribboner, formerly of Sonoma 
 County, one who had been coveted for the first president of 
 the state union, but was providentially ready for this field. 
 She became the pastor, counsellor and loving friend of all 
 the tribe, whom she faithfully served for many years. 
 
 Mrs. Spencer revisited Hoopa after fifteen years and was 
 surprised to find herself remembered gratefully by the In- 
 dians as “the woman that sent the soldiers away.” Thus the 
 prayer of the Indians was abundantly answered, but the In- 
 dian whose devotion and sagacity brought about these 
 changes did not live to see his vision realized, but died con- 
 tent in the faith that it was all coming, and in his last hours 
 thought himself surrounded by women wearing the white 
 ribbon — to his mind the symbol of his people’s redemption. 
 
 This was the last field work of Mrs. Spencer as she was 
 transferred to the headquarters as Corresponding Secretary. 
 The demands of the state work now required the office, to be 
 kept open every day and the secretary in attendance. She be- 
 came ex-officio superintendent of literature and took charge 
 of the depository now established, with the same salary as 
 the president. 
 
 1890 . 
 
 The 11th annual convention at Stockton was full of won- 
 derful reports of‘ personal sacrifice and devotion, and conse- 
 
50 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 quent development in all lines The first County report— 
 that of Alameda, reads : “The work has strengthened and 
 deepened in intent, as we have set our stakes for the anni- 
 hilation of the saloon, and for local prohibition.” Other 
 counties echo the strain. 
 
 A notable feature this year has been the steady growth of 
 the “True Blue Cadets” from the small beginning in 1883 in 
 Oakland, having now four fully equipped and well-drilled 
 companies of young men and boys in Alameda County, and 
 reaching out to other parts of the State. The State had now 
 two organizers, Mrs. Henrietta Skelton and Mrs. Emma Pow 
 Smith, than whom none could have been more devoted, tireless 
 and efficient. Their labors were abundantly fruitful. The or- 
 ganization of counties now made it possible to arrange for 
 lectures, and to call in from other States many accredited 
 speakers who all helped to promote aggressive work. 
 
 Incorporation of the Pacific Ensign. 
 
 The president, Mrs. Johnston, felt strongly the inadequacy 
 of a monthly paper, and the necessity of more frequent means 
 of communication. She so clearly presented this idea, that 
 the convention voted to undertake the publication of a weekly 
 paper, and to incorporate a joint stock company for that pur- 
 pose. Judge Elliott kindly explained the laws relating to 
 such undertakings — the members being unfamiliar with stock 
 companies or corporations, but anxious to learn. The plan 
 presented, was to sell stock to members only, at ten dollars 
 per share, payable at the rate of two dollars a year. As a pre- 
 liminary, the names of prospective stockholders were taken 
 and a stockholders’ meeting called at the State Headquarters 
 the next week. Seventy-one women gave in their names. The 
 law required a Board of Directors of from five to eleven mem- 
 bers, to be elected at the meeting, and it was decided that 
 nothing less than the larger number would be sufficient to 
 share the new responsibilities. 
 
 The day — December 3rd, 1890 — and the stockholders’ meet- 
 ing came, but nearly every woman who had a husband had 
 been informed by him that she had best keep out of that con- 
 cern; that every man, being responsible for his wife’s debts, 
 had a right to withhold his consent to an enterprise that might 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 51 
 
 involve him. Some, who had no husbands, had sons equally 
 free with good advice. The upshot of it was that there were 
 but seven stockholders left to organize the company. Each 
 one made the first payment of two dollars on one share of 
 stock, and that $14.00 was the capital on which the “Pacific 
 Ensign” started. 
 
 The seven stockholders who constituted the first Board of 
 Directors were: Mrs. Ada Van Pelt, President; Mrs. Adeline 
 W .Weed, Vice President; Mrs. Laura P. Williams, Mrs. 
 Rosamond R. Johnston, Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer, Dr. Rebecca 
 C. Hallowell and Miss Winnie Morris. 
 
 Miss Julia M. French, a non-stockholder, was elected Secre- 
 tary, and rendered invaluable service. Mrs. R. R. Johnston 
 was elected Editor and Mrs. D. J. Spencer, Business Manager. 
 
 The entire capital was used for fees of incorporation, — a 
 kind legal friend donating his services. The women rose 
 promptly to the occasion, and money came in so freely for 
 stock and subscriptions that the little eight-page paper was 
 ready to be launched January 1st, 1891. 
 
 On the morning that the first issue was to go to press the 
 Business Manager awoke to find her husband lying dead 
 beside her. Her duties were taken up by others, and kind 
 hands mailed the initial number of the “Ensign.” The day 
 the next issue came out was also the day of the State Execu- 
 tive Meeting, and the President, Mrs. Johnston, who was also 
 Editor of the “Ensign,” resigned both positions, to accompany 
 her husband to an eastern city to which his interests had 
 called him. Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, Vice President, succeeded 
 to the presidency of the State, and Mrs. Ada Van Pelt was 
 chosen to edit the “Ensign.” 
 
 This would seem to be an unpromising beginning of a 
 doubtful venture, but the “Ensign” became the pet child of 
 the State Union — serving to bind together its distant members 
 by its weekly visits, as nothing else could have done. It held 
 together those who labored for it in bonds of friendship and 
 union that are only welded by the “long pull, the strong pull 
 and the pull altogether.” Naturally, there were changes in 
 the personnel of its staff, Mrs. Spencer being the only Director 
 who served continuously from start to finish. Its editors, 
 Mesdames Van Pelt, Eyster, Lord, Southard and Severance 
 
52 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 were able and gracious. Miss Severance edited the portion 
 devoted to Suffrage, called the “Overlook,” which proved a 
 great factor in the education of sentiment on that important 
 issue. 
 
 The Ensign lived a useful life and paid its way, but did not 
 die a natural death. Like the small boy who survived so 
 many calamities that the neighbors said nothing but hanging 
 could kill him, the weekly Ensign lived through trials and 
 difficulties untold, until earthquake and fire wiped out its 
 existence. 
 
 Lecture of Mrs. St. John. 
 
 A plan carried out that year was, at the same time, so help- 
 ful to the general objects of the local Union, and to the State 
 finances, that it is worthy of record. The Rev. Eugenia St. 
 John — an able speaker — was engaged for fifty lectures ; these 
 lectures were assigned to fifty localities, the local Unions in 
 each place being required to pay ten dollars for the lecture, 
 besides which, the collection taken at each lecture, was to be 
 sent to the State Treasurer, to be divided between State and 
 local Unions. The valuable point of this plan was that each 
 Union, having that ten dollars to pay, had to build up an 
 audience. They could not afford to trifle. In every case the 
 ten dollars was ready, and a good audience furnished the in- 
 spiration for a good speech, and a good collection, while reach- 
 ing a large number of people. The Unions were happy, for 
 the plan was a complete success from every point of view. 
 
1891. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Success of the Ensign. Pacific Coast Conference. The First 
 Dry County. Sanitary District Law. 
 
 The Twelfth Convention, at Oakland, had the joy of suc- 
 cess in the weekly paper. The women had risen to the oc- 
 casion, stock was bought and a fair subscription list and ad- 
 vertising patronage secured. The Business Manager had es- 
 timated the cost of the paper at $3,000, for the year, but had 
 succeeded in maintaining it for $2,006.00, remarking in her 
 report “That it has been done for less than the estimate, is 
 more creditable to those who have done the work, than to 
 those who have allowed it to be done in such a restricted 
 way.” It paid cash down, current rates for all labor and sup- 
 plies, — its only debt being the huge debt of love to the women 
 whose gratuitous labor contributed so largely to its success. 
 
 That paragraph tells the story of the “Ensign” during its 
 whole fifteen years. It was undoubtedly worth all it cost, in 
 building up and cementing the fabric of the organization, and 
 bridged a period when nothing else could have served its pur- 
 poses. 
 
 The president spent much of the winter at Sacramento, in 
 the legislature. Petitions were presented for a “Sunday 
 Law;” for “Equal Suffrage” and to “Prohibit the Sale of To- 
 bacco to Minors.” Mrs. Purvis, Supt. of Anti-Narcotics, pre- 
 sented the latter, and it became a law. The Suffrage Bill 
 passed the Senate, and was killed in the Assembly. The Sun- 
 day Rest Bill was defeated, though its discussion created 
 great interest. 
 
 Pacific Coast Conference. 
 
 The National Union, at the instance of the Oregon W. C. 
 T. U., which was the hostess of the occasion, sent the National 
 Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. C. B. Buel, and Treasurer Miss 
 Esther Pugh to Portland, Oregon, to hold a conference with 
 Pacific Coast leaders. Oregon, California — northern and 
 
54 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 southern — Washington and Idaho were represented. Califor- 
 nia sent its President and Corresponding Secretary ; Mrs. 
 Stevens, of California, was there, having been organizing in 
 the north for some time, and Mrs. Edholm, also of California, 
 was present with ready pen, as the official Reporter. 
 
 The exigencies of this year called for a new department, as 
 the special activity in County campaigns was not included in 
 those existing, so that of the “No License Campaign” was cre- 
 ated, and Mrs. Mary Bell Mallory, whose unfailing enthusiasm 
 and unflinching courage, made her a natural leader, was ap- 
 pointed its Superintendent. The name of the department was 
 afterwards changed to that of “Christian Citizenship.” It is 
 one more of the important departments now operating in all 
 States, that had its origin in this state. 
 
 The success of a Tri-County Union, — Santa Cruz, San Beni- 
 to and Monterey — having been so organized originally, when 
 neither county could sustain its work alone, suggested Bi- 
 County organization where a weak county might be united to 
 its neighbor, until such time as it became strong enough for 
 independence. Yuba and Sutter were the first counties to 
 form such a Union, in 1891 ; in 1892, Colusa and Glenn ; 1893, 
 Tulare and Kings; in 1895, Sonoma and Marin; in 1898, San 
 Joaquin and Calaveras; Fresno and Madera, Sacramento and 
 El Dorado, Santa Clara and San Mateo, Stanislaus and Mer- 
 ced. In 1912 Fresno and Madera, and Tulare and Kings consti- 
 tute the only Bi-County Unions. These latter have been once 
 separated, but finding that action premature, resumed their old 
 relations. 
 
 What the Ministers Thought. 
 
 Illustrative of conditions and sentiment at this time, is an 
 extract from the minutes of a county convention in the spring 
 of 1891. A feature in the program was a discussion by nine 
 ministers on the question, “How can we unite the votes of 
 the Christian men of the county against the Liquor Traffic?” 
 
 The first speaker “denied the statement often made that a 
 man cannot be a Christian and vote for the political parties 
 that perpetuate the traffic.” 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 55 
 
 The second, opened and closed his remarks by saying “I 
 do not know anything about it.” 
 
 The third, said “We must extend sympathy and Christian 
 charity to the saloon keeper and distiller.” 
 
 The fourth said “I wouldn’t vote whiskey out of the county 
 if I could; and couldn’t if I would.” 
 
 The fifth, “urged the training of children in temperance, 
 when they reach the years of manhood they will rise in their 
 might and crush out the traffic.” 
 
 The sixth, proposed that “the American saloons being a 
 respectable legalized institution, the people should buy them 
 out.” 
 
 The seventh, “knew no way in which the votes of Christian 
 men could be counted against the traffic.” 
 
 The eighth said, “Present the saloon keeper with a better 
 religious and political creed, and he will become followers of 
 them.” 
 
 The ninth, made a forceful argument in favor of temperance, 
 “He believed in the platform of the prohibition party ; there 
 was hope of a final victory for the temperance cause.” 
 
 There was just one in the nine trained men — not to say 
 divinely appointed — instructors of the people who saw the 
 star of future victory. Were not the blind leading the blind? 
 This reflects the dim and uncertain views of that period, and 
 goes to show that the W. C. T. U. had clearer vision in its 
 policy of “doing everything”whereby to educate public opin- 
 ion. That county and many others are “dry” now, and it is 
 safe to say that no religious teachers are so bewildered now on 
 any great moral issue. 
 
 Sutter County “Dry.” 
 
 The climax of the year’s success was reached when Sutter 
 County secured Prohibition by a county ordinance, and so 
 had the distinction of being the first “dry” county in the 
 State. The W. C. T. U., under Mrs. Ida Frances Lee, the 
 county president, worked hard for votes, and raised $2,000 for 
 expenses. 
 
56 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 (Copy of Ordinance.) 
 
 AN ORDINANCE 
 
 For the Purpose of Police Regulation, by Prohibiting Places and 
 Things of Immoral Character, Fixing a Penalty for its Violation, 
 
 and Providing for the Taking Effect and Publication Thereof. 
 
 The Board of Supervisors of the county of Sutter do ordain as 
 follows: 
 
 Section 1. It shall be and is hereby made unlawful for any person 
 or persons, either as owners, principals, agents, servants or em- 
 ployes, to establish, open, keep, maintain, carry on or assist in carry- 
 ing on within the corporate limits of the county of Sutter, State of 
 California, any tippling-house, dram-shop, cellar, saloon, bar, bar- 
 room, sample-room or other place where spiritous, vinous, malt, 
 mixed, or intoxicating liquors are sold or given away; or any gam- 
 bling room or other place of immoral or indecent character; provided 
 that the prohibition of this Ordinance shall not apply to the sale of 
 liquors for medicinal or chemical purposes, by regularly licensed 
 druggists, upon the prescription of a physician entitled to practice 
 medicine under the laws of the State of California. 
 
 Section 2. Any act in violation of this Ordinance shall be con- 
 strued a separate offense for each day of its continuance. 
 
 Section 3. Every person who violates any of the provisions of 
 this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon 
 conviction thereof before any Court having jurisdiction thereof shall 
 be punished by a fine not exceeding three hundred and sixty dollars 
 or by imprisonment in the County Jail of the County of Sutter not 
 exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 
 
 Section 4. All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict with 
 this Ordinance are hereby repealed. 
 
 Section 5. This Ordinance shall take effect on the first day of 
 October A. D. 1891, and before taking effect shall be published for one 
 week in the “Sutter Independent,” a newspaper of general circulation 
 in Sutter county. 
 
 Passed and approved by the Board of Supervisors of Sutter county, 
 California, this 8th day of September, A. D. 1891, by the following 
 vote: 
 
 Ayes — W. T. Spilman, P. L. Bunce, L- Summy, L. P. Farmer, W. 
 H. Smith. 
 
 Noes — None. 
 
 L. P. FARMER, 
 
 Chairman Board of Supervisors of Sutter County. 
 
 (Attest) A. H. HEWITT, 
 
 Clerk of said Board 
 
 (Seal) By W. D. Woodworth, 
 
 Deputy. 
 
MRS. ANNIE K. BID WELL GENERAL JOHN BID WELL 
 
 Pi’ohibition Leadei’s 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. SARAH C. BORLAND 
 
 MRS. SARAH McCLEES 
 
 MRS. HARRIET E. McMATH 
 
 Alameda 
 
 DR. NINA J. CROAKE 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. PAULINE MATHEWS MRS. MARGARET B. PELTON 
 
 Supt. Sunday School Dept. 
 
 MRS. S. M. M. WOODMAN 
 
 DR. CARRIE F. YOUNG 
 Pioneer Suffragist 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. C. M. COOPER 
 
 Amador 
 
 MRS L. J. FASSETT. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 57 
 
 1892. 
 
 The Thirteenth Convention met at San Jose and closed a 
 year rich in aggressive efforts, w^ith 183 Unions and 4,710 
 members. 
 
 Early in the year it became necessary either to take the 
 other half of the building, 132 McAllister st., where Head- 
 quarters were located, or to move. It was decided to lease 
 the house, hoping by sub-letting to produce revenue for State 
 work. The result was that the receipts exceeded expenses, 
 but the experiment was unsatisfactory, and it was given up 
 without loss or substantial gain, and also without removal. 
 
 Anti-Dive Agitation. 
 
 The Anti-Dive agitation in San Francisco marked the work 
 of this year. Beginning early in the year, with the co-opera- 
 tion of apparently all the best elements of the city, great mass 
 meetings were addressed by the ablest speakers every Sunday 
 afternoon at Metropolitan Temple, followed next day by a 
 descent upon the meeting of the Supervisors, to present a de- 
 mand for an ordinance to prohibit the employment of women 
 in Dives and Saloons. Week after week, the crowd gathered 
 every Monday afternoon, filling the broad corridors of the 
 City Hall, while the Supervisors sat with closed doors, too 
 busy to admit anyone. Business and professional men, or 
 even busy housewives, could not go on indefinitely with this 
 fruitless effort, and were at last worn out. When the Super- 
 visors were ready to admit the petitioners, there were only 
 the State Secretary and County President of the W. C. T. U. 
 to prefer their request. The attorney of the German Saloon 
 Keepers’ Union managed that matter, and as his reward of 
 merit received the nomination for Superior Judge from the 
 ensuing Republican Convention. He was elected — of course 
 — but the agitation and co-operation of the multitude had been 
 an irresistible force, and the ordinance was secured. 
 
 Mrs. Eyster’s School Lectures. 
 
 The Corresponding Secretary had been nursing a plan for 
 years to send out a woman to visit schools, with the object 
 of popularizing temperance instruction. Mrs. Nellie B. 
 Eyster was eminently fitted for this work, equipped as she 
 was with the grace that captivates children, and the ability 
 
58 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 to aid teachers ; so she was duly appointed. The work could 
 not be done for less than $75 a month, and to meet this 
 expense the State Union assumed one-half of the salary — $25 
 • — each county desiring her services paid $25, and the local 
 Unions paid traveling and incidental expenses, and provided 
 entertainment. The State Union had no resources but the 
 generosity of its friends, and Mr. Edward Coleman, of Grass 
 Valley, was the friend in need who pledged $25 a month for 
 this special object. This contribution was promptly paid, not 
 only for the three years that Mrs. Eyster continued this work, 
 but the same sum was given with equal regularity for general 
 purposes during the next two years. This gracious gift, which 
 made it possible to carry on such invaluable instruction in 
 so many schools throughout the State, was given anonymous- 
 ly, and just when it was most helpful. Teachers had not then 
 arrived at the best and most effective methods of meeting the 
 requirements of the new law, and this timely aid was of the 
 greatest assistance to them in carrying on the work. Grati- 
 tude for past kindness will justify, at this late day, the publi- 
 cation of the donor’s name, and it is but fair to say that the 
 same kind hand has helped in many emergencies since. 
 
 Mrs. Eyster and her undertaking were each a brilliant suc- 
 cess. Her charming lecture “The Man Wonderful in the 
 House Beautiful” illustrated by anatomical charts was given 
 to thousands of children in many counties. In response to an 
 invitation by the Board of Education, this lecture was given 
 by Mrs. Eyster in forty schools of San Francisco, in each one 
 having as many classes massed in one assembly as the audi- 
 torium would contain. This plan was followed everywhere, 
 thus reaching an immense number. It was splendid work, 
 well done, and most permanent in its results. Throughout 
 the State are hundreds of men and women, now active in 
 reform work, who received their first impulses in this direc- 
 tion from Mrs. Eyster’s school lectures. 
 
 No-License Campaigns. 
 
 A “No Lincense campaign in Placer County this year was 
 only defeated by the concentrated forces of the Liquor Traffic 
 — and money ! Merced County, unable to secure a prohibi- 
 tion ordinance, raised the liquor license to $1,000 a year, which 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 59 
 
 the courts declared to be unconstitutional, because its amount 
 was prohibitory. 
 
 Siskiyou did splendid work in this year, under conditions 
 calling for personal bravery. At Callahan’s the saloons were 
 lawless and defiant. The president of the local union procured 
 copies of the law relating to saloons, and with hammer and 
 tacks proceeded to post the law in saloons, demanding also 
 to see the bonds of the saloonkeeper, and giving fair warning 
 that any violation would be followed by prosecution. At 
 Yreka the local union was successfully carrying on a Reading 
 Room and Circulating Library on a principal street; a saloon 
 and dance house of the worst type was started next door 
 in such close proximity that the occupants of the Reading 
 Room were often driven away by the orgies of their vicious 
 neighbors. The women were obliged, in self defense, to pros- 
 ecute, and the man’s license was revoked. He was desperate 
 and tried for a while to make further trouble. When the ex- 
 citement had subsided, Mrs. Churchill, the county president, 
 wrote a letter to him so full of Christian kindness, that the 
 heart of the man was touched. He kept the letter like a 
 sacred talisman, and changed his course of life to better ways. 
 
 1893. 
 
 The Convention at Stockton represented 193 Unions and 80 
 Loyal Temperance Legions, — the better system of organiza- 
 tion since 1890 having brought all Juvenile Societies under 
 that name, and with uniformity of method 3,000 children and 
 youths were under the best system of training for future 
 citizenship. 
 
 The legislative efforts of this year centered on a bill for 
 School Suffrage. The President, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet and 
 Miss Severance, Supt. of Franchise, leading, and assisted by 
 other workers. The Bill was felt by opponents to be an enter- 
 ing wedge, and was vigorously contested, but passed both 
 houses only to be vetoed by Gov. Gage. 
 
 An Extra Session of the Legislature. 
 
 A product of this session was a dramatic presentation, writ- 
 ten by Miss Severance, entitled, “An Extra Session of the 
 Legislature,” which simply reversed the situation, — repre- 
 
60 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 senting a legislative body of women, to whom men were 
 pleading for their own enfranchisement. The arguments of 
 the women were entirely those that had been actually used 
 against the enfranchisement of women, but when turned upon 
 the other sex seemed the wildest absurdity and the keenest 
 satire. The play made a highly instructive entertainment, 
 and, after being staged for the benefit of the State work it was 
 published, and presented in many towns and served the cause 
 in many other states. It was a work of more than ordinary 
 merit, so well prepared that its special points appeared in high 
 relief and the large number of characters represented, pre- 
 sented all sides of the question with telling emphasis. 
 
 Lake County secured a “dry” ordinance, but by failure to 
 elect officers to sustain it, it was lost. Humboldt County voted 
 itself “dry” by a large majority, but the Supervisors refused 
 to pass the ordinance demanded. The same fate befell the 
 people of Kings County. Eight counties conducted “No 
 License” campaigns this year. 
 
 Gifted women had frequently enlivened and adorned the 
 public gatherings with original poems and songs, but to Mrs. 
 Grace M. Kimball is due the honor of presenting a “Hymn” 
 which was adopted, and still loved as the “State Hymn” dear 
 for its association with all State Conventions and other im- 
 portant meetings, and in remembrance of its author. 
 
 1894. 
 
 The Fifteenth Convention was at Sacramento, and reported 
 the steady development of work and workers. Although this 
 was a year of financial depression, there was a marked in- 
 crease of money in the general work. 
 
 The Temperance Congress. 
 
 The event that most encouraged friends, aroused enemies 
 and cost the greatest effort was the Temperance Congress, 
 held in May. Fifteen Temperance organizations were asked 
 to co-operate. Not all were able to do so, but the call had 
 the effect of marshalling the hosts, focalizing the best thought 
 and compelling attention. This was one of the Congresses 
 held during the Midwinter Fair at San Francisco. The plat- 
 form was occupied by representative men and women from 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 61 
 
 all over the State, and it was conclusively proved that temper- 
 ance sentiment was more than local. Each day’s program 
 was under the auspices of one of the organizations, and con- 
 ducted by its officers. The general officers of the Congress 
 were Hon. J. E. McComas, of Pasadena, President; Col. O. E. 
 Moore and Mrs. D. J. Spencer, Secretaries, with a Board of 
 Managers, of which Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet was Chairman. 
 The “Extra Session of the Legislature” was rendered on the 
 last evening, as the grand finale of a highly educational week. 
 
 The highest compliment to the influence of this Congress 
 was the immediate organization of the “Law and Order 
 League,’ made up of the city’s best, and, to combat all the 
 forces arrayed for righteousness, “The California Protective 
 Association” of liquor dealers sprang up, thus, for the first 
 time, placing themselves on the defensive. 
 
 A Strike on the Railroad. 
 
 The School of Methods, in July, had peculiar features. The 
 summer meetings of this and other organizations, at Pacific 
 Grove, had been greatly facilitated by favors of transportation, 
 the use of Assembly Hall and general accommodations, but 
 this year there was a strike on the railroads that seemed to 
 paralyze everything, and it appeared impossible to arrange a 
 program or get people there ; but it was evident that a failure 
 to do so would cut off all future favors. As usual, a full and 
 elaborate program was arranged by the president. When the 
 time arrived, five hundred soldiers had been ordered to Sacra- 
 mento, and at every important point military uniforms wit- 
 nessed authority to quell a possible riot. The public were 
 afraid, at first, to travel, but when the trains began to move, 
 and the first one out from Oakland was seen to have a detach- 
 ment of U. S. troops at each end of every car, confidence was 
 somewhat restored, and the train passed, without apparent 
 damage, over explosives which had been placed on the tracks. 
 The noise and confusion was terrifying to the passengers, 
 but no one was injured. 
 
 The women who bad braved these conditions carried out 
 the entire week’s program,— not one number of which was 
 missed. Therein was proven the training the women had been 
 for some years receiving, for, like minute men, each one rose, 
 
62 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 without previous notice, at the President’s call, and took the 
 place of the absentees on any topic whatever, without hesita- 
 tion or apology. The usual attendance at a summer resort was 
 not there — the town folk and the empty benches heard the elo- 
 quence of bright speeches that filled the days. The record of 
 the Railroad ticket agent showed twenty-six arrivals during 
 that week — most of whom were the women in that program. 
 The same readiness for service had showed itself in recent 
 years, when County Presidents and State Superintendents 
 cheerfully undertook platform work whenever occasion called 
 for it. Eastern speakers often lent their aid. 
 
 The fact that the Republican party had adopted a plank in 
 its platform declaring for a uniform liquor license — a measure 
 upon which the liquor dealers had been more than two years at 
 work, with intent to destroy the local option law, stimulated 
 the friends of that law to vigorously defend it, and every 
 means was taken to enlighten the public in regard to the na- 
 ture of the proposed legislation. The Liquor Dealers — or the 
 “California Protective Association” perfected the organization 
 and prepared for war to the knife. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Uniform License Bill. Sanitary District Law. Suffrage 
 Campaign. Death of Francis E. Willard. 
 
 Gen. Bidwell and Mrs. Skelton. 
 
 1895. 
 
 This year opened with intense interest in legislation. The 
 President, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, went as usual to Sacramento, 
 where she had several efficient volunteer aids. Circular letters 
 and the following protest were sent to all Unions, urging ef- 
 forts against the “Uniform License Bill.” The following pro- 
 test to be signed and sent to the representatives in both houses 
 at once. The time is short, and promptness is demanded : 
 
 PROTEST. 
 
 To the Senate and Assembly of California: 
 
 We, the undersigned, earnestly protest against the Uniform 
 License Bill now introduced in the Legislature, and most earnestly 
 entreat you, as our representatives, to use every possible means to 
 defeat the measure. 
 
 The principle of local choice is imbedded in our customs. It is 
 just that people be free to choose good and not compelled to espouse 
 evil. Sutter and Lake counties and fifty towns refuse license alto- 
 gether, and we urge their right to do so, and we desire that that right 
 be continued. 
 
 Mass meetings were held all over the State, and, as far as 
 known, every one was called by the W. C. T. U., and able 
 speakers everywhere enlightened the people. 
 
 The liquor men were equally active, and claimed when the 
 Legislature convened, to have representatives in the lobby 
 from every county in the State, from Siskiyou to San Diego. It 
 was their policy to hold the bill back until too late for its foes 
 to make a successful fight against it. This plan was surmised 
 by Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, who saw that it must be defeated by 
 strategy — if at all. She decided to take the initiative, and 
 storm the enemy’s works. She telegraphed to Headquarters 
 at San Francisco to have circular letters, each enclosing this 
 petition sent out at once to all local unions and pastors, to be 
 read and signed in the churches the next Sunday and for- 
 warded immediately to her : 
 
64 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 PETITION. 
 
 To the Honorable Legislature of the State of California: 
 
 The undersigned, having learned with deep solicitude that it is 
 proposed to ask your honorable body to enact a Uniform Liquor 
 License Law, whereby our present Local Option right, as lodged with 
 Counties and Municipalities would be repealed, do most earnestly 
 request that no such change be made; but instead that all be done to 
 strengthen and simplify our present right of local government of the 
 liquor traffic, and your petitioners shall ever so pray. 
 
 There was barely time to reach the Unions before the Sun- 
 day services, no time to get printing done, but the two secre- 
 taries worked a mimeograph against time, and in response to 
 that telegram (which reached them at one-thirty P. M.) the 
 evening mail carried those letters over the length and breadth 
 of the State. Promptly the petitions went on to the President 
 who was holding other petitions in reserve, awaiting the 
 enemy’s action. On Thursday morning nearly every member 
 of the Senate was provided with petitions — some with many. 
 Under the rules, they all had to be read, and they were read, — 
 to the exclusion of other business. Nearly every Senator rvas 
 on his feet at once, holding petitions. The number and length 
 of those documents created consternation ; the rapidity with 
 which they rained down on him confused the recording clerk. 
 The general confusion attracted the saloon lobby element, 
 who had been watching with deep interest the movements of 
 their opponents ; their indignation was fierce. Their remarks 
 were not in praise of prohibition. The Uniform License bills 
 then in committee were quietly withdrawn. 
 
 It is but just to say that others co-operated in achieving this 
 victory. There were individual friends, good men and true, 
 doing their utmost. A Roman Catholic priest from San 
 Francisco did heroic work against the bill, but without the 
 thorough organization and instantaneous action of the W. C. 
 T. U. the day would have been lost. 
 
 Sanitary District Law. 
 
 During this conflict, silently and surely another bill of en- 
 tirely different purport was passing through both houses, and 
 as it became a law, it meant much to the friends of temper- 
 ance. This was known as the Sanitary District Bill. When 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. DORCAS W. GRAY MRS. LILIAN BIRMINGHAM GRAY 
 
 Butte 
 
 MRS. MARY E. THORNTON 
 Butte 
 
 MRS. W. W. KILGORE 
 Colusa 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. S. G. BEACH 
 
 MRS. ANNA M, ARXOT 
 
 El Dorado 
 
 MRS. IDA TULLT JONES 
 Madera 
 
 MRS. L. F. KING 
 Fresno 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. HULDA HAZARD TYLER 
 
 MISS CLARA A. BOYER 
 
 REV. MARY J. BORDEN 
 
 Fresno 
 
 MRS. ANNA MARDEN DeYO 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. M. L. BROWN 
 
 MRS. ALICE M. PEEBLES 
 
 Humboldt 
 
 MRS. E. V. SPENCER 
 Lassen 
 
 MRS. H. N. S. NEWTON 
 Lake 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 65 
 
 the saloon-keepers, their attorneys and tools in and out of 
 office had just given out that no town, or county, or city 
 could regulate the traffic except by high license, here conies 
 this law strengthening Local Option. Any city, village or 
 town or portion thereof can declare itself a Sanitary District, 
 and by a majority vote prohibit the sale of any and all kinds 
 of intoxicants. The passage of the bill was considered a 
 huge joke on the liquor men. 
 
 Mh Henry French was identified with this measure, proba- 
 bly its author, and merits the honor of a strategic success in its 
 passage. 
 
 This law was first^enacted in 1891, but was so impaired by 
 amendments that it had not heretofore been of much use. It 
 was in fact, a bone of contention all its life, having been 
 amended by friends or foes, no less than ten times, but when 
 at last it could be disposed of in no other way, the courts de- 
 clared that the constitution did not contemplate the authoriza- 
 tion of power in these divisions. 
 
 The following outline of the law is from “The Pacific En- 
 sign” of July 12, 1899. The law served its purpose while the 
 courts permitted, and was vastly educational. 
 
 This law provides for the organization of local governments 
 quite similar to the town meetings of New England, and the 
 township governments of our Eastern and Southern States. 
 And it gives their own local rulers, called a sanitary board, five 
 in number, just as complete control over saloons and all other 
 matters requiring police attention as is enjoyed by the city 
 council of Pasadena, for instance. The expense of inau- 
 gurating and sustaining such a local government is small — 
 not one-fourth as much as it is for a city of the sixth class. 
 The mountainous character of California and the numerous 
 unsurveyed old Spanish ranch claims made it impossible to 
 subdivide the State into civil townships, six miles square, 
 as is the case of all the prairie States of the Mississippi valley ; 
 hence the Sanitary District Law is made to provide local self- 
 government for villages and rural districts which are not 
 populous enough to undertake a city government even of the 
 minimum class. Our Sanitary District Law was fully sus- 
 tained by the State Supreme Court in a test case taken up from 
 
66 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Alameda county. See Woodward vs. Fruitvale sanitary dis- 
 trict, 99 California, 554 to 563. 
 
 An Anti-Cigarette bill was also passed, but was vetoed by 
 Gov. Budd. Another attempt was made to raise the age of 
 Protection for girls from fourteen to eighteen years ; the bill 
 passed both houses and was vetoed by the Governor. This 
 work was valiantly led by Mrs. M. E. Teats, Supt. of Purity. 
 Mrs. Rose French, Supt. of Law Enforcement, did most effi- 
 cient work in this and other lines, at the Legislature. 
 
 Suffrage Amendment. 
 
 There was a lively contest in the Legislature over the Suf- 
 frage Bill, resulting in substituting a bill to submit the matter 
 to the people as a Constitutional Amendment, — thus enabling 
 members to dodge their responsibility by throwing it on the 
 voters. The substitute was passed by just one vote. The 
 submission of the Amendment was not until the general elec- 
 tion of 1896 — the long interval giving time for a grand cam- 
 paign. 
 
 The saloon men of Sutter County made a desperate, but vain 
 effort to rescind the Prohibition ordinance, but the benefit to 
 the county under that law was so apparent that self-interest 
 settled the question, and the ordinance was retained. Mrs. 
 Rose French did splendid work this year in her department of 
 Law Enforcement, directing efforts in many counties. Mrs. 
 
 S. C. Sanford, County Supt. of Alameda, and Mrs. French 
 each personally prosecuted and brought to conviction several 
 cases of illegal liquor selling. 
 
 1896 . 
 
 Suffrage filled the air and the hearts of the women this year. 
 Feeling that nothing could so promote this movement as 
 bringing to this State the fine speakers of the National W. C. 
 
 T. U., that body was invited to hold its Annual Convention 
 in California. The Suffrage Societies were dismayed at this 
 action, and begged the National Union to call off its Conven- 
 tion, for fear of antagonizing the liquor powers. Letters were 
 received by women prominent in the cause of Suffrage, warn- 
 ing them to keep clear of “White Ribboners,” and not to be 
 compromised by the Temperance element, but the ladies to 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 67 
 
 whom these appeals were sent were found to be nearly all 
 official members of the W. C. T. U. However, to preserve 
 harmony, the Convention was held in another State, and Miss 
 Willard wrote her approval to the president of the State 
 Union, saying: “A demonstration that our letting alone of 
 that department does not help, will do good for all time.” 
 And so it proved; for after fifteen years, when another cam- 
 paign was successfully pushed — all worked together. To 
 prevent discords, the W. C. T. U. officially kept in the back- 
 ground, but individually all its members helped in every direc- 
 tion, as well as carrying forward activities in other depart- 
 ments, that added force and membership. 
 
 Miss Severance gave many lectures and her able pen was al- 
 ways busy. Mrs. E. G. Greene, state vice president, made a 
 lecture tour in the northern counties, and Mrs. E. V. Spencer, 
 president of Lassen County, used voice and pen, press and post 
 office, to the utmost, as did many others. 
 
 After a splendid campaign 110,335 votes were cast for suff- 
 rage, and 137,099 against. Defeated by 2,700. San Francisco 
 and Oakland gave a majority of 23,772 against the amend- 
 ment, which the rural counties could not overcome. 
 
 The work for Law Enforcement in San Francisco, under 
 Mrs. Rose M. French, begun mainly to secure convictions 
 in cases of selling liquor to minors, and later including tobacco 
 sales as well, led to the discovery of most revolting crimes 
 against little girls. The womanhood of the city was aroused 
 and the deepest interest was felt in the prosecution of these 
 cases, — of which there were twenty-six. One man was sent- 
 enced to twenty years in the penitentiary, another fourteen, 
 and five others to ten years each. Others were awaiting sent- 
 ence in the County Jail when this report was made. The 
 moral effect of this effort was most salutary. 
 
 These cases of outraged girlhood, and the inadequacy of the 
 provision for the care of the victims, so appealed to Mrs. 
 French that she found herself taking them to her own home, 
 until she had five under her care. The knowledge that others 
 were in the same peril, and provision must be made for them, 
 was the direct impetus for the organizing of the “Girls’ Train- 
 ing Home,” — another of the useful institutions which has 
 
68 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 proceeded directly from the work of the W. C. T. U. — now 
 become a successful philanthropy, with a commodious “Home” 
 in Alameda, caring for about fifty girls. 
 
 With the co-operation of the Law and Order League an 
 ordinance had been obtained closing the side entrance of the 
 saloons in San Francisco. Eighty violators of this law were 
 tried, convicted, and paid their fines. 
 
 Women as police officers had not been dreamed of in 1896, 
 but Mrs. French so demonstrated her ability and usefulness in 
 police duties, that she was equipped with a policeman’s star, 
 as a special officer, by the Chief of Police of the City. 
 
 The natural barrier of a mountain range effectually cut off 
 San Luis Obispo county from the Southern California Union, 
 making it less accessible to the south than the remoter north. 
 This inconvenience being very detrimental to its work, it was, 
 by mutual agreement of both State organizations, admitted to 
 the California W. C. T. U. of the northern jurisdiction. 
 
 1897 
 
 For the third time the Uniform License bill was brought 
 forward, clothed this time in the garb of a constitutional 
 amendment, endorsed by the Governor and Code Commission. 
 With this prestige its friends hoped to carry it, but found their 
 previous victor on the field, alert and ready for action. As 
 before, the president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 Union, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, led the battle. In fact the Bill 
 was believed to have been utterly killed at the last session, 
 so no other organization was represented in the fight against 
 it. Her presence saved the day, and the defeat was accepted 
 as final. The bill had served the purpose of arousing good 
 men to united action . 
 
 A great effort was made to secure a law to take liquor sell- 
 ing out of grocery stores, and the strange fact developed that 
 with petitions carrying 2,000 signatures — 900 being from San 
 Francisco — not a San Francisco man would introduce the Bill. 
 Someone else introduced it, but the bill failed to pass, and 
 the same fate befell the Sunday Rest Bill. The age of pro- 
 tection for girls was raised to sixteen years, after ten years of 
 persistent labor. 
 
 So much of general work had been held in abeyance the 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 69 
 
 previous year, owing to the Suffrage campaign, that a de- 
 pressing effect followed in this year. An outgrowth of the 
 Temperance and Missionary Congresses held at San Francisco 
 during the Midwinter Fair, was the organization of Unions 
 in the city churches, bearing the same relation to the churches 
 as the Missionary Society — a useful part of its machinery. 
 By 1897 there were seven of these Unions in the Baptist, Con- 
 gregational, Christian, Methodist and Presbyterian denomina- 
 tions. All did good work for several years. 
 
 Anti-Saloon League. 
 
 A new ally appeared at this time, the Anti-Saloon League, 
 already organized in several States and becoming national in 
 its scope. Its leaders had secured the endorsement of the 
 various evangelical bodies, through their State conferences, 
 and now called on the W. C. T. U. as an unsectarian and non- 
 partisan organization, to lend their aid. This appeal met a 
 cordial response, and invitations were sent from the W. C. 
 T. U. Headquarters to all clergymen in and around San Fran- 
 cisco to meet at the Young Men’s Christian Association, to 
 organize the Anti-S?loon League of the State. The men re- 
 sponded, and the League came into being equipped for serv- 
 ice, and in April, 1898, its Superintendent, Dr. E. S. Chap- 
 man, began to direct its work from their Oakland office. 
 
 1898. 
 
 The Nineteenth Annual Convention, commemorating the 
 25th year since the Temperance Crusade, met in Berkeley. 
 
 Death of Francis E. Willard. 
 
 The death of Frances E. Willard in February was a griev- 
 ous shock to the whole world of reform, testing the cohesive- 
 ness of the organization she had built up, and binding its every 
 part closer to the rest. The telegraph brought the sad news, 
 and, by the difference in longitude, the flag at Headquarters 
 hung at half-mast two hours before the hour reported as her 
 last. An appropriate memorial service was held by the State 
 Union. Miss Jessie Ackerman, “ ’Round the World Mission- 
 ary” delivering the eulogy ; similar memorials were held by 
 local Unions generally. Miss Ackerman’s return was sig- 
 nalized by holding a Missionary Congress, in which the co- 
 
70 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 operation of all Missionary Societies demonstrated their mu- 
 tual objects and the correlation of all temperance and mis- 
 sionary effort. 
 
 Military and Naval operations in the Orient were bringing 
 regiments of men from the East, on their way to the Philip- 
 pines; long trains of cars filled with young men in uniforms, 
 arrived day after day, weary with the long journey from the 
 Atlantic States. At the Ferry Depot the Red Cross Society 
 served them with coffee, sandwiches, fruit and a flower for 
 the buttonhole of each and every man, wherewith to decorate 
 himself as he marched through the streets to the Presidio. 
 The faces of these thousands of young men— mother’s boys — 
 appealed to mother hearts, and the department of work for 
 Soldiers and Sailors found much to do for them. 
 
 In the temporary camps, where regiments were detained and 
 drilled, there was much need of the tender ministrations of 
 women, and generous hospitality was the rule. There were 
 invitations to homes and churches, attendance of the sick, 
 gospel services and kindly courtesies freely extended to all, 
 during the many months while the troops were passing 
 through the city. Every transport carried great loads of 
 reading matter for the men and in a thousand ways the in- 
 fluence of the W. C. T. U. reached many who had never before 
 recognized the uplifting influence of our institutions, and its 
 beneficent effect upon them was apparent to all. 
 
 The Anti-Canteen work began this year. The National AV. 
 C. T. U. Convention was held at Seattle, and was the first 
 meeting of that body held on the Pacific Coast. This was, 
 also, the first opportunity California had to send a full delega- 
 tion to a National Convention, and it was proud to bring 
 in five hundred new members. Six other States followed her 
 example, so, of course, there was occasion for a Jubilee. Mrs. 
 Sturtevant-Peet, by the choice of the other State Presidents, 
 presided at this celebration, and the eloquence of those seven 
 presidents told wonders of their respective states and the 
 achievements of their loyal women, all adding to the enthusi- 
 asm of a great convention. 
 
 1899. 
 
 Legislation takes easy precedence every alternate year. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 71 
 
 when the law-making body is in session, and is each year 
 renewed with ever increasing vigor. A bill to give school 
 suffrage to women was triumphantly passed, only to be lost 
 in the pocket of Gov. Gage, — vetoed without a word of excuse. 
 Another important bill met the same fate, a bill to grant to all 
 cities of the .hfth and sixth class (72 of them) the right to place 
 on their ballots the words "for license to sell intoxicating 
 liquors” or against the same. This was vetoed when it was 
 too late to be passed over the veto ! A bill to raise the age 
 of protection for girls from sixteen to eighteen years passed 
 both houses and — was vetoed by Gov. Gage. 
 
 However, this was not labor lost, for the women were think- 
 ing, and setting their wits to work ! No less than fifteen women 
 served as public speakers during this year, and again they 
 brought in an increase of 500 members. With all the hind- 
 rances of the law (and the law-makers) two counties and 
 forty towns were reported “dry,” generally under the Sanitary 
 District Local Option law. 
 
 Miller Memorial Building. 
 
 A happy incident occurred at Stockton, which, while entire- 
 ly local apparently, had influence State wide. Mrs. W. P. 
 Miller, a deceased member of the local Union, had bequeathed 
 some bank stock to the Union. This was sold and the money 
 put at interest. Then Mr. Miller gave the Union a well lo- 
 cated lot to be used for a building site, and by his will left 
 a sum of money which enabled the Union to erect a substan- 
 tial two story structure, of which the lower floor was rented 
 for business purposes and the upper floor used for the work of 
 the Union. It gives them a fine hall for public meetings, 
 smaller parlors for lesser gatherings, a dining room and all 
 other conveniences and accommodations necessary. It is ap- 
 propriately named the “W. C. T. U. Miller Memorial Build- 
 ing.” 
 
 The Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Spencer, having organ- 
 ized the Stockton Union in 1887, was invited to lay the corner 
 stone on January 2nd, 1889. The Chaplain of the day. Rev. 
 R. H. Sink, and one of the Directors, Mrs. Georgiana Rey- 
 nolds, had been associated with Mrs. Spencer in temperance 
 work in 1874. On the 26th of May the building was dedi- 
 
72 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 cated officially by the State President, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, 
 with State, County and Local officers, members and visitors in 
 attendance. The Memorial Hall has ever since been the means 
 of centralizing the beneficent work for which it stands, radi- 
 ating by means of its various activities an influence felt far 
 and wide. 
 
 Dr. Mary Bell Mallory, Supt. of Christian Citizenship, and 
 a fine exponent of its principles, passed away in 1899. The 
 secretary writes : “In this twentieth year of our work, this is 
 the first promotion from the ranks of the official members, re- 
 corded. Considering the number of the Executive Board, 
 more than sixty, this is remarkable. Surely the Good Hand 
 of God has been over us.” 
 
 1900 . 
 
 The Twenty-first Convention Meeting at San Jose brought 
 reports of activity in all lines, and everywhere. 
 
 Legislation by this time possessed the souls of the women, 
 and successful elections under the Sanitary District Local 
 Option Law stimulated work for local and county ordinances, 
 while the matter of the Army Canteen brought home the feas- 
 ibility of reaching Congress by petitions, and an immense 
 work was done in this line from the Anti-Canteen, Anti-Polyg- 
 amy, and Hawaiian petitions to Congress, to the local ordi- 
 nances of small towns. 
 
 Literature in enormous quantities was provided for soldiers 
 in camp on land or in ships on the sea. Several libraries were 
 placed on transports and boxes of books were sent to Manila 
 for the use of the Unions there. The study of Peace and Ar- 
 bitration was forced upon the Unions by the proximity of the 
 evils of War. 
 
 The department of Narcotics took the National Prize for 
 the most and best work, and it would seem that all other de- 
 partments ri-'-'aUed its zeal. 
 
 With the beginning of the new century the work of the 
 Union reached an era of development, when all of its various 
 departments were steadily carrying forward, each in its own 
 line, a vast educational movement, the general organization 
 enabling every State Superintendent to work through the 
 county Superintendents, and by means of the local Unions 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 73 
 
 reach a very large constituency. The co-ordination of forty 
 departments, all bringing out their direct relations to the Tem- 
 perance cause, and all so thoroughly organized, made up a 
 tremendous force, reaching, as they have done into the do- 
 mestic life of the people. 
 
 The insistent pursuit of such a course, marking time by the 
 annual County Conventions, mostly in the spring months, 
 and the State Convention always in October, presents an ag- 
 gregate influence that has been second to none in its effect 
 upon the higher life of the State. 
 
 The early years of the Twentieth Century have been less 
 conspicuous for striking achievements, but rich in the discip- 
 line and training acquired. 
 
 Congress of Reforms. 
 
 The Annual Summer School at Pacific Grove outgrew its 
 old object as a School of Methods, this being left to the de- 
 partment of Institutes, and conducted by officially appointed, 
 well equipped leaders, wherever desired, and feasible, under 
 the plans and supervision of the State Superintendent, by ar- 
 rangement with the respective County Presidents. The Con- 
 gress of Reforms served as a State Institute, with ever broad- 
 ening scope, to which the representatives of many reforms 
 were asked, each to present his own. It was a gathering of 
 brilliant men and women, freely reasoning together on the 
 rising questions of the day. A striking feature of this new 
 departure was, that every specialist was gratified, and often 
 surprised, to find among the women present some one of them 
 to rise promptly in intelligent discussion of his subject, — a 
 fine, but sometimes unexpected testimony to the broad scope 
 of the W. C. T. U. training. 
 
 The Congress of Reforms reaches beyond any attempt here- 
 tofore — striking hands with all correlated reforms, demon- 
 strating to those outside the Unions what those within al- 
 ready know, that many of these interests have a direct re- 
 lation to the work of the W. C. T. U. 
 
 The Congress of Reforms, and its name, originated in the 
 thought of Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, her idea being that the W. 
 C. T. U. was now in a position to invite to its platform the 
 representatives of any genuine reform, proving the correlation 
 
74 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 of all reforms, and that the advance of any is helpful to all. 
 The Congress is not a delegated body and consequently cannot 
 adopt resolutions or transact business ; it is entirely under the 
 auspices of the W. C. T. U. whose guests its speakers are. The 
 regular meeting of the state Executive Committee occurs 
 during the Congress but does not impinge on its sessions. 
 
 This Congress closed with the first Diamond Medal Contest 
 in California. Beginning with silver medals it had taken ten 
 years to achieve this. The moral results of that ten years’ 
 work cannot be measured. 
 
 Death of Gen. Bidwell. 
 
 A great loss was sustained when Gen. John Bidwell passed 
 away in 1900. A pioneer of pioneers, he had stood boldly for 
 every righteous cause, a conspicuous figure in the early history 
 of the State, but especially dear to the W. C. T. U. As a 
 champion of Temperance his attitude was a support, his words 
 and means always aided where help was needed, and the 
 gracious hospitality of the Bidwell mansion made it a haven 
 of repose to weary workers. Gen. Bidwell had been the 
 standard bearer of prohibition, having once been a can- 
 didate of that party for Governor of California, and later 
 for the presidency of the United States. 
 
 A few months later Mrs. Henrietta Skelton, whose burning 
 zeal, unfailing enthusiasm and tireless energy, had been felt 
 throughout the whole State, also passed to her reward. She 
 was an organizer who saw the splendor of the future, and, fol- 
 lowing the gleam, asked for nothing less than absolute pro- 
 hibition, and freely spent her life for it, nothing doubting and 
 never daunted, — realizing that every effort made was bringing 
 it nearer. 
 
 As a monument to her memory, the operating room of the 
 Frances Willard Hospital, Chicago, was provided with a glass 
 operating table and other necessary equipment. 
 
 Her interest in this hospital suggested to her co-workers the 
 propriety of making a gift to that institution, which should be 
 a loving tribute to her memory, while serving to mitigate the 
 suffering of inmates. On the door of the room is a tablet with 
 this inscription : “This room was equipped for the relief of the 
 suffering, by the California Woman’s Christian Temperance 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN .TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 75 
 
 Union, in memory of Henneritte Skelton, June First, Nineteen 
 hundred and two.” 
 
 The president, Mrs. Mary Inglehart, wrote : “It is the most 
 valuable gift the hospital has ever received.” 
 
 Her native German name is here employed, though its angli- 
 cized form “Henrietta’ had long been in use, as endearing 
 names are in a family circle. 
 
 1901. 
 
 This year’s summer meeting was a “Moral, Social and Econ- 
 omic Conference” — having for topics : “Christianity and 
 Socialism,” “Race Improvement,” “Co-operation of Men and 
 Women,” “Public Ownership,” “Trusts and Public Welfare,” 
 “Labor Unions,” “Evolution of Industrial Life,” “Municipal 
 Housekeeping,” “Direct Legislation” and “Co-operative Liv- 
 ing” — all set forth by experts, and the relation of all to the 
 temperance movement freely discussed, besides several ad- 
 dresses, directly on the various phases of temperance effort. 
 
 The Twenty-second Convention in this year was the first 
 ever entertained by a local Union in its own house. This was 
 held in the Miller Memorial Hall, Stockton, — an enthusiastic 
 meeting following a year full of activity in all lines so general 
 that it would be invidious to mention any departments. Or- 
 ganizing has gone on apace. 
 
 1902. 
 
 The Congress of 1902 was in three general divisions. Civic, 
 Social and Domestic, with various subdivisions, all planned by 
 the skillful hand of Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, the president. The 
 best available specialists accepted her invitation to present 
 their views, on which the discussion of the audience was in- 
 vited. Able and distinguished men and women, representing 
 advanced thought and the most progressive movements have 
 taken part in the annual congresses, and up to this writing the 
 fact remains that the highest talent, the richest experience, 
 and all that goes to make men and women acknowledged as 
 experts in their various specialties may always be expected on 
 the programs of the Congress of Reforms. 
 
 The Convention at Santa Cruz showed thorough work and 
 great development in all departments, unusually large quan- 
 tities of literature having been used. 
 
76 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 1903. 
 
 The same may be said of the following two years. 1903 was 
 prolific in original material prepared by the several superin- 
 tendents — the State having issued 200,000 pages, and large 
 quantities of cards for Flower Mission, and other purposes, 
 besides the standard literature of the National Union and other 
 publishers. The Congress this year had for its general sub- 
 jects Religion and Education, which with their various sub- 
 divisions called out many strong and able addresses, from 
 “Religious Toleration” to the “Instruction of Defective 
 Youth,” with music of a high order, which is especially ar- 
 ranged each year by the Supt. of Song, Mrs. Renowden-Bailey, 
 herself a fine vocalist and proficient conductor. 
 
 The annual Convention at Vallejo kept step to the onward 
 march. The annual dues of local Unions were raised from 
 fifty cents to one dollar. By the retirement of Mrs. Spencer 
 from the office of Corresponding Secretary, there came in a 
 young woman rarely qualified for the position. Miss Anna E. 
 Chase, who still most admirably discharges the duties of that 
 responsible position. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Jubilee Convention. Congresses. Earthquake, Fire and 
 Desolation. 
 
 1904. 
 
 This, the Silver Jubilee, or twenty-fifth Annual Convention 
 met at Chico, — the most Northern place of meeting. To meet 
 at Chico was a veritable pilgrimage to a shrine of temperance 
 — the place made historic by the most famous pioneer and 
 statesman of the far West, Gen. John Bidwell, and sacred by 
 his moral heroism. The beautiful home and grounds were 
 open to all, and every delegate was an invited guest at a ban- 
 quet at the mansion where Mrs. Bidwell was the gracious 
 hostess. It was an ideal spot for the celebration of the anni- 
 versary, rich with its associations — from the fields from which 
 every wine-grape had long since been uprooted, the great 
 Normal School of the State on whose spacious grounds the 
 finest cherry orchard in the world had been destroyed to make 
 way for the education of teachers yet to be, the magnificent 
 Forest Reserve with the young timber from all climes grow- 
 ing there, — all gifts from Gen. Bidwell to the State, to the still 
 greater gift of his personal character and influence. 
 
 The charming personality of Mrs. Bidwell, the living expon- 
 ent of all his life and hers had stood for, gave to delegates to 
 whom these associations were new an added appreciation of 
 this place, that like an oasis in a moral desert had been noted 
 for its high ideals in actual life. In this place, only, in all the 
 State, had the native Indians been undisturbed in their home, 
 and the White Ribbon on Indian women gave testimony to 
 the prevalent influence. 
 
 The Convention glowed with enthusiasm in such an atmo- 
 sphere. The earlier Unions had been organized on a basis of 
 fifty cents for annual dues. Mrs. Churchill had recommended 
 $1.00 dues in 1885, but not until this year was it adopted by 
 local Unions. All departments evidenced great activity. 
 Three organizers, Mrs. King, Mrs. Washburn, and Mrs. Ton- 
 gier, as well as occasional national organizers had kept up the 
 field work. 
 
78 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Anti-Alcohol Congress. 
 
 The Congress of 1904 was the first “Anti-Alcohol Congress” 
 held in America. It dealt with the Moral, Legal, Governmental, 
 Commercial, Medical and Scientific aspects of Alcohol. The 
 topic did not largely draw men into its discussion. A College 
 professor and a few clergymen only appeared in the program. 
 The political phase of the subject was not brought out, yet it 
 undoubtedly kept men away. However, no other phase lacked 
 most thoughtful presentation, the audiences were large, and 
 enjoyed a week of important educational value. 
 
 1905. 
 
 The special topic of this Congress was “Peace” — a happy 
 coincidence that the first Peace Congress held by the Woman’s 
 Christian Temperance Union anywhere should be at Pacific 
 Grove. The names of many distinguished men and women 
 appear in the program. Peace and Arbitration filled a week 
 with spelndid addresses and papers. 
 
 An important geographical point is touched in the fact that 
 the State Convention at Chico was the most northern ever 
 held. In compensation to those Unions that on account of dis- 
 tance could not be represented there, the next was fixed at 
 Fresno, the most southern; but it will be noted that Fresno is 
 at the exact center of California. The many Unions located 
 far beyond either of these cities, demonstrates the difficulty of 
 making both ends meet in Conventions, and the difficulty and 
 expense of sending field workers to them, and the consequent 
 necessity of devising means to keep them alive. This perplex- 
 ing problem continually arises. 
 
 After having been domiciled at 132 McAllister street for 
 twenty years, a change in ownership of the property necessi- 
 tated removal of Headquarters to a business block at No. 22 
 on the same street, but soon after better terms for rent led to 
 another removal to the Emporium Building on Market street. 
 
 There was a substantial gain in membership in this year, 
 and the Jubilee Night at Chico was memorable. Each County 
 having during the year made a net increase of thirty-five mem- 
 bers had special honors ; its president represented it by a sui- 
 table speech, and its members by singing their County song, 
 in the Jubilee program prepared by themselves. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 79 
 
 The Bi-County, Colusa and Glenn, San Francisco, Yolo, 
 Solano, Alameda, San Joaquin and the tri-county, Santa Cruz, 
 San Benito and Monterey shared these honors at Fresno. 
 
 Institutes took their place in 1905 as an important and per- 
 manent educational factor for special training for local mem- 
 bers. Plans were well laid, special literature prepared, and 
 practically the same program taken up simultaneously by 
 accredited leaders in different counties. The results were ex- 
 cellent, the Unions were strengthened and the institutes, by 
 adhering to plans made, paid their own expenses. 
 
 The meeting of the National Convention in Los Angeles 
 gave the opportunity by its proximity, to have a full delega- 
 tion in attendance, and in consequence gave renewed stimulus 
 to the year’s work. 
 
 1906. 
 
 The work of the year beginning with the Convention of 1905 
 opened auspiciously, and was only interrupted by the awful 
 calamity of which the president told graphically in her next 
 address — giving the best record of the effect of the earthquake 
 and fire at San Francisco on the State work as follows : 
 
 “The many years of our near relationship for the special purpose 
 of battling evil with good and magnifying the sacredness of human- 
 ity’s greatest need, has made us familiar with the duties and pleasures 
 that come to us all in such meetings as the present. 
 
 “Much has come to pass since our last annual convention, associa- 
 ting our organization, its objects, motives and methods with the 
 greatest national question of the period and made us a central figure 
 in an object lesson that has focalized the thought of the civilized 
 world upon one single branch of trade, proving a greater loss to 
 humanity than quake, fire, flood, and famine combined. 
 
 “For six months and seventeen days of our fiscal year, we had 
 scarcely paused in our work, or for a moment taken our eyes from 
 the goal of a sacred ambition, which has been leading us through 
 sunshine and storm, for nearly a third of a century. 
 
 “The institutes for the month of February had been splendidly 
 accomplished. Plans for the annual congress were on. A full itinerary 
 of the county conventions for two months lay upon my table when 
 that awful morning of April 18th dawned with its impending doom. 
 Shaken as by a demon of unlimited power, the inhabitants of scores 
 of towns and cities were awakened and terrified by the rocking, whirl- 
 ing, falling and crashing of everything above and around them. In 
 thirty seconds three-quarters of a million people had been robbed of 
 the bliss of unconscious repose, and made to face the awful realities 
 
80 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 of the greatest calamity of a century. Each succeeding moment 
 added to the sickening certainty of doom for many localities, and 
 lengthened the long list of dead and dying. 
 
 “In forty-eight hours beautiful San Francisco, the queen city of 
 the Pacific, was in ashes, and two hundred thousand of her citizens 
 homeless, hungry, and helpless. Almost before the earth had ceased 
 to rock and tremble the Promethean torch had lighted a score of 
 fires in different parts of the city, and then followed the awful holo- 
 caust, devastating and devouring almost every conceivable thing of 
 value over a stretch of seven thousand acres. On this vast area, not 
 a structure or living thing remained; all had fled or were wrapped in 
 the gloom of a dark and silent funeral pile. 
 
 “Desolation reigned supreme; where but a short time before had 
 throbbed the heart of a great city, the commercial Tyre of the Golden 
 West. 
 
 “Early the tragic news of the disaster had been borne upon electric 
 wings to the ends of the earth, and people from far and near, frantic 
 with grief and anxiety, were sending messages of inquiry for friends 
 and relatives, visiting or residing in the fated city. Like the water 
 mains, the avenues of communication were broken, and no return 
 messages replied. In most cases, instead of hours, it was days of 
 suspense before definite news could be obtained. 
 
 “Not dreaming that the quake could result in such terrible disas- 
 ter, Mrs. Renowden-Bailey and I left my home on the morning of 
 April 18th, for Tulare County Convention, returning to Stockton two 
 days later to receive the following telegram from the officers of the 
 National; ‘Profound affection. Sympathy for our White Ribboners 
 and all who are in distress.’ 
 
 “Dazed by the awful certaintj^ of our misfortune, I began to rea- 
 lize the loss that had come to the State, and the measure of damage 
 to the organization. 
 
 “Letters from our members and from all over the United States 
 dropped upon my desk as autumn leaves, filled with earnest inquirj^ 
 after ours in the fated city. What news could be gathered was form- 
 ulated by myself and sent to all the prominent newspapers in the 
 State. We were most fortunate in having our inimitable reporter on 
 the ground, so near the center of the most tragic and awe-inspiring 
 scene, since the burning of Rome. Her able and graphic description 
 was not overdrawn, but truthful and comprehensive. While the flames 
 were painting the lurid picture of doom, Mrs. Spencer’s rapid pen 
 was tracing its awful splendor for the Union Signal, in which the 
 report was published. 
 
 “The sad experience of being without our Ensign in such an awful 
 time, was brought home in stern reality. As the days passed we 
 learned that none of our White Ribboners had lost a life, though 
 some had lost their earthly possessions. The merciless flames de- 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. A. W. NORTON 
 Napa 
 
 MRS. MARY NORWOOD OSTRAN- 
 DER 
 Merced 
 
 MRS. L. E. EVERETT 
 
 Nevada 
 
 MRS. JULIET LUICEY 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. MARY E. JENKS 
 
 Sacramento 
 
 MISS SABRA A. FIXCH 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. ALICE STALKER 
 
 Sacramento 
 
 MRS. ALICE B. HINMAN 
 
 MRS. JULIA P. CHURCHILL 
 Siskiyou 
 
 MRS. IDA FRANCES LEE 
 Sutter 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 DR. MARY BELL MALLORY 
 
 Placer 
 
 MRS. S. E. CALLEN 
 
 MRS. HARRIET P. AVATT 
 Placer 
 
 SIRS. M. A. HAIL 
 Plumas 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 81 
 
 Touring alike the modest and the palatial home, had taken our head- 
 quarters with every picture, banner, book, and file, which embraced 
 so much that was sacred and requisite to the progress of the work 
 in the State. 
 
 “Truly we were in a deep shadow, while every way we turned for 
 light it looked dark and unassuring, but in the magnitude of our dis- 
 tress, in common with the whole, it was manifest that sympathy was 
 moving the heart of the world. We were certainly in the wake of the 
 universal solvent, and could not be overlooked. 
 
 “Among the first letters received was one from the National en- 
 closing a check for one hundred dollars, and the promise of more. 
 Nothing could have given me greater surprise. For days letters con- 
 tinued to come enclosing checks. Our Treasurer smiled and smiled, 
 and smiled again at these unexpected showers of blessings, and wrote 
 with tear-blinded eyes. ‘How thankful I am for this money, what 
 should we have done without it?’ 
 
 “Letters came from Africa, Australia, England and Japan. Re- 
 membrances so generous and prompt in such a time of need awakens 
 a sentiment of deepest appreciation and profoundest gratitude. 
 
 “Illinois with her gifted president and great army of White Rib- 
 boners promptly remembered us with a check for one hundred dol- 
 lars. Dollars looked large to us then, for they represented the love 
 which is the soul’s greatest gift, as the Union Signal expressed in 
 these words, ‘We pour out to you our soul’s tenderest offering, that 
 of love, the only thing that stands when He shaketh the earth out of 
 place and the pillars thereof tremble, the only thing that remains 
 when one removeth the mountains and they knoweth it not.’ 
 
 “The promptness of President Stevens should strengthen the 
 cords of kinship that bind us to the National. Her measure of gen- 
 erous love in the response should be the measure of our gifts as well 
 as the cheerful spirit with which they are given. Truly bread cast 
 upon the waters hath returned to us after many days. The lesson 
 should impress on every one the duty of promptly responding to all 
 calls from the National. 
 
 “The emergency of the situation in San Francisco opened the door 
 for all the moral and charitable work that could well be supplied. 
 Mrs. Bainbridge was on the ground to meet the opportunity and 
 proved equal to the occasion. The refugee camps were her field of 
 personal activity. The recognition of the value of her self-sacrificing 
 labor and good generalship by the military authorities, supplied tents 
 for every branch of the work. A tent for a reading room and the 
 distribution of temperance books and good reading matter. More 
 tents were furnished, until she was supervising manager of a veri- 
 table village of charitable industry. In large letters W. C. T. U. stood 
 out in bold relief over the entrance to all tents. Mrs. Bainbridge 
 wore these cabalistic letters on her cap, with as much grace and dig- 
 nity as the military officers of the camps wore their shoulder straps 
 
82 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 and epaulets. Her work though local was far reaching. With this 
 opportunity of a century, and with this one woman of a thousand to 
 embrace it, the potency and significance of our organization was felt 
 and appreciated by the military and a large class of citizens as never 
 before. The blessedness of the W. C. T. U. was realized in the gen- 
 erous supply of books, clothing, and money, from nearly every State 
 in the Union, crowned with the children’s gift of a half-bushel of 
 pop-corn from Nebraska, and ten dollars from the L. T. L. of Maine. 
 
 The following report tells of the gifts and work of the 
 Flower Mission department as directed by the Superintendent, 
 Mrs. E. S. Pringle, and sent to Mrs. Bainbridge at the park : 
 
 The following is the report of this work: 
 
 Number of bouquets distributed 2,165 
 
 Number of text cards 3,841 
 
 Number of visits to sick, poor, etc 2,342 
 
 Number of pledges signed 13 
 
 Number of garments 11,386 
 
 Number of sun bonnets 67 
 
 Number of quilts and blankets 124 
 
 Number of comfort bags (21 articles in each) 526 
 
 Number of pens and pencils 767 
 
 Number of packages of fruit 342 
 
 Number of toys to children 986 
 
 Number of corn crisps 705 
 
 Number of satchels - 9 
 
 Number of ties and handkerchiefs 178 
 
 Number of boxes and sacks of clothing 86 
 
 Number of sacks and packages of provisions 22 
 
 Number of boxes of fresh fruit 22 
 
 Number of pounds of dried fruit 45 
 
 Number of other gifts 876 
 
 Money spent $420.48 
 
 23 dozen eggs, 6 boxes of books, 6 bags and 1 barrel of literature, 
 7 boxes of dolls and toys, 10 pillows, 17 blankets and comforts, bed- 
 stead, mattress, crib, etc. 
 
 The Red Cross furnished sewing machines and hundreds 
 of yards of material for making garments, while the military 
 furnished the tents. Mrs. Bainbridge received every kindness 
 and courtesy from the officers in command. Recent letters 
 received from them testify to the high esteem in which she 
 and her work are held. 
 
 Supplies were also sent by the unions to Santa Rosa, where 
 the earthquake was equally violent, but no conflagration fol- 
 lowed. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 83 
 
 “A demonstration of immeasurable value is another object lesson, 
 the immediate result of the disaster, and pointnig to the ultimate aim 
 of our organization — the closing of all the saloons and the revoking 
 of every license for eleven weeks. The news of this fact, of its diminu- 
 tion of crime and suicide went around the world and can never be 
 forgotten, for it is a death-dealing weapon to every argument of the 
 traffic. 
 
 “This great lesson is supplemented by another in the enormous 
 increase of crime since the opening of so many saloons on July 5th. ’’ 
 
 To take up the threads of state work, amid the confusion of 
 losses and general paralysis of everything, required faith and 
 energy. All conditions were bewildering. The difficulty of 
 finding people was not only in the bay cities. The earthquake 
 was felt in other localities as well, and the consequent up- 
 heaval of business and social life throughout the state involved 
 unnumbered removals, and it was by tedious efforts that a 
 meeting of the Executive Board was arranged. The president 
 of the Oakland union, Mrs. E. Luella Curtis, kindly enter- 
 tained in her home the first called meeting the State Executive 
 Committee had ever held, on May 15th, but four weeks after 
 the disaster. Plans had been made at the previous meeting 
 to put a Financial Secretary in the field to raise money for 
 general work. Mrs. Mary Fletcher Norwood was appointed 
 to that office. In the demoralized conditions no schedule of 
 dates could be made ; the county presidents opened the way, 
 and her own energy and tact enabled her in five months to do 
 excellent work in eight counties, bringing in her sheaves of 
 membership and revenue. 
 
 Four weeks after the fire the work all over the State was 
 again directed by the officers at the temporary Headquarters, 
 and the reports of the year told of no slack in the general 
 work. Department work was especially good. 
 
 “Measured by numbers perhaps the Convention at Watson- 
 ville was not as large as in years past, but measured by en- 
 thusiasm, energy and White Ribbon grit it was simply im- 
 mense.” 
 
 The Ensign. 
 
 The loss of the weekly organ, “The Pacific Ensign,” was 
 very serious. It had served its purpose for fifteen years, mak- 
 ing a more intimate relation of the widely varying localities, a 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 closer acquaintance and more cordial affection for the leaders 
 than could otherwise have been possible. The circulation was 
 inadequate to its support, and while its Board of Directors 
 were perplexing themselves about the means to carry it on, 
 the whole matter was taken off their hands by the earthquake 
 and fire. The insurance of the office fixtures saved it from 
 debt. 
 
 No attempt was made to resume a weekly publication. The 
 State Executive Committee assumed the conduct of the paper 
 until the next Convention, with Mrs. S. A. Huston, editor, 
 and Mrs. Emily Hoppin, assistant. In less than three months 
 “The Pacific Ensgin” reappeared as a semi-monthly, four 
 pages, and letter sheet size. 
 
 The Convention in October decided to issue a monthly, to 
 be called “The White Ribbon Ensign,” editor and manager, 
 Mrs. Emily Hoppin. The subscription price was to be twenty- 
 five cents. A Health Congress was planned for this summer, 
 but had to be omitted in consequence of the disturbance by 
 earthquake and fire. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 1907. 
 
 Election of Mrs. Sara J. Dorr. Legislation. Tragic Death of 
 Miss Kennedy. 
 
 This Convention was brilliant, enthusiastic and picturesque. 
 It was the fourth held in Petaluma, the birth place of the State 
 Union. Its program, prepared by the president, Mrs. Sturte- 
 vant-Peet, was striking in its presentation of the history of 
 the state work, so much of which transpired during the seven- 
 teen years of her presidency. The contrasts of small begin- 
 nings with the progress and achievements of the present, 
 were brought out effectively by well arranged tableaux and 
 original platform exercises, illustrative of various periods, 
 and in its impressive demonstration, made a fitting climax 
 to an administration which had kept well in advance of public 
 thought, faithful to its standards, fertile in resources, and 
 rich in results. 
 
 Tenderly endeared to the whole membership, who year after 
 year expressed their esteem by re-electing her, Mrs. Sturte- 
 vant-Peet claimed her right to retire from a position to which 
 her keen perception of cause and effect, her comprehensive 
 plans, her serene steadfastness, and gracious personality had 
 contributed so much of power and influence to the State 
 work. Mrs. Emily Hoppin was another officer whose effi- 
 ciency had held her in the place of treasurer eighteen years, 
 who also retired at this time. 
 
 Mrs. Sara J. Dorr was elected president, and Mrs. Iowa M. 
 Holston treasurer. 
 
 Mrs. Dorr brought to her new duties the rich experience 
 acquired in the presidency successively of three large and 
 important county unions; having served the Tri-county union, 
 Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito, four years, and San 
 Joaquin and Santa Clara each two years. 
 
 Mrs. Holston, the new treasurer, had also been president of 
 the Tri-county union five years, and has since filled the unex- 
 pired term of Mrs. Effie D. Whitman, who resigned the presi- 
 dency of Santa Clara County in 1912. 
 
86 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 There was a falling off in membership in consequence of the 
 disaster of the previous year, the changes and removals inci- 
 dent to which affected the whole State, yet the work moved 
 on vigorously. There was much local campaigning, and the 
 record of the year was fifty dry towns. 
 
 The decision of Judge Artman, of Indiana, “that the liquor 
 business can have no legal standing since it is dangerous to 
 public morals and public safety” was an inspiration to all, 
 though well understood that the decision must make its slow 
 passage through higher courts to be effective. 
 
 Institutes stimulated department work — renewing activity 
 in many lines. 
 
 The department for Soldiers and Sailors found plenty to do 
 with the large number of men in the military camps. It was 
 felt that the removal of the canteen demands something better 
 in its place. A fund of $300 was raised for the purchase of a 
 library for the Presidio at Monterey, which was formally pre- 
 sented by the State officers. Great boxes of books and maga- 
 zines were supplied to the ships of the navy as they came into 
 the port of San Francisco. In Scientific Temperance Instruc- 
 tion, prize essays in schools were undertaken, and have since 
 become an established feature ; the first State prize being pre- 
 sented to Miss Olive Deyo, of Fresno, at the Convention at 
 Petaluma. 
 
 1908 . 
 
 Prohibition. 
 
 The sewenty-seven days of actual prohibition in San Fran- 
 cisco, after the fire, had been an object lesson not to be lost. 
 There had been no question as to its expediency, — it was the 
 logic of necessity. Nothing less could have maintained the 
 superb order that prevailed in the chaotic city. The proclama- 
 tion had been made and enforced by men with no previous 
 predilection for prohibition. When the saloons reopened the 
 moral effect was conspicuous in the increase of crime. An 
 ordinance was soon passed forbidding bars in grocery stores, 
 and there was a growing hope of better things to be. Early in 
 1908, when a vicious liquor ordinance had been passed by the 
 notoriously infamous Board of Supervisors, the people rose in 
 alarm, and by their insistant demands induced the Mayor to 
 veto it. Miss Chase reported at that meeting hearing one 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 87 
 
 liquor dealer say to another, “this is the beginning of the 
 battle between the ‘wet’ and the ‘dry,’ and no one knows 
 where it will end.” She could have told him how, but not 
 when. 
 
 The Congress at Pacific Grove this year took the form of an 
 Educational Assembly. 
 
 The Annual Convention at San Jose showed a net gain of 
 865 members. The increase is coincident with an unusual 
 amount of field work done by county presidents, institute 
 leaders, and other local workers whose knowledge of their 
 own fields had a practical value. Noted speakers from the 
 east this year were Judge Lindsay, Judge Artman, and Eugene 
 Chafin. 
 
 The National Convention at Denver was near enough to 
 once more enable California to help her own work by having a 
 full delegation there. The Departments of Franchise, Supt. 
 Mrs. P. H. Truax; Unfermented Wine, Mrs. S. M. M. 
 Woodman; School Savings Banks, Miss Sabra A. Finch; and 
 Institutes, Mrs. D. J. Spencer were all awarded special honors 
 in the National reports and the National Prize for the “Tem- 
 perance Essay in High Schools” was awarded to Eugene 
 Foote of Hollister, Calif. All shared in the honors of Jubilee 
 night, and introduced the rallying cry : 
 
 “California, the Golden West, California forever blest ; 
 
 Raise her standard,- — raise it high ! 
 
 California’s going Dry — Dry, Dry, Dry, Dry, 
 
 California’s going Dry !” 
 
 1909. 
 
 Legislation. 
 
 Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, Supt. of Legislation, recorded this as 
 the banner year of her department, and at her request the 
 Corresponding Secretary, Miss Chase, was sent to Sacramento 
 to direct the interests of the W. C. T. U. at the Legislature. 
 The president, Mrs. Dorr, was also in attendance a great part 
 of the session. The “Age of Consent” bill was again introduced 
 at the urgent desire of the W. C. T. U. of Northern California, 
 and the “Marriage Reform” bill under the auspices of South- 
 
88 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 ern California, W. C. T. U. The president, Mrs. Hester Grif- 
 fith, was there, working for both. These were the only bills 
 for which the W. C. T. U. stood sponsor, but its representa- 
 tives combined with others in pushing the Local Option, Sun- 
 day Rest, Direct Legislation, Anti-Gambling and Woman 
 Suffrage bills, and others of minor importance, for never be- 
 fore were so many reform measures under consideration. The 
 Anti-Polygamy bill, having no commercial interest to retard 
 it, went through without opposition. The Anti-Race Track 
 Gambling Law was the moral triumph of the session. The 
 agitation of the others only brought the future success a step 
 nearer. 
 
 A “Four-Mile Limit” law was secured which forbids saloons 
 being opened within a radius of four miles from any construc- 
 tion camp where twenty-five or more men are employed. The 
 “Mile Limit” around the State University was extended to 
 one mile and a half. Not the least important legislation of the 
 year was in local and county ordinances throughout the State, 
 all having an upward trend. 
 
 The Congress of Reforms was this year held at Berkeley, 
 giving Pacific Grove its first opportunity to entertain the state 
 convention. Several important topics were brought out at this 
 Congress which have since grown upon public attention, for 
 instance, the White Slave Traffic and Sex Hygiene; resolu- 
 tions were passed to take steps to secure laws providing for 
 definite instruction in schools on the latter, by special lectures. 
 The discussion of “Economics,” “Suffrage,” and “Direct Leg- 
 islation” by leaders of thought, proved it to be a real “Con- 
 gress of Reforms,” and that the W. C. T. U. was engaged in 
 all. 
 
 Some time before the annual State Fair the state officers 
 sent a protest to the Secretary of the Agricultural Association, 
 against the free service of wine at the approaching Fair. The 
 protest was not heeded, but over against the richly decorated 
 booth of the wine makers, where it was constantly given away 
 in its most alluring aspect, were the White Ribboners with 
 ice-water and literature for all. 
 
 The reports of the year showed a gain in membership of 
 
 647 . 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. ROSE M. FRENCH 
 
 MISS S. M. N. CUMMINGS 
 
 MRS. AUGUSTA C. BAINBRIDGE 
 
 MRS. ALICE E. BRADLEY 
 
 San Francisco 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRP. P. H. TRUAX 
 
 MRS. SUSAX L. LOCKE 
 
 MRS. LUDIE REYNOLDS 
 
 MRS. NELLIE GOODWIN 
 
 San Joaquin 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. ANGIE VAN BUSKIRK 
 
 MRS. EDITH MOULTON 
 
 San Jo aquin 
 
 MRS. SARAH C. HARRY MRS. MARY M. SMITH 
 
 “United in Life and in the Great Beyond’’ 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. EMELINE CAMPBELL 
 
 MRS. C. JI. BALDWIN 
 
 MRS. ELIZABETH D. BIGGS 
 
 MRS. NINA S. SHEPPA 
 
 Solano 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 89 
 
 State Paper Problem. 
 
 The expanding plans of the Convention brought about a 
 Constitutional Amendment requiring sixty-five cents from the 
 one dollar dues of members of local Unions, be paid to the 
 State treasurer — twenty-five cents of which shall pay for the 
 State paper. This had been presented and discussed at two 
 previous Conventions, and was adopted at the third. It has 
 worked well. It automatically secured the payment of dollar 
 dues, and brought the State paper to every member. The 
 weekly issue of the “Ensign” did a splendid part in the devel- 
 opment of the State Union, but after all only reached one- 
 fourth of the membership. The publication resumed after the 
 fire as a monthly, at a subscription price small enough to be 
 too often overlooked, has never had a mailing list equal to 
 one-half of the members. The State paper problem was solved 
 by this amendment, and its efficiency as a means of communi- 
 cation with the whole body of members at once assured. 
 
 A Heroic Life and Death. 
 
 The whole State Union experienced a shock in the tragical 
 death of Miss Isola Kennedy, president of the bi-county of 
 Santa Clara and San Mateo. She was a young woman of 
 unusual promise and much beloved, as evidenced by the office 
 she filled. On the morning of July 5th, she, with two little 
 boys of eight and ten years, drove out to a canyon a few miles 
 from her home, for a day’s outing in the woods. This is one 
 of the most populous counties, from which wild beasts were 
 believed to have disappeared years before. Soon after their 
 lunch Miss Kennedy was horrified to see a mountain lion 
 spring upon one of the boys as he was wading in the creek 
 near by. The child was thrown under the water. Seeing 
 their terrible situation, she rushed to the aid of the helpless 
 children, telling them to run for their lives. The lion turned 
 on her ; the boys could give her no aid, but ran to a camp not 
 far off to give the alarm, while she, prostrate on the ground, 
 fought the enraged beast with a hat pin — her only weapon. 
 When the men from the camp arrived she was still conscious 
 and able to direct them where to stand to aim, so as to make 
 sure of the lion’s instant death. The claws of the beast were 
 imbedded so deeply in her body that his death struggle would 
 
90 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 have caused her death also. One shot in the head was in- 
 stantly fatal. Her clothing was in shreds, one ear torn off, 
 and her left hand and wrist so far down the creature’s throat 
 that his jaws had to be pried open to free her. She lingered 
 through nine weeks of terrible suffering, borne with wonder- 
 ful cheerfulness ; the little boy she tried to save passed away 
 before her. 
 
 A life given so heroically to save a child, made its appeal to 
 other children, and at the suggestion of Miss Anna A. Gordon, 
 the World’s Supt. of the Loyal Temperance Legion, the chil- 
 dren of that Branch of the W. C. T. U. raised a fund by which 
 a monument was erected to the memory of Miss Kennedy, in 
 the Mount Hope cemetery at Morgan Hill near her home. 
 
 The sympathy of friends was variously expressed, and 
 among members of the union took the form of contributions 
 amounting to $380 toward the expenses of her illness. The 
 greater part of it was given by Santa Clara county where she 
 was best known and fondly loved. 
 
 1910. 
 
 The annals of this and the last few years are remarkable, in 
 their evidence of steady development of all departments, as if 
 all were being brought up to a uniform proficiency and a thor- 
 oughness of organization ready for great movements. What 
 the coming movements might be was indicated in the growing 
 earnestness of Purity and Franchise, and departments most 
 related to these. 
 
 The Congress of Reforms met this year in San Francisco, 
 when all these subjects were forcibly presented by strong and 
 able men and women. 
 
 The Convention at Berkeley followed, emphasizing the 
 same lines and their relation to public education. The air was 
 rife with a sense of preparation for advancement. 
 
 Legislation in counties and towns was going on with in- 
 creased vigor, and elections under the Precinct Local Option 
 Law were making dry the waste places, with the hope of mak- 
 ing the map all white. 
 
 Scientific Instruction. 
 
 The Department of Scientific Temperance Instruction did 
 splendid work. Its superintendent, Mrs. S. E. Ayers, and the 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 91 
 
 department lecturer, Mrs. A. C. Bainbridge, between them 
 addressed ten “Teachers’ Institutes” and the latter reached 
 over 10,000 pupils by addresses in the public schools. Nearly 
 $500 was given in prizes for essays in the schools by state, 
 county, and local unions, and the National Intercollegiate 
 Prize of $100 won last year by Mr. A. C. Peterson, an under- 
 graduate of the “College of the Pacific,” was taken this year 
 by Mr. J. D. Hauser of “Stanford University.” 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Purity Conference. Red Light Bill. Suffrage Campaign. 
 
 Victory. 
 
 A notable Purity Conference was held in San Francisco late 
 in October. Among other well known speakers, Mr. John D. 
 Hammond of Iowa, told of the “Red Light” Abatement and 
 Injunction Law” of that state. The Corresponding Secretary, 
 Miss Anna E. Chase, Mrs. Mary F. Gilley, and Mrs. A. M. 
 McCroskey were present and deeply impressed by his state- 
 ments. At the close of his address they had an earnest inter- 
 view with him. They siezed upon the idea as the thing to be 
 pushed in California. Miss Chase and Mrs. McCroskey went to 
 Piedmont the next morning to lay the matter at once before 
 the Legislative Superintendent, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, who 
 recognized the peculiar merits of the law and the importance 
 of immediately taking up the matter. Returning to the city. 
 Miss Chase again interviewed Mr. Hammond and secured his 
 promise to come and help if he should be needed. She then 
 presented the subject by letter to the President, Mrs. Dorr, 
 who being at her home in San Jose, was unable to attend the 
 Conference or see Mr. Hammond. 
 
 Mrs. Dorr was equally impressed, and felt it to be an imper- 
 ative call for action. She realized the tremendous task before 
 her, but with faith in Divine leading and W. C. T. U. follow- 
 ing, she began to lay plans to obtain the law. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Moffett of Southern California promised to pay, 
 and in due time, paid Mr. Hammond’s traveling expenses for 
 the round trip from Iowa to secure his aid. 
 
 1911 . 
 
 The January executive meeting, responded cordially to Mrs. 
 Dorr’s presentation of plans, and the Red Light, Local Op- 
 tion, and Anti-cigarette bills w'ere made the special legislative 
 objects. Mrs. Dorr and Miss Chase repaired to Sacramento, 
 Mr. Hammond came at call, lectured in many cities and did 
 excellent work at the capital. 
 
 The publication of large amounts of literature was required, 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 93 
 
 circular letters soliciting funds for printing were sent far and 
 wide, with a response that gave but little more than $100 to 
 open the campaign, but day by day met every recurring obli- 
 gation, amounting at the time the Legislature adjourned to 
 $1000, the last $200 of which was donated by Mrs. Annie K. 
 Bidwell. These were days of both faith and works, nor was 
 the element of sacrifice lacking. The bill being before the 
 Legislature, forced attention, and fixed public interest in it, so 
 that its lessons were strikingly effective on minds to which 
 the whole subject had been unthought of before. The bill was 
 introduced by Hon. G. W. Wyllie and made strong friends for 
 itself from the start, otherwise it would have been smothered 
 in the Committee of Public Morals. At one time that fate was 
 so imminent that it was saved only by the signal from Mrs. 
 Dorr that brought down on that Committee an avalanche of 
 letters that secured a hearing for the bill. 
 
 The City Prosecutor from Los Angeles, where the segrega- 
 tion of vice had been abolished, came to give his testimony to 
 the value of that course, corroborated by a letter from the 
 Chief of Police, and with the southern city’s experience, and 
 the scientific aspect of the vice question presented by Dr. 
 David Starr Jordan, it was recommended to pass. Interest in 
 the bill increased and so did the devices by which it could be 
 held back, and the bill was simply not permitted to come to 
 vote. However it was felt that the preliminary work neces- 
 sary to its future success was done. Franklin Hichborn said 
 of this bill, “When once the evils aimed at in this measure are 
 understood, it cannot be defeated.” That is the ruling thought 
 in all the efforts of the W. C. T. U., else its ardor might cool, 
 or its zeal abate. It has always the assurance of ultimate 
 success. 
 
 This legislative experience served as the beginning of an 
 educational campaign preparatory to the next session. 
 
 The “Local Option Bill” of 1909 had a similar fate, and was 
 lost by tricks of parliamentary practice, but this year its 
 friends stood firmly together, and succeeded in enacting a 
 workable law, by which numerous dry victories have been 
 achieved. The law makes its unit a supervisorial district; 
 while the best the state has had, still better is desired, and at 
 this writing (1913) a movement to amend by making a county 
 
94 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 unit has begun. Our women lent their aid to various other 
 measures, notably the “Eight Hour Law” for women, the law 
 providing for Jail Matrons where there are women prisoners, 
 a Child Labor law, and Direct Legislation. All were enacted. 
 
 By the special efforts of the W. C. T. U. an appropriation of 
 $4000 was secured to enable the Superintendent of Public In- 
 struction, Prof. Edward Hyatt, to send a series of Quarterly 
 “Bulletins on Health Conservation,” treating on the effect of 
 alcohol and tobacco, to every public school teacher in the 
 state. 
 
 Suffrage. 
 
 At the opening of the session the “State Suffrage Associa- 
 tion” sent a strong delegation to Sacramento, establishing 
 headquarters at a leading hotel, and began an active cam- 
 paign. The Republican Party had pledged itself at its last 
 state convention, to submit a Constitutional Amendment for 
 Equal Suffrage, and saw now that its pledge must be kept. 
 There was no object in dodging it. The contemptuous treat- 
 ment of the last session was forgotten and before this was half 
 gone, the bill had passed the Senate by a vote of thirty-three 
 for, to five against, and the Assembly by sixty-six to twelve. 
 
 The Suffrage women retired victorious from the field to 
 make ready for the stirring campaign to follow. 
 
 The W. C. T. U. had worked in perfect harmony, co-operat- 
 ing with them but having other interests, remained at the 
 capital until the close of the session. 
 
 Plans*for the campaign took shape rapidly. The experience 
 of 1896 was immensely valuable. It was fully recognized now, 
 that all evil forces would be allied to oppose “Votes for Wom- 
 en”; personal views, social distinctions, and religious affilia- 
 tions were alike ignored, and the great issue revealed itself as 
 a line of battle upon either side of which were aligned its 
 friends or foes. “There was good fighting all along the line.” 
 There was good generalship, too. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Lowe Watson had come to the presidency 
 of the California Equal Suffrage Association in time to lead on 
 to victory, a woman of rare gifts, and rich experience, a born 
 orator, a preacher who had for many years ministered to a 
 large congregation in San Francisco, a writer, organizer. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 95 
 
 leader, and speaker, the power of whose rich voice and ideal- 
 ism of whose thought lifted her audience to the plane of her 
 own altruistic vision. She was a White-Ribboner, though 
 more widely known in other conspicuous activities of her busy 
 life. 
 
 The Suffrage Association established headquarters in the 
 Pacific Building in the heart of the business life of San Fran- 
 cisco, and it became at once a busy hive of well systematized 
 industry. The W. C. T. U. Headquarters was equally so, all 
 working in co-operation and unison. It was agreed to leave 
 to the W. C. T. U. the special work of enlisting churches and 
 all distinctively religious and philanthropic bodies. With an 
 admirable sense of fitness, the individual woman everywhere 
 adapted herself to the task nearest to her hand. The thorough 
 organization of the W. C. T. U. was a great factor; a local 
 union anywhere was a center of activity. Had not Sarah M. 
 Severance had them in training for twenty-five years? Her 
 voice or pen had never rested. Her weekly page in the “En- 
 sign” had been an effective educator, and her supply of litera- 
 ture going from her home as well as from headquarters had 
 been a flowing fountain. To her unremitting, persistent 
 WORK as well as to her irresistible logic, eloquent speech, and 
 absolute devotion, the whole state is indebted today. She had 
 been hard at it for many years before, but recognizing the 
 W. C. T. U. as the means by which women would be made to 
 desire the ballot, because of a specific object to be achieved by 
 it, she became its Superintendent of Franchise in 1886. Though 
 withdrawn by ill health for a time, long enough for responsibi- 
 lities to be taken by others, returning strength enabled her to 
 aid in the campaign in Santa Clara County, speak to many au- 
 diences, participate in the Victory, and see the fruit of her life- 
 long labor. 
 
 Mrs. Alice Park had for some years been chairman of litera- 
 ture for the Suffrage Association, following largely the plans 
 Miss Severance had used so well, both having brought out 
 original publications in regard to “Women and California 
 Laws,” and both incessantly circulating up-to-date literature. 
 
 Mrs. Rose M. French, an ex-president of San Francisco 
 county, W. C. T. U., took charge of this most important work 
 for the Suffrage Association. “Under her able direction, edit- 
 
96 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 ing, and supervising, nearly three million pages of printed 
 matter were sent out.”* It was something to see that busy 
 hive, a committee arranging lecture routes in the inner office, 
 the long table in the public room loaded with packages await- 
 ing the express, women preparing more, every corner filled 
 with the desks of other busy women, and yet others coming 
 and going, while reporters, mail carriers, and messenger boys, 
 each with an errand, added to the picturesque effect, and the 
 sense of something doing. 
 
 It is believed that nearly every voter in the state was 
 reached with suffrage literature, an incredibly stupendous 
 task, in which practically all organizations of women united. 
 Systematic house to house visitation aided greatly in the pro- 
 digious undertaking. The Great Register of every community 
 was studied and no name was purposely overlooked. 
 
 The W. C. T. U. Headquarters presented the same scene 
 with a difference. It was as distinctly a mail order house, 
 from which literature was constantly pouring out, but had at 
 the same time the numerous and divergent interests of a great 
 organization to keep in operation, but all subservient for the 
 time to this dominating issue. It would be impossible to seg- 
 regate the work of the W. C. T. U. in this campaign, for all 
 wrought together with an eye single to victory. The W. C. T. 
 U. had had years of training for such a time as this, and the 
 campaign itself was training other thousands for civic duties 
 yet to come. 
 
 Miss Anna Chase was in constant demand as a speaker in 
 all the bay cities, and at the summer executive, the president 
 of the Suffrage Association formally asked for her services in 
 the interior of the state. An experienced substitute relieved 
 her of duty at Headquarters, and she gave five weeks of ardu- 
 ous work, speaking from automobiles wherever a crowd gath- 
 ered, from Court House steps, in churches or halls, or from 
 a soap-box. It became a whirlwind campaign. Mrs. Watson 
 with her seventy years upon her, made an auto trip of twenty- 
 three days up the Sacramento Valley, speaking every day to 
 large audiences. Many other women and men gave freely of 
 their time and talents. The high moral and intellectual stand- 
 
 How We won the Vote in California. By Selina Solomons. 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. R. M. HUTTON 
 
 MRS. GERTRUDE L. STONE 
 
 MRS. MARY DICKSON HOTLE 
 
 MRS. D. S DICKSON 
 
 Sonoma 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. S. I\I. AVyi^RIE 
 
 MRS. SARA E. AYRES 
 
 MRS. ADELINE M. GATES 
 
 MRS. H. B. LADD 
 
 Santa Clara 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MISS ISOLA KENNEDY 
 Santa Clara 
 
 MRS. HANNAH BEAN 
 First Superintendent Purity 
 
 MRS. EFFIE D. WHITMAN MRS. ELLA A. WHITMAN 
 
 Santa Clara All Prominent Successively in 
 
 Three Counties 
 
 MRS. N. T. SANDERS 
 An Honored Veteran and Her 
 Daughters 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. E. C. LAUGENOUR 
 
 MRS. S. A. HUSTOX 
 
 MRS ALICE SCARLET 
 Yolo 
 
 MRS. MARY BOSWORTH CLARK 
 Secretary Young People's Branch 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 
 
 97 
 
 ing of the volunteer speakers was a striking element of success. 
 It is not too much to say that nothing heretofore had ever so 
 unified the women of California, or developed in them a sense 
 of civic responsibility. While the lines of demarcation were 
 sharply drawn, there was a marked absence of acrimonious 
 feeling, and even the men opposing the principle admired the 
 gallant fight the women were making. 
 
 Victory. 
 
 The portentous tenth day of October brought the struggle 
 to its glorious climax. Never were the issues of battles awaited 
 with more intensity of interest. News from centers of popula- 
 tion came first, and on the eleventh, the amendment was pre- 
 sumably lost. All vainly were the wise words of Horace 
 Greely recalled. “The rural districts will save the country.” 
 
 The state convention opened at Stockton on the afternoon 
 of the twelfth. Delegates from all sections were converging 
 toward Stockton, ready to begin the next campaign, but at 
 successive railroad stations later telegrams more and more, 
 brought cheering news, and when Stockton was reached at 
 noon, only a grand doxology could give due expression to the 
 glad and grateful hearts of the women, and the natural order 
 of procedure appeared to call for a Hallelujah Chorus. 
 
 When the fast growing crowd came together at their meet- 
 ing place, and the president’s gavel fell, her beaming smile 
 anticipated her salute: “FELLOW CITIZENS,” and every 
 one felt the new dignity that had fallen upon herself. Tears of 
 joy bedewed the eyes of veteran toilers who had not dared to 
 hope to see this day, and to all there came the hope of the yet 
 greater joy, when the desire of their hearts should be realized 
 in the overthrow of the liquor traffic. Just a year had elapsed 
 since the President of the National W. C. T. U., Mrs. Lillian 
 M. N. Stevens, had made her Proclamation of National Con- 
 stitutional Prohibition in 1920, and that vision was now re- 
 vealed to their waiting souls. 
 
 “Full many a time and oft” had these women conferred to- 
 gether when only difficulties and possible disaster appeared in 
 their way, but none had ever interrupted or retarded their 
 advancing steps ; nor did the joy of triumph, even, divert them 
 from the plodding routine of duty. The usual evening recep- 
 
98 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 tion afforded a safety valve, for the joy and gratitude that must 
 find expression, and next morning the convention was called 
 to order by the President as if it had never been anything less 
 than an important body of citizens. The opening devotionals 
 led by Mrs. Mattie Hamilton, had the appropriate topic, 
 “Power bestowed by God.” 
 
 Mrs. Dorr presented the Honorary President, Mrs. Sturte- 
 vant-Peet, who moved that a telegram be sent to Mrs. Eliza- 
 beth Lowe Watson, President of the Suffrage Association, to 
 read, “The horse and his rider he hath thrown into the sea.” 
 Ex. 15.21. A telegram was also sent to the pioneer Suffragist, 
 Miss Sarah M. Severance. A pretty feature was the introduc- 
 tion of the convention page, Miss Frances Willard Clarke, on 
 whose infant arm Frances Willard had tied the White Ribbon 
 with the wish that her little hand might some day cast a ballot. 
 The First Vice President, Mrs. Reichenbach, moved a tele- 
 gram be sent to the Colorado convention then in session to 
 read, “Whom the Lord hath made free, are free indeed.” 
 
 These little amenities being over, business proceeded. The 
 agitation of the “Red Light Bill” had created a demand for 
 more light on the subject, and the scientific addresses bearing 
 on that measure were notable. The educational campaign was 
 steadily waged during the whole year, and all occasions siezed 
 to bring it to public attention. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Transfer of Two Counties to Southern California. Red Light 
 Campaign. 
 
 The inconvenient bigness of California, as well as its rugged 
 topography has made it extremely difficult and in many cases 
 impossible, to reach entire communities that for this reason 
 must remain in their relation to the state work very much like 
 foreign missions. For instance, Inyo County, lying on the 
 eastern slope of the highest range of the Sierras, has until very 
 recently been accesible to the western slope, only by a round- 
 about approach through the State of Nevada. In consequence 
 it was not until 1910 when Mrs. D. J. Spencer as a National 
 Superintendent, went there in the interest of “Work Among 
 Indians” and did some organizing, that an accredited W. C. 
 T. U. worker ever visited the county. A railroad has since 
 been opened connecting that county with Los Angeles, and 
 the best interests of the work could only be met by transfer- 
 ring Inyo, to the jurisdiction of Southern California. The 
 same conditions in another part of the State, had made it ex- 
 pedient at its own request, to take over San Luis Obispo 
 county from Southern California in 1896. The construction 
 of the coast railroads had made communication with the 
 south less difficult, and by mutual consent both counties were 
 transferred to the W. C. T. U. of the south. 
 
 It had already been proposed to have a written history of 
 the California W. C. T. U., and the president had appointed 
 Mrs. D. J. Spencer, Historian. She was requested by this 
 convention to prepare and bring out the work, to be financed 
 by the state union. Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, Mrs. A. E. Bradley, 
 Mrs. L. P. Williams, Mrs. E. W. Earish and the Historian, 
 were made the History Committee. 
 
 A Grand Diamond Medal Contest was held at which Miss 
 Zoe Redden won the medal and was awarded a diploma for 
 having completed the entire Contest Course by medals won 
 in the State. 
 
 The banner for the highest percentage of increased mem- 
 bership, was won by Siskiyou county ; banners for the depart- 
 
100 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 merits of Institutes, and for Social Meetings by Stanislaus ; 
 Young People’s Branch, Press, and Union-Signal, by Santa 
 Clara; the Loyal Temperance Legion banner by Pacific Grove ; 
 and the Contest Star by Selma. 
 
 Fresno, San Francisco, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Butte, 
 Sacramento, and Solano counties each gained members suffi- 
 cient to give them honors on the Jubilee program with a flight 
 gain for the whole state. 
 
 1912. 
 
 The convention met at Sacramento on the first anniversary 
 of the adoption of the Suffrage Amendment, and marked a 
 great development of the individual women, as well as the 
 work they were doing. There was plainly a different point of 
 view, and quite another atmosphere ; and the strange condi- 
 tion was that there was nothing strange about it. So naturally 
 had the duties of citizenship been assumed by women, that 
 there seemed to be nothing new in the situation, every act had 
 greater importance because of it. Public interests were more 
 generally discussed. The impending elections at which many 
 constitutional amendments were submitted, were debated 
 with a degree of intelligence and breadth of vision highly 
 creditable to the new voters. 
 
 The educational campaign for the Red Light Bill had been 
 pushed with vigor and an enormous quantity of literature 
 printed and gratituously distributed. Valuable leaflets were 
 written by men of expert knowledge, on “Purity” by Judge 
 Murasky ; “The Red Plague,” Dr. David Starr Jordan ; “The 
 Relation of Venereal Diseases to Vice,” Dr. John C. Spencer, 
 Professor in the Medical Department of the University of 
 California; “Objections Answered,” Christopher Ruess, Ju- 
 venile Court Officer; “Feasibility and Worthiness of the Red 
 Light Bill,” Rev. O. P. Bell ; “Segregation Policy Abandoned,” 
 Dr. David Starr Jordan ; Clifford G. Roe, Secretary American 
 Vigilance Association; Chester Rowell, Editor Fresno Repub- 
 lican, and Franklin Hichborn, Publicist; “Testimony from 
 Iowa” by the Mayor of Des Moines. Special leaflets by C. A. 
 S. Frost, attorney; Rev. Dr. Bovard, Dr. R. Cadwalader, As- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 101 
 
 semblyman L. D. Bohnett, and others. Mass meeting's were 
 addressed by these and other able speakers. 
 
 While this matter had clear right of way, taking easy pre- 
 cedence, routine affairs were by no means neglected, the gen- 
 eral advance was unbroken. Apropos to new responsibilities, 
 the Supt. of Legislation, Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, early in the 
 year brought out a little “Catechism of Civil Government in 
 California,” which met an urgent need in clubs, and other or- 
 ganizations of women, exhausting three editions in its first 
 year. 
 
 Proportional Representation. 
 
 With new responsibilities and a great desire for a “square 
 deal,” the subject of Proportional Representation was intro- 
 duced in this convention, and the Directors of the Incorpora- 
 tion of the California W. C. T. U. elected by that method as a 
 practical demonstration of the system. Its justice and fair 
 dealing were so evident that it was voted to inaugurate an 
 educational campaign on that line. 
 
 An important amendment to the Constitution was made as 
 follows : 
 
 “ARTICLE V. Section 3. Provision shall be made by every local 
 union, for representation at state convention, by one delegate, pref- 
 erably the president. Blanks shall be prepared on which said dele- 
 gate, shall write amount of railroad or steamer fare, for coming to 
 convention, with one third added for return (the usual convention 
 rate) and her name. These shall be taken up by the treasurer and an 
 average made of the whole. Those whose traveling expense shall be 
 less than the average, shall pay to the treasurer enough to equal the 
 amount of the average. Those whose traveling expense shall be 
 more, shall receive a rebate reducing it to the amount of the average 
 sum. This plan is for only one delegate, and does not change the num- 
 ber of delegates; all others are subject to the usual rate. The enter- 
 taining union or unions shall be exempt from this apportionment.” 
 
 The National Convention meeting so near, at Portland, 
 Oregon, this state was again fully represented in the National 
 counsels. 
 
 The Red Light campaign only halted for conventions, and 
 went on more and more vigorously. The president was fully 
 occcupied in placing the able speakers who volunteered their 
 aid. 
 
102 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 1913. 
 
 Women’s Council. 
 
 The New Year opened with a sense of impending conflict. 
 Mrs. Dorr and Miss Chase were on the ground, when the 
 Legislature convened. Other organizations of women were 
 also strongly represented and a “Women’s Legislative Coun- 
 cil” was immediately organized with Headquarters where 
 Conferences could be held as occasion required. Social Clubs 
 and Reform Societies alike made up its membership. Every 
 one had a special measure to promote, but with one consent 
 all agreed to push the moral interests first ; material consider- 
 ations must wait on the moral, and with this definite plan, all 
 worked together in the utmost harmony. 
 
 “The Red Light Bill” was introduced January 16th, in the 
 Assembly by Hon. L. D. Bohnett and in the Senate by Hon. 
 E. D. Grant. A hearing was granted for it before a Joint 
 Committee on Public Morals, of both Houses, not like that of 
 the last session in a small room which easily held all who 
 cared to attend, but in the Senate Chamber before a large au- 
 dience. Even the newspapers gave it vastly more importance. 
 “The Examiner” characterized it as a “bill with teeth.” In 
 vain its opponents endeavored to extract the teeth. No less 
 than seventeen amendments were attempted, but every one 
 was fought to a finish, and it finally passed in exactly its orig- 
 inal form ; but not without a valiant contest. 
 
 Never before were legislators so besieged with letters and 
 telegrams, for never before had there been a constituency of 
 women. Men were reminded that friends and foes alike 
 would be remembered for their attitude regarding this bill, 
 and men once opposed to it, declared themselves compelled by 
 their supporters to vote for it. One said, “I might as well be 
 killed by the Royal Arch (the Liquor Dealers’ Association) as 
 by the women. I’ll stand by the women.” This was an invin- 
 cible argument. 
 
 By a new law, this legislature was divided by a mid-session 
 recess of a month, giving time for members to confer with 
 constituents. It was a busy month for all. During this month, 
 twenty-three counties were reached by speakers on this sub- 
 ject. Senators Grant, Jones and Kehoe, and Assemblymen 
 Bohnett and Nelson did platform work for it during the re- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 103 
 
 cess. Rev. Mrs. B. C. Washburn and Miss Chase were in the 
 field every day. Many ministers lent their aid, besides the 
 speakers who had for months been doing their utmost. Of 
 these special remembrance is due to Franklin Hichborn, and 
 Christopher Ruess, the latter a public official whose duties 
 were exacting, gave every Sunday, within distances that per- 
 mitted him to reach his place of duty on Monday morning, 
 and on week-day evenings in any of the bay cities. Their sac- 
 rifice of time and personal convenience was a rich gift to the 
 cause. Dr. David Starr Jordan gave many effective addresses. 
 It is safe to say that no measure ever brought before a Cali- 
 fornia legislature, had ever been so well ventilated. Public 
 sentiment was vastly educated by these means. 
 
 The bill came to a vote in the Assembly March 20th, and 
 passed by a count of sixty-two for, to seventeen against ; in 
 the Senate March 28th, and passed by a vote of twenty-nine 
 to eleven. 
 
 It was approved and signed by Governor Hiram W. John- 
 son, April seventh. 
 
 The pen with which this bill was signed, was presented by 
 Gov. Johnson to Mrs. Sara J. Dorr, president of the Woman’s 
 Christian Temperance Union, as a public acknowledgement of 
 its maternity of the “Red Light Injunction and Abatement 
 Law.” 
 
 The law is to take effect August 10th, unless suspended by 
 a petition for a Referendum before that date. 
 
 While others helped freely and splendidly in this achieve- 
 ment, it will be recollected as a triumph of the W. C. T. U. 
 organization. It had so many outposts of faithful workers, on 
 whose hearts it was a burden. 
 
 The W. C. T. U. raised and used $3,500 for this purpose, 
 printed 300,000 leaflets, which if reduced to pages would ex- 
 ceed a million, paid $300 for postage and express, $1000 for 
 expenses of speakers, and many other incidental expenses, 
 fully demonstrating its ability to deal with a difficult proposi- 
 tion. The end is not yet. The coming contest will be the Ref- 
 erendum or appeal to the people. 
 
 The Red Light Bill was the grand climax of legislative ef- 
 fort, but many bills, any one of which would have been at any 
 
104 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 previous session, considered worthy of all praise, were adopted 
 now almost as a matter of course, since women were an inte- 
 gral influence in legislation. 
 
 “The Age of Consent” for which the W. C. T. U. began to 
 work in 1887 would have passed in 1911, had it not been side- 
 tracked to give something else the right of way, but there was 
 no setting it aside in 1913. A bill for “Equal Guardianship of 
 Children,” one holding the fathers of illegitimate offspring 
 responsible for their support, an appropriation to establish a 
 “Girls’ Training Home,” “Minimum Wage for Women,” “Ex- 
 tension of Eight Hour Law to Women,” “Marriage Examina- 
 tion,” and other good bills became laws. 
 
 A meeting of representatives of “The Federated Clubs,” 
 “Church Federation,” “Civic League,” “Mothers’ Congress,” 
 “Anti-Saloon League,” “Sunday School Association,” and sev- 
 eral other societies and individuals has been held at the state 
 Headquarters of the W. C. T. U., at which plans were made 
 and an organization effected by which all these and many 
 more will co-operate in the campaign in support of the Red 
 Light Law under the referendum. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 YOUNG PEOPLE’S BRANCH. 
 
 The Young People’s Branch of today was prefigured by the 
 earlier societies of young men and women. Of these none in 
 this state reached the importance of “The Temperance Cadets” 
 of Oakland. 
 
 Boys under fourteen were organized as “Junior Cadets” and 
 met afternoons. Those above that age, made up the larger and 
 stronger society, a splendid body of youths organized and sup- 
 ported by the Oakland union, with Mrs. Sarah C. Borland, 
 Superintendent. The triple pledge, against alcohol, tobacco, 
 and profanity, was the basic principle. Instruction on these 
 lines was varied by military drill, given by a member of the 
 National Guard. The boys met weekly, in the evening, and 
 entered with such spirit into the work, that they not only in- 
 creased rapidly, but better yet, held on steadily for ten years. 
 Strictly military forms were used with appropriate uniforms, 
 and perfect order maintained. Their musical ability was 
 brought out in frequent social functions, arranged by the 
 union. They had a Glee Club so proficient as to be a social 
 attraction, sometimes giving concerts, and assisting in the 
 School of Methods at Pacific Grove two seasons, when camp- 
 ing there. 
 
 Companies A, B, C, and D, were organized in Oakland, East 
 Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda, and occasionally held com- 
 petitive drills. A regiment was made up of these and some 
 other companies in other localities, but on account of distance 
 from each other could not work to advantage as such. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be given to Mrs. Borland, who 
 with unflagging devotion mothered the Cadets. They called 
 her “Mother Carey,” and through all the ten years she threw 
 herself unreservedly into the work. One of the Cadets writing 
 now, tells of “her tireless energy, ready sympathy, and thor- 
 ough understanding of that complicated machine, a BOY, all 
 of which went to make her work a success. Without excep- 
 tion every boy who belonged to one of these companies re- 
 
106 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 ceived an uplift which he could not have had in any other 
 organization at that time.” Another writes, “Of all the boys 
 I can remember who belonged to our company, every one is a 
 temperance man. There were others outside our ranks, who 
 lived better lives because of their association with the Cadets. 
 Mrs. Borland writes, “No matter where they go or how long 
 gone, when they return they never fail to look up old com- 
 rades and “Mother Carey.” The work did not seem very much 
 in doing, but who shall measure results?” 
 
 At several other places temporary companies were formed. 
 One of the Oakland Cadets was a student whose home was 
 in New Mexico. On his return he organized a company there. 
 
 Mrs. Clare O. Southard was an able coadjutor of Mrs. 
 Borland. She and her husband. Dr. W. F. Southard, were 
 members of the first Board of Directors of “The Temperance 
 Cadets.” 
 
 Coincident with the Cadets were the “Young Woman’s 
 Christian Temperance Unions.” An especially fine work was 
 done in Oakland where it was mothered by Mrs. Southard. 
 They co-operated with the Cadets, being naturally comple- 
 mentary to them, making a strong social force that popularized 
 the principles they represented. 
 
 These unions were briefly called the “Y’s.” The first was 
 organized in East Oakland in 1884. In 1885 San Francisco, 
 Oakland, Antioch, and Haywards followed, in 1886 Grass Val- 
 ley, Hollister, lone, Nevada City, Napa, Petaluma, San Jose, 
 Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Berkeley. Twenty-eight “Y’s” 
 were reported in 1887 and thirty-four in 1888. 
 
 An organizer was one night asked a question by a miner in 
 the audience, saying, “A man under ground told me today that 
 there is a union of a hundred girls in Grass Valley who will 
 have nothing to do with a man that drinks. Is that true?” 
 She proudly verified the statement, adding “there are 139, all 
 over seventeen.” The man’s response came with strong em- 
 phasis ; “I wish they would do that here,” a tribute alike to the 
 value and far reaching force of their influence. 
 
 The climax of Young Women’s work was in 1888. The de- 
 clining membership was not so much due to loss of interest as 
 to the fact that the Christian Endeavor societies and other 
 young people’s societies, then first organized in the various 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 107 
 
 churches doing the same work. “Young Woman’s Work” was 
 a distinct department of which Mrs. S. G. Chamberlain was 
 the first Superintendent and during her three years’ term its 
 greatest success was reached. Conditions made progress more 
 difficult for those who followed, Mrs. H. V. Brownell, Miss 
 Winnie Morris, Mrs. Jessie B. Nevins, and Mrs. Emily Webb 
 Giesey. 
 
 In conformity with the National Woman’s Christian Tem- 
 perance Union this department became in 1900, the “Young 
 People’s Branch,” having membership of both sexes and 
 broader plans of work. Miss Mabel Sabelman was the first 
 Secretary, followed after a vacancy of a few years by Mrs. 
 Alice Newton in 1905. In 1908 Miss Foneta Chase assumed 
 its care until 1910, when Mrs. Mary Bosworth Clarke took 
 charge, she was drawn into another line, and was followed 
 by Mrs. Ethel Estes Stephenson, the present incumbent. 
 
 The Loyal Temperance Legion. 
 
 The Juvenile department was the forerunner of the 
 “Legion.” It was reported in 1885 by Mrs. Elizabeth W. 
 Parish. Plainly it was a paramount object, and everywhere 
 the unions began work for the children, but each seemed to 
 act on its own initiative, for as yet general plans had not de- 
 veloped nor had there been adopted a literature for children. 
 Some of these juvenile societies were called “Temperance 
 Bands,” “Bands of Hope,” “Silver Star Cadets,” “True Blue 
 Cadets,” or “Juvenile Unions,” but all did good work. In ad- 
 dition to these there appeared in the next year, “The Temper- 
 ance Guards,” and “The Stars of Hope.” At the seventh state 
 convention, the “Juvenile Union” of Grass Valley reported 
 having entered on its ninth year, antedating the state union 
 by two years. After two years of splendid work, Mrs. Parish 
 took up other lines and was succeeded by Mrs. Nellie B. Ey- 
 ster, who held the position eleven years. During this long 
 term a better organization was effected under the uniform 
 name and system of the “Loyal Temperance Legion,” with a 
 fine course of instruction prepared by the National Union 
 supplemented by literature brought out by the superintendent. 
 The course of study included, besides the primary teaching, a 
 series of lessons for the Senior Loyal Temperance Legion. In 
 
108 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 the changes incidental to the development of the “Young 
 People’s Branch,’’ the Senior Legion -was merged into that 
 Branch, leaving the L. T. L. distinctly juvenile. Mrs. Alice 
 Hyde was the next superintendent. In 1900 the name of Mrs. 
 Alice Bowman appears as Secretary, indicating that the Loyal 
 Legion had also become a Branch of the W. C. T. U. After 
 four years of excellent service she retired, and this important 
 office was vacant one year, when Mrs. Mary F. Gilley, a wom- 
 an who must have been foreordained for this special purpose, 
 was elected and is still ably filling the position. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE EVOLUTION OF DEPARTMENTS. 
 
 Nothing has more impressed the compiler of these pages 
 than the originality of ideas and methods employed. How- 
 ever commonplace they may now appear, they were all new 
 once, and every step taken was on untried ground. The work 
 was undertaken from a deep sense of moral obligation, with- 
 out regard to model or precedent. Not more truly were the 
 men of ’49 and the early fifties pioneers, than the women who 
 two decades later instituted a movement in the west, than 
 which none has been of loftier purpose or more substantial 
 character. Granted that similar proceedings had begun in the 
 East ; the east and west were far apart then, and the women 
 of the west ventured upon the unknown when they met to 
 organize the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, but the 
 vest has held its own, and strikes hands now with the east 
 and the world, in the general advance of the age. 
 
 An eastern writer says, “It is wholly safe to claim that the 
 Woman’s Christian Temperance Union has been the wide- 
 browed, strong-handed, sure-footed pioneer that led Ameri- 
 ca’s, if not the World’s womanhood to the unclaimed but 
 rightful suffrages that lay waiting to her hand.” Miss Willard 
 in her annual address of 1880 refers to the local unions as be- 
 ing “fitted incidentally to furnish incitement to noble enter- 
 prises closely related to our work, in which women who will 
 not as yet engage in our direct temperance endeavor would 
 gladly employ their steadily arousing energies,” and this seems 
 like a prophecy of the work of women’s clubs, that has fol- 
 lowed so closely in the way the W. C. T. U. has led, that it 
 would be hard to find a single activity of club life, that has not 
 first been exploited in these departments. 
 
 1'he available records of the beginnings are meager, but 
 show a sifting each year of the work of the last. Committees 
 were named in those years for everything, with the apparent 
 intent of having as many localities represented in each as pos- 
 sible. With the wide distances involved, this was a cumbrous 
 
no 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 and difficult plan, but broad foundations were laid, and when 
 Miss Willard made her memorable tour in 1883, new light 
 dawned ; the increase of unions brought many within touch of 
 others, and her suggestion of departments with individual 
 superintendents must have been promptly acted on, for in that 
 year Dr. C. Annette Buckel was made Superintendent of Hy- 
 giene, Miss M. E. Chase, of Education; Mrs. Thomas Varney, 
 of Relative Statistics, and Mrs. M. E. Congdon, of Text Books 
 in Schools and Libraries. 
 
 There is no record of the creation of departments or ap- 
 pointment of superintendents but at the next convention ten 
 su])erintendents made glowing reports of vigorous work done 
 in their respective departments. Scanning the lists of these 
 frcm year to year the marvellous versatility of the women 
 evidences itself. The same names appear in the most widely 
 different lines of effort and with equal facility they applied 
 themselves to any specialty to which they might be appointed, 
 though the tendency has been to develop strong specialists by 
 long experience in one department. It is not unusual to find a 
 woman, superintendent of one department in the local union, 
 another in the county, and yet another in the state, with the 
 consequence that they became thoroughly equipped at all 
 points. 
 
 The departments will be considered in the order in which 
 they were adopted by the state union. Two, in the nature of 
 things became Branches because they represented member- 
 ship. 
 
 Hygiene and Heredity. 
 
 Dr. C. Annette Buckel was made Superintendent of Hygiene 
 in 1883 and at once gave force and impetus to the subject. Her 
 instruction in a series of lessons, leaflets and lectures was very 
 valuable. The demands of her profession took her from the 
 office in 1885, but up to her decease in 1912 she was an ardent 
 student and scientific writer on these lines. In her later years, 
 when retired from professional cares, her time and thought 
 were given to the study of defective children, and the means 
 of developing their possibly latent faculties, leaving a bequest 
 to further that object. It is good to know that she had carried 
 it so far that it is to be taken up by the University of Califor- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. Ill 
 
 nia, and a chair will probably be endowed for the purpose, 
 bearing her name, as a memorial to her devotion and research. 
 
 Dr. Harriet P. Van Kirk succeeded her as Superintendent, 
 and will be long remembered for her able and faithful instruc- 
 tion. Hygiene and Heredity were merged in 1896 under Mrs. 
 Frances H. Bentley, who had been the able Superintendent of 
 Heredity eleven years. Mrs. Orra J. Ward, the present Super- 
 intendent, took the dual department in 1897 and has rendered 
 distinguished service by her practical literature on health sub- 
 jcets, notably, natural foods, fruits and vegetables. 
 
 Evangelistic. 
 
 Mrs. Sophia J. Churchill was the first Superintendent in 
 1884, and a nobler exponent of the department could not have 
 been chosen. She resigned the next year when elected state 
 president, but resumed the position in 1890. Mrs. Annie K. 
 Bidwell served six, and Mrs. Jennette L. Everts ten years. 
 Mrs. M. F. Bunker held it one year and Mrs. Mary M. Elmore, 
 the present incumbent, entered on her labors in 1909. 
 
 This is felt to be the initial department, without which no 
 union exists ; and no group of women could have better repre- 
 sented it, or have shed a brighter luster upon all the work by 
 its means. The results of their efforts cannot be told in statis- 
 tics, or even incidentally, for it has been recognized as the 
 subtle spiritual force that has permeated and directed the 
 whole course of all that the W. C. T. U. has undertaken or 
 accomplished. 
 
 The Bible in Public Schools is one of its aims. 
 
 Legislation Petitions and Law Enforcement. 
 
 Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet was the first Superintendent in 1884, 
 and fills the same office now. During the seventeen years of 
 her presidency of the State, nine women successively filled the 
 office of superintendent, but her special adaptability to the 
 work, as well as her official position, identified her always 
 with it. She represented the W. C. T. U. at each session of 
 the legislature with rare tact and grace, while the Superin- 
 tendents kept up the requisite correspondence and essential 
 clerical work. 
 
 During Mrs. Dorr’s presidency, she and the corresponding 
 
112 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 secretary, Miss Anna E. Chase, have represented the W. C. 
 T. U. at each session of the legislature, and as results prove, 
 have done splendid work. 
 
 The record of state legislation is told in the general narra- 
 tive already given, but the sum of local effort in securing 
 county and municipal ordinances will never be told. Persis- 
 tent, unremitting toil, has gone on all over the State. Defeats 
 have been recognized only as steps toward ultimate success, 
 so promptly have the unions risen to renew the attack, and 
 by their undismayed force “dry” ground has been gained 
 little by little until half the state map is white. 
 
 The tedious process of carrying a bill through the legisla- 
 ture is illustrated by the passage of a bill for the “Protection 
 of Girls.” The W. C. T. U. was first represented at the capitol 
 at the session of 1887, when the temperance education law 
 was secured, but this measure attracted little attention. In 
 1889 “The Age of Consent” was raised from ten to fourteen 
 years. In 1895 an effort was made to raise it to eighteen. It 
 passed both houses and was vetoed by Gov. Budd. In 1897 
 it was raised to sixteen. In 1899 it was again raised to eigh- 
 teen by a vote of both houses and the bill pocketed by Gov. 
 Gage without signature. In later sessions it was simply side- 
 tracked, and not until women held the ballot and their potency 
 was recognized, did it become a law in 1913. 
 
 In work for local and county ordinances the women’s vote 
 was yet more persuasive, apparently conveying a hint of its 
 latent power. 
 
 Scientific Temperance Instruction. 
 
 This department was prefigured by the “Prize Essays in 
 Schools” in 1881 and 1882. 
 
 Mrs. Mary T. McCall was the first Superintendent in 1884. 
 She removed to the east the next year, when Mrs. D. J. Spen- 
 cer took her place. Mrs. L. P. Williams succeeded her in 1891, 
 and Miss Jessie Norton in 1893. Mrs. J. J. Coyle served from 
 1897 to 1909, twelve years of strenuous devotion, and was fol- 
 lowed by Mrs. Sara E. Ayres, the present Superintendent. No 
 department has done greater things. First, placing temperance 
 text-books in individual schools ; then securing the law, mak- 
 ing temperance instruction compulsory in all public schools ; 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. FANNIE WOOD 
 
 MRS. GARRISON TURNER 
 
 MRS. JENNIE PHELPS PURVIS MRS. 
 
 Stanislaus 
 
 MARY A. 
 
 REICHENBACH 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS. DUNCAN BERRY 
 
 MRS. J. L. EVERTS 
 
 Tri-County, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey 
 
 MRS. MARGARET COLEMAN 
 Tri-County, 
 
 Santa Cruz, San Benito and 
 Monterey 
 
 MRS. M. H. WHITMER 
 San Luis Obispo 
 
COUNTY PRESIDENTS 
 
 MRS R. A. HAWKINS 
 
 MRS. FLORA SAVAGE 
 
 MRS. LYDIA HORSEMAN MRS. RACHEL BARTHOLEMEW 
 
 Tulare 
 
■nilO WOMAN'S ('ll KIS'I'IAN 'I' lOM I ’ K I i A NC K UNION'S 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 113 
 
 the school lectures of Mrs. Eyster for three years ; the present 
 standing of the work and the respect of all educators ; and the 
 system of prize essays in thousands of schools by which mil- 
 lions of boys and girls write on the subject. 
 
 Mrs. Eyster is listed as department lecturer from 1898 to 
 1906. 
 
 Song. 
 
 California was the first state to recognize song as an essen- 
 tial department of the W. C. T. U. Mrs. L. E. Higgins was 
 Superintendent in 1884, Mrs. Eva Bishop in 1887, Mrs. F. M. 
 Husted in 1890, Mrs. Annie Hilliker in 1891, and Mrs. Sadie 
 Renowden Bailey began in 1893. For twenty years “our 
 Miriam” has led by her voice and baton, arranged and con- 
 ducted music for state conventions and congresses, contribut- 
 ing to the success of many county conventions and other 
 meetings by the inspiration of good music and reliable service. 
 Her sister, Mrs. Rebecca B. Painton, often sings with Mrs. 
 Bailey and acts as Associate Superintendent. 
 
 This department has been effective in county and local 
 unions. San Joaquin County had a White Ribbon Quartette 
 of fine singers several years, known as the “Clover Leaf 
 Choir” enthusing every meeting where they were heard. 
 There were several White Ribbon Choirs among the “Ys” in 
 the early 90s. The Senior L. T. L. of Corralitos had the first 
 vested choir in the state as a temperance organization. 
 
 Penal and Reformatory Work. 
 
 Mrs. A. B. Gove was another appointee of 1884, whose 
 record is remarkable, serving nineteen years in the arduous 
 and often delicate tasks which fell to her hands. A woman of 
 rare gifts, pleasing personality, and Christian grace ; cultured, 
 refined, sympathetic and sensible, she gave herself to the ser- 
 vice of the unfortunate without stint or reservation, and by her 
 suggestions and experience did much to improve the condi- 
 tions of prisoners in general, besides the personal influence 
 and uplift to many lives. For fifteen years she went regularly 
 to the penitentiary at San Quentin, from her home in Oakland, 
 Bible in hand, every alternate Sunday, and ministered to 
 prisoners as each occasion offered. Her tender spirituality 
 and sweet motherliness won the souls of lawless men. 
 
114 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Many discharged men, now living honestly, are indebted to 
 her care for places of employment amid wholesome environ- 
 ment, that gave them their opportunities to begin a better life. 
 
 Her tireless and persistent efforts secured the first Police 
 Matrons in the city prison of San Francisco, and the state law 
 for such in any prison. 
 
 After her retirement the department was conducted by Mrs. 
 E. S. Humphrey for three years, and then by Mrs. J. B. Mc- 
 Donald. Mrs. Jean Sinclair entered upon it in 1910 and is doing 
 excellent and comprehensive work looking to advanced prison 
 reforms. 
 
 Press. 
 
 First Superintendent, Mrs. Laura P. Williams, 1884. Her 
 report is an augury of the future scope of this department. It 
 began by securing space in local newspapers, with a woman in 
 each union to fill it. The amount of this work was amazing 
 This method is still an important factor, in its primary object 
 and in training reporters. Newspapers are now more chary of 
 space, and the Associated Press, professional reporters, inside 
 editions, and syndicate papers have added facilities to press 
 work. 
 
 Mrs. C. E. Babb became Superintendent in 1885, Mrs. Grace 
 M. Kimball in 1890, and in 1894 Mrs. Clare O. Southard ac- 
 cepted the work she is still most efficiently carrying on. She 
 does nothing at haphazard but long before special events are 
 to take place, arrangements for their pubilicity are fully made. 
 
 The excellent reporters developed in local and county 
 unions would make a splendid roll of honor, but special atten- 
 tion cannot be withheld from Mrs. Mary H. Cartwright, who 
 keeps in good grace with editors wherever she may be, by her 
 skill and tact in supplying their columns with fresh readable 
 news. Her reports of public meetings, conventions and con- 
 gresses often call out a public r^ote of thanks. 
 
 When Frances E. Willard organized the W. C. T. U. of Ore- 
 gon, in 1883, Mrs. Cartwright was elected state secretary, and 
 then and there began to report, since when her ready pen has 
 been held sacred to the W. C. T. U. 
 
 Mrs. S. A. Huston is a professional newspaper woman who 
 found herself out by the duties of Press Superintendent of 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 115 
 
 Yolo County, and twenty-three years ago established a weekly 
 paper, “The Home Alliance,” of which she is Editor, Manager 
 and general factotum. The “Alliance” continues to be a rec- 
 ognized aid to every good movement. 
 
 Mrs. Charlton Edholm, now Mrs. Frank J. Sibley, was an- 
 other who distinguished herself in this department. Being a 
 professional reporter, she was familiar with the methods of 
 her craft, by which a great many papers could simultaneously 
 be reached. Preparing original matter for many papers to be 
 issued at different points, she has filled three hundred columns 
 in a year. With tireless energy she so expanded her work that 
 in 1891 she was made Superintendent of Press for the World’s 
 W. C. T. U., the first Californian to be honored by an appoint- 
 ment in that body. In that capacity she reports 1000 columns 
 published in one year. In 1895, feeling herself especially 
 called to another field, she retired from official work in the 
 W. C. T. U. and entered upon that of “Rescue” under the 
 Crittenden Missions to which she has since devoted many 
 years of faithful labor by voice and pen. 
 
 Sunday Schools. 
 
 This was one of the earliest departments, 1884, and has 
 been a strong bond of co-operation with the church. The W. C. 
 T. U. has not lost this opportunity to clinch its teaching with 
 a “Thus saith the Lord,” the quarterly temperance lessons 
 holding the right of way for their message. The Superintend- 
 ents have been Mrs. Caleb Sadler, Miss Mary Barbour, Mes- 
 dames N. B. Eyster, P. H. Matthews, L. M. Thomson, Eva S. 
 Gilchrist, C. Mansfield, Eva Williams, and Harriet I. Farr. 
 Viticulture. 
 
 This department has probably never been duplicated in any 
 state. Its object was to create an interest in the culture of 
 grapes for other purposes than the manufacture of wine. Mrs. 
 L. Kelley was made Superintendent in 1884 and labored hope- 
 lessly two years, after which there was a lapse until 1888, 
 when Mrs. S. M. M. Woodman accepted it and 
 
 Unfermented Wine, 
 
 was added. In 1894 the original name was dropped and the 
 latter substituted, as no headway seemed to be made in the 
 
116 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 former line. The sacramental use of fermented wine was 
 practically universal when the W. C. T. U. recognized that 
 alcohol must be driven from holy places if it was to become 
 disreputable. The persistent teaching on this line has made 
 the use of pure grape juice at the sacrament almost as univer- 
 sal as the previous custom had been. Mrs. Woodman is now 
 serving her twenty-fifth year as Superintendent and has been 
 so absolutely thorough in all she does, that she continues year 
 after year to take the banner of the National Superintendent 
 for the best reports received by her. 
 
 Literary Bodies and School Conventions. 
 
 The importance of presenting the work of the W. C. T. U. 
 to other organizations required a special Superintendent and 
 Mrs. Mary H. Field, than whom there could have been no 
 abler, was appoint?ed in 1884. She soon after became the state 
 recording secretary, and was many years the general secretary 
 of the Chatauqua. She was succeeded in 1891 by Miss M. E. 
 Norton, and later by Mrs. Ada Van Pelt, and Mrs. Lydia F. 
 Luse, and in 1899 the work was relegated to the general of- 
 ficers. 
 
 County Fairs. 
 
 First Superintendent, Mrs. Susan D. Whitney, 1884. Under 
 her guidance all fairs were included and the word county 
 dropped from the name. In the next year the “Y’s” of San 
 Francisco had a booth at the Mechanics’ Fair, handsomely 
 decorated, having on one side the kindergarten display lately 
 exhibited at New Orleans, and on the other a printing press 
 operated by young men, on which temperance tracts were 
 printed, and with other literature donated, they gave out 65.- 
 000 pages, and received 277 signatures to the pledge. At the 
 close of the fair, the Board of Directors, of their own motion 
 awarded the Y. W. C. T. U. a diploma for “Artistic decoration 
 of their booth, and zeal in their management, exemplifying 
 the high moral character of their work.” 
 
 Mrs. Joel B. Russel was next Superintendent in 1888. Coun- 
 ty fairs had generally granted space to the W. C. T. U. and 
 good work was done. In some, money enough to meet all ex- 
 penses was received in premiums. Rest rooms were provided 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 117 
 
 by several, and always cold water and literature. After the 
 success of county fairs, access was obtained to the state fair, 
 where a booth has been kept every year. In 1911 it was shared 
 with the Suffrage Association and made a center of suffrage 
 propaganda. At citrus fairs, the local unions have won sev- 
 eral prizes for artistic decoration. 
 
 Cloverdale, in the heart of the northern citrus belt, has a 
 reputation for these, having once a well with the old oaken 
 bucket, all made of oranges; and each year a new and striking 
 design, attracting crowds to whom literature is freely given. 
 
 While writing this, a report from Humboldt county in 1889 
 reappears, and affords an illustration of what many counties 
 were doing. “The pavilion is on the fair ground, and the W. 
 C. T. U. has its own modest roof-tree there, called a ‘rest 
 booth,’ furnished for the time with easy chairs and lounges, 
 to which ten cents admits any one. Toilet facilities are pro- 
 vided to wash the candy off the children or the dust from the 
 traveler; baggage is checked, and luminous thought, babies 
 are taken care of at ten cents an hour, affording young mothers 
 the rest and pleasure of the occasion, the climax of enterprise 
 and loving kindness.” 
 
 Mesdames Emma G. Snow, M. J. Mayhew, and Z. Buck- 
 minster were successive Superintendents until 1897, since 
 when the state officers have arranged for the state fair as the 
 county officers do for theirs. 
 
 Coffee Houses. 
 
 The very name of this department suggests its historic char- 
 acter. In the early times of California eating places had been 
 invariably drinking places also, and there was a popular de- 
 lusion, so universal was the drink custom, that an eating house 
 could not be made profitable without the sale of liquor. When 
 the temperance wave broke on these shores, the first impulse 
 of every union was to start a coffee house as an antidote to the 
 saloon. In the rural towns there was little financial success, 
 but much labor and sacrifice, with a moral influence that was 
 a protest against existing conditions, but insufficient pecuniary 
 support. The patronage of the cities stood the test, and all 
 did a great part for the temperance cause. 
 
 In all these department sketches, the experience of one will 
 
118 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 serve as a type of many. One in San Francisco opened in 
 1882, will illustrate. Women saw the homeless young men 
 squandering time and money in saloons, and felt it was for 
 lack of human sympathy that so many lives were thrown 
 away. The Coffee House gave access to such, and women, 
 sweet and gentle, who would shrink from positions involving 
 publicity could approach a young man quietly, secure his con- 
 fidence and rescue the life that was drifting away. One who 
 brought in many such sheaves, tells of her daily efforts. “How 
 I watched them as they came in Mondays, haggard and worn 
 from Sunday’s debauch, and asked credit for something to 
 eat, and I determined that they should feel my care for them. 
 I used to take a cup of coffee and go sit at their table, talk 
 with them, and make them feel my personal interest. On Sat- 
 urday nights they would bring me their wages of which I 
 would give them enough to carry them over Sunday, and keep 
 the rest for them until Monday. Soon they would take my 
 advice and allow me to put the money in a savings bank, and 
 as they began to save, they forgot to drink. I used to keep 
 their bank books three months, and by that time they did not 
 need such care. Sometimes I had as many as seven bank- 
 books in my little bag belonging to these men, trying to re- 
 form.” 
 
 This personal touch with men who could not have been 
 reached otherwise, was the mission of the Coffee House, and 
 well it served its purpose. There was always a Reading Room 
 attached. Business men sometimes said to the women, “You 
 are encouraging loafers,” but they gave them a decent loafing 
 place. When one said for himself, “You are doing too much 
 for us,” they knew he would soon do better for himself. A 
 Gospel Meeting was held in the Reading Room on Tuesday 
 evenings under the auspices of the Young Men’s Christian 
 Association, and a temperance meeting on another evening of 
 each week. 
 
 Six of these Coffee Houses were maintained in the city, 
 serving to prove their feasibility so well, that men with more 
 capital and greater business advantages gradually took away 
 their patronage and so ended their career. 
 
 One Coffee House did a business of over $15,000 a year. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 119 
 
 Everywhere the Coffee House was a refining and reforming 
 factor. In some of the larger towns they became sources of 
 revenue for the unions and furnished money to carry forward 
 large plans of work. One union had by this means acquired 
 a convenient bank account, and was able to aid a kindred or- 
 ganization. The Young Men’s Christian Association was 
 erecting a building for its own work, and asked the W. C. T. U. 
 for a subscription to its building, fund. The Union pledged 
 $1000 on the condition that it should have the use of one room 
 in which to hold its meetings. The National Union had lately 
 passed the famous resolution by which it was pledged to stand 
 by any party that would adopt a prohibition plank in its plat- 
 form. Word came back from the Y. M. C. A. that the proposi- 
 tion could not be accepted if meetings were to be held in the 
 interest of prohibition. The union did not give the money. 
 The building was erected, but never paid for, and finally went 
 into the hands of a Spiritualist Society. 
 
 The experimental Coffee Houses among the unions were very 
 numerous, those at San Jose and Oakland became popular 
 lunch places and enjoyed a long and prosperous career. That 
 at San Jose, after a successful life of eleven years, was de- 
 stroyed by fire July first, 1892. 
 
 When these had been fully demonstrated to be a public nec- 
 essity for which the public would pay, the demand was met 
 without the aid of the W. C. T. U. and the department dis- 
 continued in 1896. Its superintendents had been Mesdames 
 Nellie B. Eyster, F. S. Vaslit, M. N. Cook, P. H. Templeton, 
 S. M. Gardner, S. F. Barnum, Clare O. Southard, and Grace 
 M. Kimball, all women of ability and strength of purpose. 
 
 So recently as 1897 when the National Society of Christian 
 Endeavor met in San Francisco, a salutary lesson was given 
 to restaurants. Crowds of hungry people poured down the 
 streets and into the restaurants only to turn again to the 
 streets when they saw wine or beer on the lunch tables. A list 
 of temperance eating places was kept at the W. C. T. U. 
 Headquarters and the crowds directed to them. The effect 
 was striking in the instantaneous and often permanent changes 
 made. 
 
120 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Free Reading Rooms. 
 
 Hardly a union in the earlier years that did not undertake to 
 supply this natural want of gregarious humanity; some place 
 to go, that was not a saloon. Every Coffee House had its read- 
 ing room, and it seemed a needful adjunct to some other de- 
 partments. Here and there one became the nucleus of a li- 
 brary, and was taken over by the town. From the little unions 
 where the women “took turn about” in tending the coal oil 
 larrips, and keeping the boys quiet, to larger ones with better 
 facilities, all did their part in public education. 
 
 Among the first unions to open a Reading Room was Hol- 
 lister, in 1884. It passed through all possible phases that ex- 
 perience of such an enterprise could have. The unfailing de- 
 votion of members sustained it ; gifts of newspapers by pub- 
 lishers, books, magazines and other necessities, by friends, 
 entertainments, and public dinners, were all utilized, until it 
 was recognized as a public utility by an authorized monthly 
 stipend from the town treasury. The W. C. T. U. nourished it 
 until it was merged with its 1000 volumes into the beautiful 
 Carnegie Library of the town. 
 
 Next in years of service is the Reading Room of Boulder 
 Creek, which was opened on New Year’s Day, 1893. The 
 Southern Pacific Rail Road Co. donated a building site on con- 
 dition that a Reading Room be maintained ten years. The 
 ambitious union raised a fund of $700, secured gifts of a con- 
 siderable amount in material and labor, and built their own 
 Headquarters, a most useful adjunct to their work. The rent 
 of its second story provided the requisite care and attendance 
 for the room. The town was once the center of extensive 
 lumber interests, thronged by homeless men from the lumber 
 camps, but is now a quiet rural community of which the W. C. 
 T. U. Reading Room remains a factor for good influences. 
 
 Not every Reading Room enjoyed an atmosphere so friend- 
 ly. One in the far north at Yreka had a troubled life. The 
 union had hired a room on a principal street, made it comfort- 
 able and attractive, so that it was doing well. A saloon of the 
 worst type located next door. The thin walls of both build- 
 ings, made the noise and vile language of the saloon intolera- 
 ble. It became a question which should hold its ground 
 against the other, but charges were brought against the sa- 
 
ORGANIZERS 
 
 MISS I. C. DeVELLING 
 
 REV. BRIDELLE C. H. WASH- 
 BURN 
 
MU. I'IDVVAUI) COMOMAN |)|;, U, M. McOONAUU 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 121 
 
 loon-keeper, and in an open trial before the supervisors, were 
 sustained, and his license revoked. Notorious as the place had 
 been, a false sympathy was aroused and a numerously signed 
 petition presented to the supervisors asking for another license 
 to be granted him. This could not be legally done, and the 
 man was driven to other pursuits. Mrs. Julia P. Churchill, 
 the president of Siskiyou County, having been very active in 
 the proceeding, was prompted soon after to write a kind 
 Christian letter to him. Undoubtedly this arrested his thought, 
 for he became a changed man, acknowledging her letter to 
 have so influenced him. 
 
 Coffee Houses and Reading Rooms were merged in one de- 
 partment and when the former was discontinued, Mrs. J. L. 
 Everts assumed the care of the latter, followed by Mrs. Jennie 
 Dixon in 1898, Mrs. J. Shattuck Morey in 1900, and Mrs. Lot- 
 tie Devert in 1911. 
 
 Coffee Houses and Reading Rooms supplying a general 
 need, naturally affiliated. The saloon could not be tolerated did 
 it not afford some of the social demands these institutions 
 were designed to meet. In Santa Clara county several organi- 
 zations, including the W. C. T. U., and many individual 
 friends are co-operating to establish “Friendly Inns” or model 
 road houses, where “water for man and beast, toilet provisions, 
 hitching posts and sheds for teams, bicycle racks, use of 
 papers and magazines, and sheltered out door seats may be 
 had free, with a reasonable fee for other accommodations.” 
 
 This is probably the precursor of the “Municipal Centers” 
 of which the W. C. T. U. has dreamed for years. 
 
 Soldiers and Sailors. 
 
 The great seaport of San Francisco with its hundreds of 
 seamen coming and going, only 5 per cent of whom had wives 
 or homes, and its contiguous fortifications and naval stations 
 manned by homeless men, made a special claim on the mother 
 hearts of the W. C. T. U. Mrs. T. K. Noble was made Super- 
 intendent of Work for Soldiers and Sailors in 1884. In the 
 following year it was found wiser to separate the two. Miss 
 S. M, N. Cummings for seven years took charge of the work 
 for Sailors, during which a local union was known as the 
 Sailors’ Union, and did good work among seamen, meeting in 
 
122 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 I he Seamen’s Bethel, giving weekly socials, holding Gospei 
 Temperance meetings, and aiding in their Reading Room and 
 Library by the continual supply of literature. During this time 
 the work for Soldiers was conducted by Mesdames Capt. 
 Thomas, Sarah C. Borland, Rose M. French and M. K. FTar- 
 nish, all women of special aptitude and experience. In 1898 
 the two departments were reunited under Mrs. Hannah 
 Wright, succeeded in 1899 by Mrs. Annie Hilliker, and in 1900 
 by Mrs. Alice E. Bradley, the present incumbent. Since the 
 Ctiban war and Naval exploits in the Philippines this depart- 
 ment has been very active, and is always ready for calls to 
 service 
 
 Dr. Mary A. Palm, former Superintendent of Non-Alcoholic 
 Medication, was the first woman appointed for service in Man- 
 ila, by the Red Cross Society in 1898. 
 
 Foreign. 
 
 Mrs. L. M. Carver, the first Superintendent, laid founda- 
 tions in 1885 and 1886. Mrs. E. P. Stevens taking it in 1887, 
 after that there was a lapse of some years, but in the mean- 
 time Mrs. Skelton was at work among Germans. A German 
 Union was organized at San Jose, which was maintained for 
 seventeen years, San Francisco had a German union four 
 years, one of Russian Finns, one year, and for several years a 
 union of Swedish women did excellent work. Foreign litera- 
 ture in many languages was always kept at Headquarters and 
 used freely by local unions. The present Superintendent, Mrs. 
 C. S. Danks took up the department in 1901 and is working on 
 broad and comprehensive lines. Her presentation of the sub 
 ject at the Summer Congresses has been very effective. 
 
 Mrs. M. S. Carey of San Jose, as a teacher of Chinese, wa^ 
 able to use much literature in that language. Mrs. L. P. Will- 
 iams from a long experience in missionary organizations had 
 a wide grasp of the situation, and did thoroughly systematic 
 work for them. A leaflet on “Alcohol and Opium” by IMrs. 
 Nellie B. Eyster was translated into Chinese and had a large 
 circulation by means of personal efforts ; and in more than one 
 Chinese store in the country places, that leaflet was kept in 
 use by the Chinese themselves. 
 
 Mrs. Julia Barrett of Sacramento did a remarkable work for 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 123 
 
 Chinese. Being a teacher of stenography, she adapted the Pit- 
 man System of Shorthand writing to the sounds of the Chi- 
 nese language, and a large number of Chinese became profi- 
 cient in its use. Her heart’s desire was to publish the Gospels in 
 that form, as it would be so much more easily learned than 
 reading by means of the great number of the old Chinese 
 characters required. She has the joy of knowing that some 
 large schools in China, including that of the Jesuit Fathers at 
 Foo Chou, and the Adventists, have adopted it, while its intro- 
 duction in business houses is making its own way to more 
 general use. 
 
 A unique feature in organization was a union of foreign 
 women auxiliary to the National Union of Japan. Miss Hay- 
 ashi of Osaki came to Oakland in 1905, and while there met 
 her Christian countrywomen at the Japanese Methodist 
 Church, when they decided to organize a local W. C. T. U. At 
 Miss Hayashi’s suggestion they waited a few months for 
 the arrival of Mrs. Kazahi, when they organized in the Japan- 
 ese Congregational Church, with twenty-two members includ- 
 ing officers. In the following year Mrs. Yajima, National 
 President of Japan was here, and advised them to become 
 auxiliary to the state union, where they found a warm wel- 
 come. It is a good union, conducted in their native language, 
 and the usual order of work. Evidently the younger women 
 understand English but it is expedient to use the language 
 familiar to all. State or county officers visiting them, speak 
 through an interpreter. There is another Japanese union at 
 Sacramento, under the care of Mrs. Mary Bowen, who con- 
 ducts an “Independent Mission to Japanese.” This union has 
 done excellent work and has been especially generous in its 
 gifts to the general funds of the state. 
 
 Oriental Work. 
 
 Which seems to fall naturally under the name “Eoreign” 
 was made a department in 1895 with Mrs. L. P. Williams, Su- 
 perintendent. In 1907 when Miss Kara Smart, “Round the 
 World Missionary,” returned from several years spent in 
 Japan, the Japanese work was given to her, Mrs. Williams 
 retaining the Chinese. 
 
 Mrs. Julia A. Barrett was made Evangelist to the Chinese. 
 
124 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 and Mrs. Mary Bowen, Evangelist to the Japanese, succeeding 
 Mrs. Kara Smart Root as Superintendent in 1910. 
 
 Kindergarten. 
 
 The first Superintendent, Mrs. E. G. Greene, began in 1885 
 with characteristic thoroughness to lay plans and publish 
 required literature, creating a wide spread interest and result- 
 ing in active work. She was succeeded by Mrs. E. W. Farish 
 in 1888 and on her removal from the State in 1892 Mrs. Greene 
 resumed the work. The Kindergarten supported by the local 
 union at San Jose having proved its value to the town, was 
 taken over by the Board of Education, as those in San Fran- 
 cisco had been by the Kindergarten Association. The name 
 of this department was dropped and its work given to that of 
 
 Mothers’ Meetings. 
 
 No department has done more fundamental work, entered 
 more largely into both domestic and public interest, or been 
 more ably led than this. Mrs. J. D. Jamison became Superin- 
 tendent in 1897, Mrs. Effie D. Whitman in 1903, Mrs. N. S. 
 Sheppa in 1904, Mrs. Louise Seymour in 1909, and Mrs. E. 
 Musselman, the present incumbent in 1910. 
 
 Union Signal. 
 
 The National Organ called for special effort in 1885 and 
 Mrs. E. P. Stevens was made the first Superintendent, Mrs. 
 Eyster in 1886, then it was merged with literature. In 1894 
 “National and State Organs” were made a department with 
 Mrs. J. C. Lackie, Superintendent. In 1895 Mrs. M. E. Har- 
 rison, Superintendent, then merged with “Press,” but again 
 “Union-Signal” under Mrs. S. J. Dorr in 1904. On her election 
 TO the presidency in 1907 Mrs. J. E. Rhoads assumed it, and 
 at her death it came in 1912 to. Mrs. Florence Glaze. 
 
 Social Meetings and Red Letter Days. 
 
 This department was instituted under the name of “Draw- 
 ing Room Work” in 1886, but in conformity with the National, 
 in 1890 took the present name, indicating the commemoration 
 of important events or distinguished lives by anniversary 
 social observances. It has been a social and educational factor 
 ®f great value, and most ably conducted by active Superin- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 125 
 
 tendents. The first, Mrs. P. D. Browne, served ten years, 
 Mrs. F. S. Vaslit-Hackett nine years, Mrs. A. L. Berry one, 
 and in 1907 Mrs. Mary Norwood Ostrander, the present super- 
 intendent, entered upon its duties. 
 
 Literature. 
 
 This was one of the earliest necessities, and Mrs. S. J. Me 
 Chesney was given this important charge in 1885, Mrs. R. R. 
 Johnston in 1886, then Miss S. M. M. Cummings. When the 
 requirements of the work made it necessary for the Corres- 
 ponding Secretary to be in constant attendance at Headquar- 
 ters, that officer was made ex-officio Superintendent of Litera- 
 ture with a large stock of great variety, always on hand to 
 meet every demand. It would be interesting, if possible, to 
 tell of all the original publications of state superintendents, as 
 each one met the wants of her own work. Each Secretary has 
 in turn given her best energies and yearly brought out valua- 
 ble material, the present year having, especially in the lines of 
 legislation for the Red Light Bill, Purity and the White Slave 
 Traffic exceeded all previous records. 
 
 In 1890 a complete “Digest of the Liquor Laws of Califor- 
 nia” was published by the state union in a convenient booklet, 
 that was very useful. Some years later, a new edition was 
 brought out, revised to date, that became a handy work of 
 reference. Handbooks, Record, and Treasurer’s books on 
 original plans have been issued as required and numerous 
 leaflets on many subjects, supplying the requirements of every 
 rising issue. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Franchise. 
 
 The earliest work for Equal Suffrage in California, culmin- 
 ated in a Woman’s Suffrage Convention in San Francisco, 
 1871, in which Dr. Carrie F. Young, later a worker in the W. 
 C. T. U., took a large part. She made an impassioned, but 
 unavailing plea to the Legislature for woman’s right to the bal- 
 lot, and had some share in securing co-educational rights at 
 the state University; a great joy to her as she had been a 
 victim of collegiate injustice to women, and not permitted to 
 take the degree she had won, in the ’50s. She afterwards did 
 excellent work in “Scientific Temperance Instruction,” pub- 
 lishing much original literature, traveling extensively among 
 schools, and lived to see her heart’s desire, “Votes for 
 Women.” 
 
 Suffrage was not popular, and the prejudice of ages had to 
 be overcome. It was not until 1886 that “Franchise” was made 
 a department of the W. C. T. U. Miss Sarah M. Severance, 
 than whom no state had ever an abler or wiser leader, served 
 as superintendent twenty years, when failing health demanded 
 rest. Mrs. P. H. Truax took the place and won from the Nat- 
 ional Superintendent honors for her work. The campaign of 
 1911 found Miss Severance only less active than before, and 
 her friends rejoicing that she could “fight to the finish” and 
 enjoy the fruition of the long struggle, “all of which she saw 
 and part of which she was.” It is not too much to say of her, 
 and it may be said without the least reflection on others, that 
 no other individual contributed so much to the cause of equal 
 suffrage in California. She gave of her means and herself. Her 
 ready pen was always in hand, her active mind alert, the sound 
 logic and flashing wit of her argument made her a convincing 
 speaker ; and this service was not for a day, or a campaign, 
 but for final victory. Unobtrusively but persistently she 
 wrought for thirty years. 
 
 The women of the local unions all over the state had been 
 for years under her direct and intelligent leadership, and when 
 the final campaign was reached, these groups had made in- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 127 
 
 fluential centers of strength and activity, contributing to the 
 result. 
 
 The ballot was given to women by Constitutional Amend- 
 ment in 1911 and the department discontinued in 1912. 
 
 Social Purity. 
 
 This department was adopted in 1886, with a fine sense of 
 its importance, and a realization of the immense educational 
 work to be done. It was intrusted to Mrs. Hannah Bean of 
 the Society of Friends, a woman of rare culture and rich exper- 
 ience, who impressed herself on its earliest efforts. When 
 obliged to retire from it, she was succeeded by Mrs. W. S. 
 Urmy, and later by Dr. L. J. Kellogg who introduced the 
 White Cross and White Shield. In 1891 under Mrs. E. G. 
 Greene, in conformity with the National Union, the name of 
 the department became “Promotion of Purity.” In 1892 Mrs. 
 M. E. Teats entered upon it and for years while engaged in 
 field work, gave original and thorough teaching on these 
 lines. Her mantle fell on Mrs. Lizzie N. Fryer, who after one 
 year of service, felt the call for work for the young in a college 
 town and resigned; Mrs. A. C. Bainbridge, with the experience 
 of a veteran teacher followed her, and made her instruction 
 felt. A gifted woman of the “Do Everything” order, she spec- 
 ialized on “Sex Hygiene” and did fine work in schools, and 
 wherever else a door opened to her advance. She has made a 
 systematic study of the subject and holds a Diploma from the 
 State Board of Education and the State Board of Health, as 
 an authorized teacher on that delicate and important subject. 
 On her removal from the state, another splendidly equipped 
 woman, Mrs. Rose M. French was appointed but was unex- 
 pectedly called to England. The general officers temporarily 
 carried the growing work, culminating in the “Educational 
 Campaign for the Red Light Injunction and Abatement Law.” 
 
 Mrs. Mary P. Hawley was appointed in 1912. 
 
 In 1907 the name was again changed to “Moral Education” 
 but has since resumed its most expressive title. Purity. 
 
 Sabbath Observance. 
 
 Mrs. Emma Cameron was the first Superintendent from 
 1886 to 1890, when she left the state, but on her return did 
 
128 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 excellent service in San Francisco for many years. Mrs. M. J. 
 Mayhew held the department one year, and Mrs. Christine 
 Armstrong came to it in 1891, since when her devotion to the 
 cause has been unswerving. She has co-operated with other 
 organizations bringing A'arious elements into united action, 
 and has contributed strong articles to the literature of the 
 department in her twenty-two years of faithful, efficient ser- 
 vice. 
 
 Finance. 
 
 This was always a difficult problem and evidently no one 
 was saitsfied with her own success for six women each served 
 but one year when it came to Mrs. J. L. Everts in 1892, who 
 held it to 1896, when she was relieved by Mrs. Grace M. Kim- 
 ball. At her death in 1905 the work was relegated to a Finance 
 Committee of which the treasurer is chairman. 
 
 Narcotics. 
 
 This department has always been active. Mrs. L. J. Whit- 
 more was the first superintendent from 1887 to 1890 when the 
 name was changed to 
 
 Anti-Narcotics. 
 
 Mrs. J. P. Purvis came next and did especially thorough 
 work in petitions, legislation and general efficiency. When 
 the Anti-Tobacco Bill was under consideration she staid in 
 Sacramento at her own expense to see it through. Mrs. Mary 
 I. Mallory led the next five years, and earned a Gold Medal 
 for the state, awarded by the National Superintendent for the 
 best work reported to her. Miss Isabel Patterson followed in 
 1906, and Miss Julia Willson, the present Superintendent, in 
 1909. 
 
 Railroad Rates. 
 
 With the hope of securing special rates to National Conven- 
 tions, in 1887, Mrs. Charlton Edholm was made Superintend- 
 ent of Railroad Rates. Transcontinental rates were impossible, 
 and the state railroads having adopted special rates for all 
 conventions in the state, the department was dropped. 
 
 Work Among Lumbermen. 
 
 This department is an evangelistic effort to reach the men 
 
SUPERINTENDENTS OE DEPARTMENTS 
 
 MRS. ELIZA NELSON FRYER 
 Purity 
 
SUPERINTENDENTS OE DEPARTMENTS 
 
 MRS. ELIZABETH WELLS PARISH 
 Kindergarten 
 
 MRS. FRANCES H. BENTLEY 
 Heredity 
 
 MRS. SUSAN D. WHITNEY 
 
 Work at Fairs 
 
 MRS. JOEL RUSSELL 
 
SUPERINTENDENTS OE DEPARTMENTS 
 
 MRS. GRACE M. KIMBALL 
 Finance 
 
 JIRS. CLARE O. SOUTHARD 
 Press 
 
 MRS. A. B. GOVE 
 Prison 
 
 MRS. MARY H. CARTWRIGHT 
 Mercy 
 
SUPERINTENDENTS OE DEPARTMENTS 
 
 MRS. M. N. COOK 
 Coffee House 
 
 MRS. F. S. VASLIT-HACKETT 
 Social Meetings 
 
 MRS. ELIZABETH SHELLEY 
 Medical Temperance 
 
 Evangelistic, and Pres. Merced 
 County 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 129 
 
 in the great lumber camps, and the good work expended in it 
 has not always brought results apparently commensurate 
 with the effort, but it is believed that it has been well worth 
 while. Its Superintendents have since 1889 been Mesdames 
 McCullom, Anna M. Reed, A. B. Campbell, and Emma P. 
 Long, the present incumbent, who began in 1909. 
 
 Non-Alcoholic Medication. 
 
 This very effective department was instituted in 1889 and 
 has bfeen highly educational in its local, county, and state 
 work. Mrs. M. N. Cook, superintendent, made good begin- 
 nings the first two years, then Mrs. H. J. Merrit, Dr. Anna 
 Booth, Dr. Mary Palm, Dr. Minnie Hurlburt, Dr. Alice Goss, 
 and Mrs. Ludie Reynolds each had it a year, Mrs. E. S. Potter, 
 the next two. During her term she prepared a very dramatic 
 illustration of her teaching in a platform exercise called “The 
 Doctor’s Day Off,” presented by seven or eight characters so 
 effectively that it was published by the state and used in 
 county conventions and programs of other states. Mrs. A. A. 
 Knisley took the work in 1901 and Mrs. Mary Smith in 1894. 
 The name was changed to MEDICAL TEMPERANCE in 
 1904. Mrs. Rose Grigsby became Superintendent in 1909, and 
 Mrs. E. H. Shelley in 1910, and was complimented by the 
 National Superintendent for her efficiency. Mrs. H. F. Wake- 
 field succeeded her in 1912. 
 
 Temperance and Labor. 
 
 A department that has called out profound study and most 
 thoughtful effort. Its leaders Lave been exceptionally able 
 women whose conduct of a difficult and arduous task has con- 
 duced to a better understanding of many public questions. 
 Mrs. Emma Pow Smith was the first Superintendent in 1889, 
 Mrs. Lewellyn Haskell followed in 1894, Mrs. J. Clifford in 
 1895, Mrs. Mae M. Whitman in 1897, Mrs. E. B. Marcen since 
 1906. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Ross Miller was “Department Lecturer” in 
 1901 and 1902, and Mrs. Bridelle C. H. Washburn since 1909. 
 
 Mrs. Mae M. Whitman, now the National Superintendent, 
 has splendidly equipped this department with a comprehen- 
 sive line of literature. 
 
130 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Law Enforcement. 
 
 This department was created in 1889 with the enforcement 
 of the mile-limit law at the State University as its special ob- 
 ject, and has since found numerous other laws demanding its 
 aid. Superintendents have been; 1889, Mrs. A. M. Weed; 
 1892, Mrs. A. M. Gates; 1893, Mrs. Rose M. French. It was 
 merged with Legislation in 1906. 
 
 Work Among Indians. 
 
 This department grew out of the work reported in 1889, and 
 has been carried successively by Mrs. L. P. Williams, Mrs. E. 
 M. Priddy, Mrs. M. E. Chamberlain, Miss Ella Brown and 
 Miss Ada Campbell, until 1905 when it was taken by the Nat- 
 ional Superintendent, Mrs. D. J. Spencer. An indirect help 
 to the Indian people has resulted from the better knowledge 
 of their condition by whites. 
 
 Medal Contests. 
 
 This department was adopted in 1891. Mrs. J. D. Jamison 
 was the first Superintendent, succeeded in 1892 by Miss Mary 
 Helen McLean; in 1903 by Mrs. S. E. Ayres; in 1905 by Miss 
 Anna Chase; in 1906 by Mrs. N. A. Rowell; in 1911 by Mrs. 
 B. Minges; in 1912 by Miss Luella Schwab. 
 
 This department gives a concrete demonstration by actual 
 figures of what it is doing, finely illustrating all department 
 work, woven together systematically by means of local, state, 
 and national superintendents. Six recitations of temperance 
 selections are required for a “Silver Medal Contest,” and six 
 contests must have been held to make a “Gold Medal Contest” 
 possible ; six gold medals must have been won for a “Grand 
 Gold Medal Contest,” and six grand gold medals for a “Dia- 
 mond Contest” to be held. It takes but little arithmetic to 
 show that 1296 recitations are required before a Diamond 
 Contest can be held, and for a “Grand Diamond Contest” 
 7776. Allowing for the occasional incomplete number that 
 must sometimes occur, for which special arrangements must 
 be made, to be eligible for medals, it may safely be said that a 
 Grand Diamond Contest tells of the faithful work requisite to 
 prepare over 7000 recitations, not by that number of indivi- 
 duals, for all must have contested many times to win their 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 131 
 
 respective honors, medals, and the invaluable course of mental 
 and moral training involved. 
 
 This is an incontrovertible testimony to the work of one de- 
 partment, the nature of which makes this evidence clear, but 
 the systematic work of each department weaves itself into the 
 life and movements of the W. C. T. U. just as thoroughly, and 
 this explains its impression on public sentiment and moral 
 issues. 
 
 Work Among Railroad Employes. 
 
 This is another evangelistic work reaching thousands of 
 men, whose special labor makes them a distinct class. Mrs. 
 Rose M. French was the first Superintendent in 1891, with the 
 street car men of the cities as the first consideration. In 1892 
 Mrs. M. E. Jenks of Sacramento took up the work, and has 
 been instant in season and out, never failing to bring the best 
 available speakers before the men of the great railroad shops, 
 often at the noon hour, and through her county and local su- 
 perintendents, reaching farther than can be calculated. 
 
 Flower Mission. 
 
 This department, dating from 1891 has been a ministry of 
 sympathy and tenderness, lending itself to the purposes of 
 those who seek out lonely and shut-in sufferers ; to sick rooms 
 and hospitals ; to the bereaved and sorrowing ; or to regiments 
 of men going out to military service, bringing them the last 
 touch of home and native land ; or to the poor who need food 
 or shelter; for all these interests have crept into the Flower 
 Mission, and it has become a sweet charity as well as a solac- 
 ing grace. Mesdames Florence Chick, M. E. Tyron, Maria A. 
 Crowley, N. J. Croake, and Misses Retta Dillas, and Mary 
 Dickson each filled terms of generally one year until 1900 
 when Mrs. Ella S. Pringle came to the office, serving until 
 1906, since when Mrs. E. O. Macomber has taken charge. 
 
 Purity in Literature and Art. 
 
 Mrs. Margaret B. Pelton, the first Superintendent in 1901, 
 still holds the same position ; a woman of fine literary taste, 
 who has with her own ready pen, wrought well in this import- 
 ant line, besides her work through county and local unions. 
 She has been a frequent contributor to various publications, 
 always with tact and grace that enforces the principle for 
 
132 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 which she labors, to purify the press, and suppress matter that 
 is vile, and art that is spurious. 
 
 The World’s W. C. T. U. 
 
 Was temporarily made a department in 1892, while Mrs. D. S. 
 Dickson with her broad vision and ardent enthusiasm could 
 serve as Superintendent, enlisting the interest of others, as she 
 did in the world wide mission of the White Ribbon. 
 
 Work Among Miners. 
 
 Another evangelistic effort for a special class of men, which, 
 while having done excellent work, has had but a limited suc- 
 cess, conducted from 1893 to 1902 by Mesdames Mary Frost, 
 M. Monroe, M. A. Croley, and J. C. Ford. 
 
 Peace and Arbitration. 
 
 This was made a department in 1899, Mrs. Maria Freeman 
 Gray, the present incumbent as the first Superintendent, 
 an able, enthusiastic, and scholarly woman, who with absolute 
 singleness of purpose, has labored earnestly to spread the 
 knowledge and instill the principles of her department; a pains- 
 taking Superintendent unsparing of herself in the detail work 
 of keeping county and local workers up with the rapidly pro- 
 gressing movements of the time. Mrs. Gray is well known in 
 the meetings of the American Peace Association and is a Vice- 
 President of the international society known as the “Alliance 
 Universelle des Femmes pour la Paix,” discharging the duties 
 of that office by correspondence in French. 
 
 School Savings Banks. 
 
 This work was begun in 1899, Mrs. R. A. Emmons was the 
 first Superintendent, followed in 1900 by Mrs. Jennie L. 
 Southworth, in 1902 by Mrs. Franc Lee, Miss Sabra Finch 
 took it in 1904, and excepting one year when Mrs. G. W. Ryan 
 served, has carried the work eA^er since. Mrs. D. J. Spencer, 
 then Associate Superintendent of School Savings Banks in the 
 National, was Department Lecturer from 1903 to 1909. Much 
 seed sowing was done in those earlier years, until like several 
 other departments it popularized itself as the public came to 
 know more of its merits. Women’s Clubs have taken up the 
 work that the W. C. T. U. alone advocated for years, and by 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 133 
 
 this time the large cities and many smaller towns are using 
 this system of thrift teaching. 
 
 Hospital and Almshouse. 
 
 This was adopted in 1894 with Mrs. A. J. Hart, Superintend- 
 ent, and lapsed at her death in 1896. In 1898 Mrs. Clara Starr 
 Wood was made Superintendent and through the county 
 superintendents, did a good work. When she resigned in 1904 
 it was merged with Prison Work, being considered a correlated 
 interest. 
 
 Physical Education. 
 
 Was adopted the same year, 1895, but on the removal of the 
 Superintendent, Mrs. Lilian Shuey, lapsed the next year, and 
 only in 1910 Mrs. Rebecca B, Painton brought zeal and knowl- 
 edge to the department and at once made its importance felt. 
 
 Mercy. 
 
 This department, adopted in 1895, has been fortunate in 
 Superintendents who stay with it. The first, Mrs. Olive E. 
 Gifford, gave eight years of patient, loving service, and was 
 succeeded by Mrs. Mary H. Cartwright in 1903, who still de- 
 votes thought, care and labor to all its demands, inculcating 
 humane ideas and habits of kindness. 
 
 Parliamentary Usage. 
 
 As the unions grew to be more and more deliberative bodies 
 the necessity of systematized study on this subject became 
 urgent, and was taken up in 1902 with Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet 
 as Superintendent, succeeded by Mrs. E. S. Pringle in 1906, 
 and Mrs. Annie L. Barry in 1907. Mrs. Pringle resumed it in 
 1911, and is now doing a work that is developing the ability 
 of women to conduct parliamentary affairs. 
 
 Proportionate and Sytematic Giving. 
 
 This essential department was adopted in 1906. The first 
 Superintendent, Mrs. D. S. Dickson, did faithful work ten 
 years, succeeded by Mrs. Effie D. Whitman in 1906, and Mrs. 
 H. F. Wakefield in 1909. Mrs. Mae M. Whitman came to it 
 in 1912 and is leading onward. 
 
 Institutes. 
 
 This was taken up as a vital necessity in 1904. The first 
 
134 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 superintendent, Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer, having served many 
 years as corresponding secretary, felt deeply the need of these 
 training schools in all the unions and had asked to be relieved 
 of her office, to enter upon this field of labor, which she con- 
 ducted until 1909, when Mrs. Addie Garwood Estes, the pres- 
 ent Superintendent, succeeded her. 
 
 The Institute has taken the place of the old School of Meth- 
 ods, but brings its instruction home to the membership, while 
 the Congress of Reforms serves the purposes of a State Insti- 
 tute. The value of this work cannot be questioned, and its 
 Superintendent has been annually awarded the Institute Star 
 by the National Superintendent for excellent reports of work 
 done, from the first year to the last. 
 
 Gifts and Bequests. < 
 
 This department is more than a matter of ways and means, 
 for it teaches the grace of giving. It was adopted in 1907, Mrs. 
 Helen M. Stoddard, Superintendent. On her removal from 
 the state in 1909 Mrs. Elizabeth Wolfe took it, and besides 
 other active work is now bringing out special literature for its 
 use. 
 
 Rescue. 
 
 This is an outgrowth of the work for social purity. Mrs. 
 Mary C. Daswell was the first Superintendent in 1907, and did 
 a blessed work for the ruined lives of many outcast girls, in the 
 mountain towns to which she had access. Mrs. Harriet Osgood 
 came to it in 1911, and is now carrying forward the same ef- 
 forts and doing systematic work through subordinate helpers. 
 
 Juvenile Courts, Industrial Education, and Child Labor. 
 
 This is a natural offshoot from the Department of Labor, 
 and in its incipiency was embodied in that. Its growing im- 
 portance made another Superintendent necessary and the 
 work was given to Mrs. E. B. Marcen in 1909, and in 1911 to 
 Mrs. Angie Van Buskirk. 
 
 Co-Operation and Missions. 
 
 This department came into being in 1910, Mrs. J. L. Everts, 
 Superintendent, at her decease, it was given to Miss Jennie 
 Lind Redfield in 1912, in whose hands it is proving the actual 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 135 
 
 correlation of the W. C. T. U. to all missionary effort, and 
 interesting mission workers in definite temperance work. 
 
 Civics Centers and Friendly Inns. 
 
 This is a “new edition revised and improved,” of the old idea 
 of Coffee Houses and Reading Rooms. It recognizes the useful 
 points in the saloon, that have made its toleration possible, 
 for if the saloon had not supplied some real want of humanity, 
 to offset its evils, it could not have lived. This department 
 has for its object to teach the need of a harmless substitute for 
 the saloon. In Santa Clara County some model road-houses 
 have been opened and others planned. It is the province of the 
 W. C. T. U. to see the vision of better things, to make it 
 known, and secure the co-operation of other organizations and 
 friends to carry out the thought. This special interest makes 
 this appeal to all to work together for the common good, and 
 looks forward to the time when wholesome public resorts will 
 be provided by municipalities. 
 
 Curfew Law and Policewomen. 
 
 Curfew Laws are a matter of local legislation and have been 
 secured in the larger communities generally by the persistent 
 efforts of women, led if not altogether obtained by the W. C. 
 T. U. under the Purity Department. The appointment of 
 Policewomen was recognized as especially in the lines of the 
 W. C. T. U. interests, so these were combined and this depart- 
 ment created in 1912, Mrs. Effie D. Whitman, Superintendent. 
 
 State Hospitals. 
 
 This is quite a new departure, and has been undertaken in 
 response to a feeling that a study of conditions in the care of 
 patients in these institutions, and a proper psychological 
 treatment might prevent the necessity of taking many sufferers 
 from nervous disorders into hospitals for the insane, where 
 their own conditions would be so aggravated, that inevitably 
 they become insane. 
 
 To promote these objects this department was created in 
 1912 with Mrs. Lillian Hough, Superintendent. 
 
 Personal Work. 
 
 Numerous and diverse as the departments are, there is much 
 good work done that is not reported under any of them. The 
 
136 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 individual woman doing whatever her hands find to do, often 
 produces excellent results. Mrs. Lizzie Nelson Fryer was one 
 of these. She became a member of the W. C. T. U. in China 
 during Mrs. Leavitt’s labors there. On her return to this 
 country with her husband, Prof. John Fryer of the University 
 of California, she wondered that every Christian woman was 
 not a White Ribboner. Recognizing the splendid organiza- 
 tion as the machinery by which latent powers might be 
 brought out and put into action, she entered at once upon the 
 work. With a broad grasp of the subject, she served as Su- 
 perintendent of Purity in 1900, but retired from it the follow- 
 ing year, feeling that her special opportunities with the young 
 people of the University, made that her line of duty. Her at- 
 tractive home was always open to every interest of the union 
 and she drew about her many students to whom it became a 
 social center, interesting them in reform ideas. 
 
 She organized “The Minnehaha Club” of young men and 
 women students, with the same objects as the Young People’s 
 Branch of the W. C. T. U. They held their meetings at her 
 home and constituted a most wholesome element of college 
 life. After her death, the Club dwindled. As its members 
 graduated from college, others did not take their places, until 
 in 1910 the remaining remnant brought together other stud- 
 ents and it became “The Temperance Research Club” of men 
 only. This is affiliated with the “Inter-Collegiate Prohibition 
 Association” and holds regular study classes every year, fifty 
 members were enrolled last year, Mr. G. H. DeKay being their 
 instructor. Mrs. Mary Case Lord had a similar class of young 
 women. Largely through the influence of this club an im- 
 portant educational advance has been made. 
 
 The University has instituted a Scientific Investigation of 
 the Liquor Problem, consisting of a course of fourteen lectures 
 by able men, covering all aspects of the question. It is an 
 optional course and credits will be given to students taking it. 
 
 Official Reporter. 
 
 This was originally an arrangement of the “Union-Signal” 
 to secure reports of the work in this state for its columns. 
 Not having been provided by the state, there is no early record 
 concerning it. Mrs. Nellie B. Eyster, Mrs. Charlton Edholm 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 137 
 
 and Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer served successively in this ca- 
 pacity. When the “Union Signal” suffered a financial stress, 
 Mrs. Spencer voluntarily relinquished the compensation there- 
 tofore given, and made her letters a gift to the official organ. 
 Since then gratuitous reports have become the rule of the 
 paper, and the state makes the appointment. Mrs. Spencer 
 continued to 1898. Mrs. Clare O. Southard followed to 1900, 
 when Mrs. Spencer’s name is again listed. She still serves as 
 “Special Correspondent.” 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Mrs. Mary E. Congdon is the only organizer mentioned in 
 the records of the first four years. She was a woman of re- 
 sources and initiative, acting on original plans that must have 
 developed as exigencies arose. 
 
 Up to the time of the visit of Miss Willard and Miss Gordon 
 in 1883, there had been no help from the East. That visit was 
 inspirational and suggestive. Many unions were organized by 
 Miss Willard, others came up spontaneously. 
 
 Mrs. J. Ellen Foster came in 1884 but in her brief stay could 
 only reach the larger towns. Her magnetic eloquence at- 
 tracted immense audiences and added many members. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Clement Leavitt came next, and began organiz- 
 ing, but her health failing, her task was finished by a visitor, 
 Mrs. Hobart of Minnesota. 
 
 Mrs. Henrietta Skelton had come into prominence in the 
 East and had been appointed Superintendent of “Work 
 Among Germans” by the National. Her only son was wast- 
 ing with consumption, and for his sake she sought the genial 
 climate of California, and came with him to Los Angeles, 
 where he died not long after. Mrs. Skelton then came north 
 looking for her country people to whom she was commis- 
 sioned, and soon found work for herself. “No pent-up Utica 
 confined her powers.” Her alert mind always saw something 
 to do, and could always find a way to do it. Without appoint- 
 ment as an organizer, she organized the first county union. 
 Contra Costa, as well as many local and other county unions. 
 
 In the same year, 1885, a National Organizer, Miss Henri- 
 etta Moore, was sent out and did excellent work. 
 
 In 1886 the first state organizer, Mrs. D. J. Spencer, was offi- 
 cially appointed. Public work was new to her and timidly 
 undertaken, but the fact of having lived many years in the 
 shifting population of the mines, opened the way, for every- 
 where there was someone who had lived in her home town to 
 welcome her. Her first winter was spent at the Legislature 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 139 
 
 in the interest of the “Temperance Education Bill,” giving 
 her experience and prestige for the field work. Her note book 
 tells that in her three years’ service she spoke from the pulpits 
 of fifteen denominations ; an evidence of the heterogenous 
 character of western people. 
 
 Mrs. L. M. Carver was made an organizer for 1888 with spe- 
 cial reference to the needs of San Francisco. 
 
 Mrs. Skelton returned in 1891 and was then officially ap- 
 pointed, serving until her fatal illness in 1899, except in the 
 intervals when laboring in other states under National aus- 
 pices. 
 
 Mrs. Emma Pow Smith, whose life as a city missionary in 
 San Francisco, had been a rare training, was also appointed 
 in 1891, and for two years did valuable and strenuous work 
 in the field. Her health failed temporarily, and while laid 
 aside, she prepared for the ministry, and was in due time or- 
 dained, and took the pastorate of a church. She is now known 
 as Mrs. Bauder, having married Rev. T. J. Bauder, since de- 
 ceased. 
 
 It is safe to say that the utmost bounds of the state were 
 never so nearly reached as while Mrs. Skelton and Mrs. Smith 
 were both in the field. They were equally undaunted, and re- 
 sourceful, reaching communities great and small, making their 
 way about regardless of schedules, for railroad facilities were 
 few then, and stages alarmingly expensive. They made their 
 own routes as they went on, always reporting promptly and 
 often to Headquarters, the marvellous amount of work done, 
 new unions and members gained. 
 
 Mrs. Skelton continuing so long in service has left all 
 over the State deep impressions of her strong individuality 
 and devotion to the cause. Once in the hot valleys of the 
 interior she was overtaken by a wasting fever, and tenderly 
 nursed by the local union until able to be sent to the cooler 
 region of the coast. Once she had an accident by which 
 some bones were broken and others displaced ; again the kind 
 hands of faithful friends ministered to her need until she 
 was able to walk on crutches. For three years, with sublimity 
 of courage, she went about supported by a crutch, until 
 obliged to submit to another surgical operation. Not even 
 
140 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 under these conditions did she cease to plan and write for 
 the beloved cause. 
 
 Miss I. C. DeVelling, who had been long in the same work 
 in the East, was a State organizer in 1898 and 1899, and had 
 her share of tilling the waste places and also brought in her 
 sheaves. The allurements of home and rest led her to retire. 
 She is now with relatives in New York. 
 
 Mrs. S. M. M. Woodman and Mrs. E. G. Greene were also 
 organizers in 1898 and 1899, doing good work but in less ex- 
 tensive fields. 
 
 Mrs. L. F. King received her appointment in 1898, and 
 served to 1907, since when she has resided in Southern Cali- 
 fornia. She was another who traversed the highways and 
 byways, entering all doors of service, speaking in pulpits, or 
 canvassing from house to house with equal readiness. In 
 her quiet motherly way she would call on families, and where 
 nothing else could be done, interest the children and start a 
 Medal Contest, going on to another town, perhaps doing the 
 same thing, and later returning to hold the contests and plant 
 a union if there were none there before. She is the only or- 
 ganizer the State Union has ever been able to send through 
 the far northeastern counties, Modoc and Lassen, involving 
 tedious mountain journeys unrelieved by railroads or auto- 
 mobiles to which those regions are only now being opened. 
 Such heroic labor deserves the monument of lives made bet- 
 ter by its consecrated devotion. Mrs. King was county presi- 
 dent successively of Fresno and Contra Costa. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah J. Dorr was an organizer in 1900. Rev. Mrs. 
 Bridelle C. H. Washburn, a National Organizer, has served 
 the State since 1901. Mrs. Mae Guthrie Tongier, a gifted 
 speaker from Southern California served the year 1904. Mrs. 
 Mary Fletcher Norwood, in 1905, and Mrs. Mary J. Borden 
 since 1909. Mrs. Anna M. DeYo, former president of Fresno 
 county, took up the pilgrim’s staff as a state organizer in 
 1912, and happily has traveling facilities that her early pre- 
 decessors lacked. 
 
 Lecturers. 
 
 Mrs. E. P. Stevens in 1888, Mrs. Nellie B. Eyster, 1891 to 
 1898, Mrs. Elizabeth Ross Miller, 1907 to 1911; Mrs. Sturte- 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 141 
 
 vant-Peet, 1908-1909; Mrs. A. C. Bainbridge, 1909; Mrs. S. 
 M. M. Woodman, 1909-1911. 
 
 Evangelists. 
 
 Miss I. C. DeVelling, 1895; Mrs. E. G. Greene, 1896-1900; 
 Mrs. L. M. Thomson, 1897-1902 ; Mrs. J. L. Everts, 1909. To 
 Chinese, Mrs. J. A. Barrett; to Japanese, Mrs. Mary Bowen. 
 
 Field Secretary. 
 
 Field Secretary, Mrs. Mary F. Norwood, 1907 ; Mrs. A. C. 
 Bainbridge, 1909. 
 
 Pioneer Work in Lassen County. 
 
 From a personal letter. 
 
 “I came to California with m}'^ parents in 1862, and settled 
 in Lassen County, then a wild frontier claimed by both Ne- 
 vada and California, and between the two we were left prin- 
 cipally to our own devices. I was fifteen years old. I taught 
 school that winter and talked temperance to my pupils. I 
 had boys in my school older than myself, who drank and 
 gambled. The trustees expostulated with me but came to 
 the conclusion that I was a harmless fanatic, and as I could 
 not be suppressed would have to be tolerated. I taught five 
 years, and temperance continued to be a part of the curri- 
 culum. 
 
 “My husband was a strong temperance man. He had been 
 in Lassen County two years before I came, when to refuse 
 to drink with a man was a personal affront; he politely de- 
 clined many invitations until at last he was told that he had 
 to drink. He was siezed at once by all who could get hold 
 of him, and pushed to the bar. They got ready to pour the 
 liquor into him, when he said, ‘Gentlemen, I give you fair 
 warning that as soon as I am at liberty I shall shoot the 
 men who pour liquor down my throat.’ He was released 
 and never molested again. I doubt if any other man not a 
 professional ever gave as many temperance lectures as he 
 did. We both talked temperance and equal suffrage in season 
 and out, though we never recognized any out season. We 
 both belonged to the Good Templars, and when the Crusade 
 began I caught the inspiration, and redoubled my efforts, for 
 I thought the end was near, and I wanted to be ‘in at the 
 
142 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 death’ — and still there is work to do. I joined the W. C. T. 
 U. of Nevada in the early 80s and soon organized a union in 
 Susanville, auxiliary to Nevada, but not alone, for we had 
 fifty members. 
 
 “In 1896 Mrs. Henrietta Skelton came and staid six weeks 
 with me. She organized the county auxiliary to the Cali- 
 fornia Union. I was always the whole suffrage committee 
 in the W. C. T. U., it was tolerated on my account, and for 
 years I gave most of my time to Franchise work. I stood 
 alone. Many women agreed with me privately but could 
 not stand for the ridicule. I do not blame them. Even 
 when our first amendment was submitted most of our men 
 thought it a huge joke, but the women came to the front 
 nobly and the men saw that I was not the only woman who 
 felt aggrieved. I feel that my part in the great movement 
 for temperance has been of but small importance, but I have 
 done all that I could. 
 
 “Those who live in ‘the center’ of things cannot realize the 
 isolation of this county. The nearest railroad eastward in 
 Nevada, and two great mountain ranges between us, and 
 our own state proper. Speakers could not come to us and 
 we had to work out our own salvation. My husband’s loyal 
 support and assistance more than doubled my efforts. With- 
 out the work of the W. C. T. U., Equal Suffrage would still 
 be a dream of the future in California. To it more than to 
 any other organization belongs the glory of our recent victory. 
 It educated and organized women. 
 
 “PHILINDA M. SPENCER.” 
 
 The above letter is a reflection of conditions in remote 
 counties, so true to life, and so typical of others that it can- 
 not be withheld. The unions in Lassen have died because 
 so inaccessible, and the whole county is still unorganized. 
 Heroic souls like Mrs. Spencer have kept the light burning. 
 Her husband, Hon. E. V. Spencer, was a tower of strength 
 to every moral interest. He represented his county in the 
 state senate for some years, and was the best friend of equal 
 suffrage in that body in the campaign of 1896. Mrs. Spencer 
 is a fine type of isolated women throughout the state A'.dio, 
 as she says, have each done “all she could.” Her community 
 of interest with her noble husband made her a law student. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 143 
 
 and now that women vote and need the help she can give 
 she is heard of by her able lectures on “Law” to women’s 
 clubs. It seems good that such as she may see the fruit of 
 their labors. She was in the great suffrage demonstration at 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Reminiscences of an Organizer. 
 
 The writer had thought to gather some incidents from the 
 labors of early organizers illustrating the conditions under 
 which the pioneering was done, but finds herself unable to 
 draw from any experience but her own. She begs it to be 
 understood that the stories given are not beyond the exper- 
 ience of others, and similar incidents were common to all, 
 at that time. The organizers worked hard, but not one, was 
 ever known to be conscious of a hardship. The delightful 
 welcome, and helpful sympathy of the homes in which they 
 were entertained obliterated the rembrances of inconven- 
 ience or weariness, and the sense of acceptable service to a 
 great cause sustained them. County organization had not 
 proceeded enough to aid materially in making routes or fixing 
 dates. Often the organizer must do both, almost without 
 chart or compass. 
 
 Once a good man essayed to plan a route through a moun- 
 tain county, assuring the lady that he would arrange for 
 dates, entertainment, transportation, advance advertising, and 
 everything. Just meet him there, that was all. She did, and 
 
 he had forgotten, but said “You just take the stage to S , 
 
 go to Mr. K , he is reliable, he’ll fix everything.” She 
 
 went and found the guests arriving for the reliable man’s 
 wedding. She betook herself to the only public house, and 
 almost melted in the fervent heat of that dreadful day. She 
 had an appointment the next night ten miles away, and no 
 way at all to get there. An itinerant book agent came to her 
 aid. He had a horse and cart, lent out for the day, to be re- 
 turned at six o’clock. “The very thing,” he said, “it will be 
 cooler then, and there’s a full moon, I know the way, and 
 will take you right there.” Nothing could be better. After 
 horse and man had been fed and rested, the journey began. 
 It was a courtesy of the region to call a trail, a road, but in 
 the deep shadows of precipitous and heavily timbered moun- 
 
144 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 tains, all the light of the moon could not keep a trail in sight. 
 Within an hour they were lost. The serene stillness of the 
 night, in the woods, unbroken by the slightest sound of animal 
 life, was wonderful to one who had never felt it before. Up 
 and down the steepest hills the jaded beast went on, the 
 poor man in pity walking by its head. Nothing would induce 
 him to permit the lady to alight or the horse to stop. While 
 he bemoaned his luck in real distress, she was amused by 
 the absurdity of the situation. When weary with walking 
 he would sit awhile in the cart, but try to keep the horse 
 going. Once he said, “Can you sing?” “A little,” she re- 
 plied, and sang a hymn in which he joined with a rich bari- 
 tone that with her piping treble woke strange echoes among 
 the rocks. At intervals this was repeated, and in the small 
 hours the distant bark of a dog was heard. This was followed 
 with difficulty to the solitary cabin of a Swiss hermit. He 
 could speak no English, but kindly led the horse far down 
 the dry bed of a winter torrent to a road, and started him in 
 the wrong direction. The dawning day revealed the mistake, 
 the weary horse was turned about, and at eight o’clock reached 
 the destination, where breakfast, bath and bed awaited the 
 traveller. The book agent disappeared, and not for long 
 after, did his passenger learn that two California lions had 
 been seen in those hills within a day or two. That accounted 
 for his distressing anxiety, and the songs were to frighten 
 wild beasts. , 
 
 The evening appointment was filled. The local saloon had 
 an amusement hall across the road, to which a few people 
 came. The saloon-keeper swept, garnished, and lit up the 
 place, served as usher, took up the collection, — the best on 
 the route, — and while the speaker awaited outside for her 
 escort and his buggy, heard the squeak of a violin, and knew 
 then, that her meeting, like everything else that brought 
 people together there, had been the signal for the dance that 
 was beginning. 
 
 She had once before been lost on a dark and foggy autumn 
 night, when a young man whose best girl lived at the place 
 where she was due to speak, had offered to take her there 
 in a buggy. This was on what was then known as “hog- 
 wallow” land, from its peculiar roughness. There being nei- 
 
SUPERINTENDENTS OE DEPARTMENTS 
 
 MISS MARY HELEN McLEAN 
 Medal 
 
 MRS. N. A. ROWELL 
 
 Contests 
 
 MRS. BIRDIE MINGES 
 Medal Contests 
 
 MRS. L. O. MACOMBER 
 Flower Mission 
 
SUPERINTENDENTS OF DEPARTMENTS 
 
 MRS. S. RENOWDEN BAILEY 
 Song 
 
 :MRS. REBECCA B. PAIXTON 
 Physical Education 
 
 MRS. MARY I. MALLORY 
 Anti-Narcotics 
 
 MRS. C. S. BANKS 
 Foreign 
 
SUPERINTENDENTS OF DEPARTMENTS 
 
 MRS. B. LUELLA CURTIS 
 Puz-ity 
 
 MRS. EMMA P. LONG 
 Lumbermen 
 
 MRS. CHRISTINE ARMSTRONG 
 Sabbath Observance 
 
 MRS. H. F. WAKEFIELD- 
 Systematic Giving 
 
MRS. (). .1. WARD MTi. JAMES WARD 
 
 Sn|)('rliiU'n(len( 
 
 Hoalth iind llereilily 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 145 
 
 ther roads nor fences, the horses circled around, bumping 
 over the uneven plain, but reached the appointed place, as 
 the gathered audience, after spending the evening singing, 
 were about to adjourn. However, they stayed and a union was 
 organized. It being then late, the nearest neighbor took the 
 speaker home. As might be supposed, she was tired and 
 nothing less than what happened, could have disturbed her. 
 During the night the dogs chased a skunk under the house, 
 and the terrified creature was caught just under the floor of 
 her room with the dogs barking on both sides. Her next date 
 was out of the question, — because there was a “rabbit drive.” 
 The entire population of the region for miles around was on 
 the road to Pixley, next morning; the country was deserted. 
 All she could do was to avail herself of a kindly offer to reach 
 the railroad by joining the moving throng. While waiting 
 some hours for a train, she saw the drive. The marvellously 
 vivid description of a “rabbit drive” given by Frank Norris 
 in his story “The Octopus,” might have been written of this 
 identical scene. Dr. Chapman has made good use of the 
 “rabbit drive” in his remarkable little book “Particeps Crim- 
 inis” to illustrate the relation of the public to the liquor 
 traffic. 
 
 She tells of another trip, where stages went through but 
 once a week, and to make connections she must take the 
 chances of a wagon going up the road. A kind farmer had 
 taken her to the next place, after leaving the stage, where she 
 expected to address the men of a tan bark camp, but found 
 instead an audience of adolescent youth, out for fun only, but 
 they were attentive. She waited long next day for a passing 
 team and was at the roadside when one appeared. Having 
 been told that the charge would be one dollar and a half, she 
 asked, money in hand, for passage. The teamster replied 
 gruffly, “I takes no passengers, only freight.” “How much 
 for freight?” she inquired. “A dollar and a half a hundred,” 
 he growled. “All right,” she said, “I weigh just one hundred 
 pounds,” laid down her money, and mounted the high seat 
 of a lumber-wagon for a fifty miles drive. The night was spent 
 at a mountain roadhouse kept by a wornout teacher seeking 
 health in the hills. The good woman supplied a fine lunch 
 for mid-day, and at 4 o’clock the teamster left his freight at 
 
146 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 a camp meeting, where a group of Christian workers had gone 
 to hold such services for the sheep-herders who were tending 
 their flocks in these high summer pastures. To help as best 
 she could a few days at this meeting was a new experience. 
 
 Once she was taken by a skillful Indian driver, to a little 
 nook hidden away behind a mountain, where there was a 
 district school and a few families, to hold an afternoon and 
 evening meeting. At the latter a union was organized, and 
 they wanted another meeting, inviting her to stay all night 
 and go back to town with a passing team next day. The 
 Indian said he “wished she would, for the night was dark, 
 the dug-out road was bad, and one of his mules had never 
 had a harness on before.” That settled it. She stayed. Her 
 hostess was a cultured and refined woman, past middle age, 
 who supported herself and her crippled husband by raising 
 pop-corn, sending it to town, shelled, by some one going 
 by who would exchange it for necessary commodities. In the 
 joy of Christian fellowship she had forgotten her poverty, 
 and the lack in her house of the simplest conveniences of 
 life. She was assured that organizers were prepared for any 
 emergency. So the guest wrapped herself in a roller towel 
 that night, brushed her hair with a wisp broom, before a 
 triangular fraction of looking glass in the morning, and felt 
 that she had been entertained by the King’s own daughter, 
 for never had she met a higher spiritual grace, than in that 
 brave, true woman. At nine o’clock six young women came 
 for a mothers’ meeting, and the eagerness of their hungry 
 souls made her grateful for the opportunity of ministering to 
 their need. 
 
 Perhaps the funniest thing that ever happened on her 
 travels, was once on a regularly made-up route, working to 
 schedule, by a misunderstanding, the lady who was to en- 
 tertain the speaker did not appear. She went from the train 
 to the parsonage, sure of a welcome there, and after the even- 
 ing meeting in the church, a kindly old lady insisted on taking 
 her home. Supposing this was the one who expected to en- 
 tertain her, she went with her. They entered a big comfort- 
 able room which the old lady informed her was her home, 
 presently remarking inquiringly, “I suppose you won’t mind 
 sleeping with me, there’s no other place.” The organizer was 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 147 
 
 too tired to wince. In bed her hostess continued to talk, talk, 
 talk. When the sound was broken by an expectant pause, 
 the guest emitted a sleepy assent, and the talk went on ; and 
 not until a tone of importance was assumed, and she asked 
 “Be you nervous?” was the visitor really awake. The old 
 lady was assured to the contrary, and expressed her satisfac- 
 tion, for, she said, “I’m subject to fits, I thought I’d better 
 tell you, in case I might have one. I ain’t had one lately, 
 but I never know when they’rs coming, they mostly comes 
 nights.” Suppose the stranger had been nervous. Her sense 
 of the ridiculous dispelled the dread of fits and she slept 
 soundly. 
 
 In the morning the old lady took her to a good breakfast 
 under the same roof, at her son’s table, where the family were 
 surprised to learn that “Grandma” had entertained the 
 speaker. 
 
 A precious experience to organizers, is the discovery of 
 isolated workers, who have kept a light burning in dark 
 places, with a persistent fidelity beyond praise. For years 
 there was one White Ribboner, a teacher, in Mariposa County. 
 Her annual subscription to the Ensign kept her in touch with 
 the great movement of which she, in her isolation was a part. 
 
 At a far away ranch, a wedding was the occasion of a 
 friendly reunion unlikely ever to be possible again, and be- 
 fore their separation, they organized themselves as a W. C. 
 T. U., adding the White Ribbon bond to the tender ties of 
 home and kindred. 
 
 There is now a plan by which isolated members may send 
 dues directly to the state and thus “belong” to the great sis- 
 terhood. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The Official Organ and Its Editors. 
 
 Very dear to the hearts of the White Ribboners of Cali- 
 fornia has always been their organ. The little “Bulletin” 
 first of all, how they watched it grow ; it became “The Pharos,” 
 and shed its light on the whole way, like a lighthouse as its 
 name implied, and when it came to be the “Ensign” and 
 weekly, how they loved it. The women have had great pride 
 in the state papers, and the utmost confidence in their editors, 
 who from first to last form a brilliant coterie of ability and 
 worth, and will long be held iri fond remembrance. The first 
 editor, Mrs. P. D. Browne, pioneered the way successfully 
 with the “Bulletin” and “Pharos.” The next, Mrs. R. R. 
 Johnston, edited the initial numbers of the “Ensign” but 
 was obliged to go East after the first month. Mrs. Ada Van 
 Pelt filled the editorial chair six years with great acceptance. 
 She is now living in Los Angeles, and has distinguished herself 
 by securing patents for a number of her own inventions, the 
 most remarkable of which is an electrical device for purifying 
 water, invented since she was seventy years of age. It wall 
 be a pleasure to her old-time friends to hear that she has 
 received the very unusual honor of being elected a member 
 of the French Academy of Science. 
 
 Next came the winsome Nellie Blessing Eyster, and two 
 years her graceful pen and loving care served the “Ensign” 
 and its readers. She was the first president of the San Jose 
 union, was next, state Recording Secretary, and successively 
 superintendent of four departments, editor, lecturer, writer 
 of books, and the most charming story-teller, as thousands of 
 school-boys in the years when she lectured in the schools 
 could testify, as well as the smaller circle at Headquarters. 
 That is a long record of service and growing longer, for she 
 is now on the Committee looking out for the “World’s W. C. 
 T. U. Exhibit” at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Case Lord edited the “Ensign” three years, 
 bringing to it a great soul, a buoyant spirit, and a whimsical 
 wit, more telling than argument. She has denied to these 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 149 
 
 pages the picture of the sweet face the reader would be so 
 glad to see, but many will recall her platform inspiration, con- 
 tagious enthusiasm, and its helpfulness, and in memory see her 
 now as she said “Frances Willard made herself popular doing 
 unpopular things ; and then made unpopular things popular 
 because she did them.” She has a habit still of bringing out a 
 timely and effective leaflet, just at the right time, and sure 
 to be right to the point. Living at Berkeley, she has been 
 doing a valuable work in the instruction of a class of young 
 women students at the University, by weekly lessons in scien- 
 tific temperance, as a part of their college course. Regular 
 text books are used but it may be surmised that the best of 
 the lesson is the teacher. 
 
 Mrs. Clare O. Southard, whose name has appeared in the 
 preceding pages in connection with many good deeds, became 
 editor in 1902, and most efficiently filled the place until earth- 
 quake and fire destroyed everything that went to make up 
 the “Ensign,” as well as her own lovely home. That she 
 cannot lose the elements that made her a good editor is proved 
 by her excellent work as Superintendent of Press. 
 
 The disaster that seemed to shake the “Ensign” out of ex- 
 istence, left it on the hands of another able woman, Mrs. 
 Emily Hoppin, whose experience of eighteen years as state 
 treasurer, and the full complement of local and county work 
 made her thoroughly acquainted with the needs of the readers 
 of a state paper. 
 
 Miss Severance whose special page was the “Overlook,” 
 has earned her laurels, and has the honor of being identified 
 from the first a department that finished its work, when 
 votes were given to women. 
 
 It was designed to have a pictorial page, presenting por- 
 traits of the editors who have endeared themselves to the 
 White Ribbon host perhaps with a more intimate sense, than 
 most others. Their faces have all but one appeared in the 
 official roster, and will be found there identified with their 
 respective offices, but each one is more closely associated with 
 her readers by the regular visits of the paper, than by other 
 official relations. 
 
150 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Headquarters and Fountains. 
 
 It would be interesting to know of all the enterprises the 
 local unions have at various times undertaken. Coffee Houses 
 and Reading Rooms have been too numerous to be reported, 
 and as a survival and outgrowth of this idea, it is hoped that 
 the Friendly Inn may lead on to the public ownership of 
 wholesome places of resort. 
 
 The most ambitious efforts of local unions have been the 
 erection of Headquarters. Those of Stockton and Boulder 
 Creek have been already mentioned. Woodland has its own 
 home with comfortable parlors for meetings or for a resting 
 place, while part of the building is occupied by a printing 
 office where the “White Ribbon Ensign” and “The Home Al- 
 liance” are printed. 
 
 The Campbell union has a real philanthropy in its “Coffee 
 Club and Rest Room.” Located in the heart of a fruit dis- 
 trict, many women and girls are employed in the exhausting 
 labor of the canneries. To afford them a comfortable resting 
 place at the noon hour or when relieved from toil, the union 
 for years maintained a room in a hired building. When this 
 was no longer available, it had been found so useful and de- 
 sirable that they built a house for the purpose. As its name 
 implies, it has facilities for refreshments and all necessary 
 comforts. 
 
 Elk Grove has a two-story building at present occupied as 
 a library and office. 
 
 At Sheridan, in Placer County, a union once came up by 
 spontaneous combustion, organized itself by the fervid ardor 
 of its members, and was thriving before ever a public worker 
 had seen it. The little town had no place for a public meeting 
 and the gallant union built a hall to supply the need, renting it 
 enough to keep up its expenses. There is nothing more strik- 
 ing to the eye of the traveling White Ribboner as the trains 
 pass by, than that plain structure with the big letters W. C. 
 T. U. on its front, like a standing protest against the evils it 
 combats, and a witness to righteous endeavor. Not one is left 
 of those who erected the house, but others have filled their 
 places. 
 
 Sacramento union once had a gift of a city lot on Third 
 St. below K St., a location at that time better adapted to a 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 151 
 
 charitable work than anything else. They put an inexpensive 
 building upon it in 1895 and for eight years maintained a 
 “Children’s Day Home,” where the children of working moth- 
 ers were taken care of while the mothers were at work. When 
 the Humane Officers of the city found neglected children they 
 were taken temporarily to this Home. The property was 
 afterwards sold and $1000 of the money received was given 
 to the “Young Women’s Christian Association” for the per- 
 manent use of a room in their building for local Headquarters 
 and a meeting place. 
 
 The Chico union incorporated some years ago in order to 
 hold its property, which now amounts in value to several 
 thousand dollars. By mutual arrangement the title to the 
 property of several unions is thus held. There are four unions 
 at and near Chico, each holding its local meetings separately 
 but at stated intervals uniting in a federated body for general 
 business. Within the last few years the Chico union has 
 erected the Memorial Temple for its use; the Bidwell Hall 
 on Kennedy Avenue belongs to the “Annie K. Bidwell” union. 
 A wonderfully beautiful natural park at Chico Vicino was a 
 gift from Mrs. Bidwell to the W. C. T. U. 
 
 There is a mining camp in the hills at Magalia, where Mrs. 
 Skelton organized a little union. Its president was Miss Car- 
 rie Brydon, who had come to this out-of-the-world spot in 
 search of health, and sadly missed the moral atmosphere of 
 her earlier life. There were saloons in plenty, but no other 
 place where people might congregate. She proposed to have a 
 church, and there being no other religious organization at 
 Magalia, the W. C. T. U. built a church in 1904 and own it. 
 Sometimes they have regular services for awhile, more often 
 occasional, but there is Sunday School year in and out. Re- 
 movals and death scattered the original members but a few 
 remain to keep alive their principles. Miss Brydon’s object 
 has been to make the church a social center, accordingly a 
 “Ladies’ Aid Society” was organized in 1910. They meet 
 weekly, sew, embroider, make quilts and friends, and hold an 
 annual sale whose proceeds cover expenses and repairs. A 
 kitchen has been added so that the house is equipped for gen- 
 eral social purposes and is certainly promoting public welfare. 
 
 None can say where the W. C. T. U. does its best work. 
 
152 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 but none can be better than in the isolated communities where 
 its very motherliness compels it to assume responsibilities. 
 Through the sparsely settled section of Madera County, for a 
 long time the saloons afforded the only place of recreation. 
 Every saloon had a hall, generously given for any social pur- 
 pose, receiving its compensation from the patronage of men 
 thus placed under obligation. The Spring Valley union real- 
 ized the evil and determined on a remedy by substitution. Be 
 ing unable alone to compass their plan, they co-operated 
 jointly with an Improvement Club in the erection of a Club 
 House in which they have a pleasant place for meetings, for 
 Sunday School and kindred objects, and in connection with it 
 an Auditorium suitable for large gatherings and entertain- 
 ments. The plan has succeeded admirably in its object. 
 
 The Sanger union has a unique property. Feeling long 
 ago that their work should have a local habitation as well as a 
 name, they secured a fine site intending to hold it until they 
 could build. In the meantime religion and morals had reached 
 a low ebb in the town, and the united clergy had decided that 
 a great effort must be made to revive these interests, but 
 there was no building in town large enough for great meetings. 
 For this object the W. C. T. U. lot was the desirable spot. 
 So the women forthwith raised money to erect and equip a 
 building for Evangelistic meetings, all but a good floor for 
 which a temporary substitute was provided. Later the other 
 unions of the county helped to supply that, and with its seats 
 and piano, the “Auditorium of the W. C. T. U.” stands a 
 monument to their faith and an aid to good works. 
 
 Many unions have had their abiding place in a rented room, 
 and some are permanently located in a home that can lend 
 its spare room to such a purpose. 
 
 Sissons, in the far north, was the center of lumber and rail- 
 road interests in that region and the large number of homeless 
 men employed there gave the saloon element easy predomi- 
 nance. Mrs. Skelton organized a union of earnest women there 
 like an outpost in the enemy’s country. Not being an incor- 
 porated town the streets and walks of Sissons were an optional 
 matter. A sidewalk on one side of the main street was pre- 
 sumed to be sufficient, and that side was lined with saloons. 
 The women in disgust refused to walk on it, and built a sub- 
 
MILLER MEMORIAL BUILDING 
 Stockton 
 
 READING ROOM, BOULDER CREEK 
 
COFFEE CLUB AND REST ROOM 
 Campbell 
 
 BIDM'ELL HALL 
 
 The Annie K. Bidwell L^nion, Chico 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 153 
 
 stantial walk on the other side of the street. It has been in 
 use and known as the W. C. T. U. sidewalk for twenty years. 
 Such towns have no fire protection, and when a fire occurs 
 every man fights it. When it is over all are exhausted, and 
 between excitement and thirst the saloons have a harvest. 
 One night there was a big fire at Sissons. All the men rushed 
 to the fire. The president of the W. C. T. U. at once lit her 
 kitchen fire and prepared a wash-boiler full of coffee. Her 
 husband returning, exclaimed, “What’s all this?” For answer 
 she sent him out to invite everybody in to have hot coffee. A 
 saloon-keeper was among the first, and declared he had never 
 had a better drink, little thinking this was done to keep men 
 away from his place. Another case of substitution. 
 
 As far back as 1889 the Fresno union paid thirty dollars a 
 month to keep barrels of ice-water on the streets of Fresno 
 during the hot months. More substitution. 
 
 Next to Reading Rooms the most general effort of the 
 unions was the roadside watering troughs. Such facilities 
 were usually found in front of a saloon. The towns did not 
 provide what the saloon was glad to furnish, and the teamster 
 who did not patronize the bar in recognition of the accommo- 
 dation, was likely to be advised to go on and water his horses 
 somewhere else. In town or country the custom was the 
 same. The unions took up that work early and must have 
 set up miles of watering troughs throughout the state. Grad- 
 ually public authorities have assumed this duty. 
 
 Many beautiful fountains have been erected by the unions. 
 Sacramento in 1890 placed one near the Postoffice by permis- 
 sion of the government, at a cost of $500. Hanford has a 
 very handsome one, conspicuously placed. San Francisco W. 
 C. T. U. placed a fine fountain at one side of the Ferry en- 
 trance, and the California Club a corresponding one on the 
 other side. The Mendocino unions had erected two fountains 
 in 1889. Benicia has a fine one near the old historic State 
 House. Turlock union jointly with a Woman’s Club placed a 
 drinking fountain and watering troughs in that city in 1910. 
 Madera union erected a granite fountain at a cost of $400, in 
 1909. The union at Fowler presented a fine fountain to the 
 city in 1912. Cloverdale, Petaluma, Pacific Grove, Los Gatos, 
 Orland and some others not reported have provided public 
 
154 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 fountains and nearly all have been presented to the towns, 
 which then assume their care. 
 
 Selma has erected a fine fountain. 
 
 It is doubtful if even Miss Willard’s “Do Everything” policy 
 embraced all that the unions have tried. A large Young 
 Woman’s union once planted four miles of shade trees along 
 a mountain road, but alas for the trees — like other good things 
 planted, trees cannot live without constant care. 
 
 In the usual questions on the blank for local reports, is this, 
 “What has been your special work this year?” One union 
 replied, “We have built a fence around a graveyard.” The 
 union that could “find no living thing to do” or do for, prob- 
 ably died a natural death, — it has not been heard from since. 
 
 Campaigns — Berkeley. 
 
 The W. C. T. U. has trained its members to a mental alert- 
 ness that sees possibilities afar off, and in none of its activi- 
 ties is that more evident than in local elections. Some one 
 starts an idea, and pursues it until others are aroused, and it 
 becomes a popular thought. For instance, there occurred in 
 Berkeley in 1905 an incident that led to great results. 
 
 Mrs. Mary H. Cartwright, local Press Superintendent, was 
 going to a newspaper office early one morning, and met upon 
 her threshold a man she had never seen before, or since that 
 time. He pointed at her White Ribbon, saying, “So you be- 
 long to the White Ribbon Army do you? So do I,” and 
 added, “Wouldn’t it be a good thing to have a prohibition 
 clause in the new charter?” That idea was already burning 
 in her brain and she responded, “Of course it would,” and 
 full of the hope that a sympathetic word had imparted, soon 
 found herself in the newspaper office, where, being a frequent 
 visitor she was sure of a welcome. She consulted the kindly 
 editor, Mr. Friend Richardson, who thought there was a pos- 
 sible chance if it could be done in just the right way, asking 
 her for her ideas which she outlined, and then went home to 
 act upon. She wrote to the chairman of the New Charter 
 Committee, not lightly, but with thought and prayer that held 
 her far into the night. The letter was submitted to her news- 
 paper friend, who approved and asked “What next?” “I 
 propose,” she said, “to write to the Improvement Clubs.” This 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION 
 
 155 
 
 she did, and again he approved, had them typewritten and 
 mailed, and then asked her for an article for the “Gazette,” 
 which he would back with an editorial. The letters went to 
 many clubs and were acted upon favorably by the most im- 
 portant. One invited her to, present the matter personally. 
 This was a cross, but had to be done. She talked straight at 
 them for half an hour; then the president said, “Now Mrs. 
 Cartwright, tell us just what you want. ” She sprang to her 
 feet and said, “Just this, gentlemen, that you as an influential 
 body, put yourselves on record in favor of a clause in the new 
 charter forever prohibiting the licensing of liquor-selling in 
 our University town.” The very man who had argued against 
 the proposition when her letter was read at the previous meet- 
 ing, arose and proposed a strong resolution in its favor. It 
 was adopted by unanimous vote, and she went home grateful 
 to God for the victory. Next night the North Berkeley Club 
 did the same, publishing her letter. The Gazette took up the 
 cry, other clubs followed and the campaign went on. The 
 charter when finished was not accepted by the Council. An- 
 other committee was named and all the work had to be re- 
 peated. When nearly done a conservative friend said that this 
 clause might defeat the charter. With ready wit Mrs. Cart- 
 wright said, “Put it on as an addendum to be voted on sepa- 
 rately.” When ready, the prohibition feature was found to 
 be very inconspicuous, while in another place were the omin- 
 ous words, “All business shall be licensed for revenue.” 
 
 The next meeting of the W. C. T. U. was an indignation 
 meeting, and every woman had a copy of the new charter in 
 her hand. A gentleman present offered them 10,000 cards and 
 literature to distribute among the mothers of Berkeley. 
 
 A Woman’s Charter Committee representing all organiza- 
 tions of women was promptly formed, the town systematically 
 canvassed with literature and when the election came, the 
 new charter was carried by six to one, and prohibition by three 
 to one. It had been a struggle of two years and it paid. 
 
 Berkeley is the largest “dry” town in the state. 
 
 Stanislaus. 
 
 Everywhere the women have wrought well in local cam- 
 paigns. Stanislaus has sent the following account of the 
 
156 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 election in that county ; so similar to that of others that it 
 would be superfluous to add to it. 
 
 “May 14th, 1912, will be celebrated as the dry election day. 
 The County Union had just celebrated its twenty-fifth year. 
 All the moral forces united in the campaign — the best speak- 
 ers were secured, and much personal canvassing was done by 
 men and women. The whole county went dry by this election, 
 but Modesto as an incorporated city held a subsequent elec- 
 tion, and went “wet” by 43 votes. In due time the “drys” 
 will call another election.” 
 
 There is a fine inference to be drawn from this victory and 
 the steadily growing membership of the county. 
 
 “From May 1907 to May 1908 — 161 members. 
 
 From May 1908 to May 1909 — 195 members. 
 
 From May 1909 to May 1910 — 303 members. 
 
 From May 1910 to May 1911 — 370 members. 
 
 From May 1911 to May 1912 — 536 members. 
 
 From May 1912 to May 1913 — 662 members. 
 
 The present aim is 1000 members to be reported at State 
 W. C. T. U. Convention in Modesto 1914. We can if we will, 
 and we will.” 
 
 An augmenting force like that promises votes. 
 
 “Dry” Ground. 
 
 An effort has been made to secure data in regard to the 
 extent of territory under prohibitory laws. The report of 
 the Anti-Saloon League of Northern and Central California 
 is complete and up-to-date. The jurisdiction of the League is 
 identical with that embraced in these chronicles, and by their 
 courtesy the statement is given. 
 
 “This portion of the state has forty-eight counties, in which 
 there are 227 Supervisoral Districts outside the incorporated 
 cities. Of these 109 are Dry. There are 146 municipalities, 
 43 of which are Dry. Eleven of the forty-eight counties are 
 Dry.” 
 
 While the map is more than half white, much less than 
 half the population lives unler prohibitory law. The W. C. 
 T. U. has co-operated with all forces working against the 
 liquor traffic, and the dry gains have largely increased since 
 the Suffrage Amendment. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION 
 
 157 
 
 Benefactors. 
 
 The gift of more than $3000 by Dr. Richard Hayes McDon- 
 ald for the specific purpose of inducing the school children of 
 the state to write essays on temperance, was indeed a bene- 
 faction. An account of the work has already been given. It 
 accomplished its object in the schools and gave prestige to 
 the early work of the W. C. T. U. 
 
 Dr. McDonald continued a warm friend and as long as 
 he remained in the state, frequently assisted the undertakings 
 of the Union. 
 
 The preceding narrative has also told of the generous gifts 
 of Mr. Edward Coleman, whose beneficence enabled the state 
 to do another splendid work for the schools, through Mrs. 
 Eyster’s lectures. He never lost interest in the W. C. T. U. 
 after his first gift, and from time to time made contributions 
 to the general work and to such special efforts as claimed 
 his attention. By his will he has bequeathed $5000 to the 
 state union. 
 
 Mrs. J. L. Everts was a generous giver in her life, and be- 
 queathed by her will $2000 to the state union, $2000 to the 
 Tri-county union of which she had been an honored presi- 
 dent, and $1000 to the local union of Santa Cruz, of which 
 she was a member. Her kind intentions were frustrated by 
 the action of the courts. The will was contested and only 
 a moiety of these amounts reached the legatees. 
 
 Mrs. Mary T. McCall recently left by will $500 to the state 
 union and $500 to the local union of San Jose. 
 
 Mrs. Susan L. Locke is a benefactor whose helping hand 
 has often by a timely gift of $100, carried the work over a 
 time of stress or aided in special objects. 
 
 Mrs. Annie K. Bidwell is another who exemplified the 
 “grace of giving,” and has given generously and judiciously 
 to the special objects as they arise. 
 
 The late Mr. Joseph Knowland was a friend indeed whose 
 timely gifts have often met a special object. 
 
 Illustrations. 
 
 The illustrations are presented in the assurance of giving 
 pleasure to the old comrades of those whose portraits appear. 
 
158 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Securing them has been like bringing old friends together. 
 Some will be looked for, that could not be obtained, but many- 
 old associations will be renewed. A beautiful coincidence oc- 
 curs where mother and daughter are at the same time identi- 
 fied with the work. 
 
 Among the state officers are the Vice President at Large, 
 Mrs. Addie G. Estes, and her daughter, Mrs. Ethel Estes 
 Stephenson, Secretary of the “Young People’s Branch.” 
 
 Two successive presidents of Butte County were Mrs. D. 
 W. Gray and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lilian B. Gray. 
 
 Another mother and daughter are Mrs. D. S. Dickson and 
 Mrs. Mary Dickson Hotle, presidents of Sonoma County. 
 
 An interesting trio are Mrs. N. T. Sanders, a veteran whose 
 intelligent devotion has been a factor in the work of Sacra- 
 mento, Solano and Santa Clara Counties where she has lived. 
 When past eighty years of age she was awarded a prize by 
 the National Superintendent of Medical Temperance for the 
 best local report of her department. One of her daughters, 
 Mrs. Effie D. Whitman, has been president successively of 
 Solano and Santa Clara Counties. The other, Mrs. Ella H. 
 Whitman, has been identified especially with Medical Tem- 
 perance in these counties. Only her family cares have kept 
 her from the state work. 
 
 Two familiar faces will recall the striking personality and 
 marked character of Mrs. Sarah C. Harry and Mrs. Mary 
 Smith, always remembered in lifelong association with each 
 other. Mrs. Harry as an ardent suffragist and eloquent 
 speaker, and Mrs. Smith as Superintendent of Medical Tem- 
 perance. 
 
 Another mother and daughter are Mrs. A. B. Gove, Super- 
 intendent of Prison work, and Mrs. Carrie G. Merrall, presi- 
 dent of Contra Costa County. 
 
 The last group represents Mr. and Mrs. Ward. Mrs. O. J. 
 Ward is the honored Superintendent of Health and Heredity, 
 and Mr. James Ward is a helper too well known to be left 
 out. Some years ago they took part in a Silver Gray Suffrage 
 Medal Contest. Mr. Ward forgot his piece, but launched out 
 in an eloquent original oration so superior to the one he had 
 memorized that the Medal was awarded to it. 
 
WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION 
 
 159 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 This simple narrative is closed with the feeling that “all the 
 way we have been led,” has been but the drill, discipline, and 
 experience, in short the novitiate, by which the organization 
 has been made ready to enter upon an era of opportunity; re- 
 sponsibility and service, exceeding by far the limitations of the 
 present. D. J. S. 
 
 W. C. T. U. HYMN. 
 
 Tune — “America.” 
 
 To Thee, O Lord, we raise 
 Our hymn of love and praise 
 For all Thy care! 
 
 Thus far, we know. Thy hand 
 Throughout this wide, wide land. 
 Hath led our Union Band 
 By faith and prayer. 
 
 We know the coming years 
 Seem dark with sin ; and fears 
 Our hearts assail. 
 
 But, with Thy hand to guide 
 And hold us near Thy side. 
 
 We know what’er betide 
 Right will prevail. 
 
 Before Thy throne we bow 
 In humble suppliance; now 
 Thy blessing crave. 
 
 Though dark the storm-clouds lower. 
 Oh, help us in this hour. 
 
 Renewed by quickening power. 
 
 The lost to save. 
 
 And, in the year to be. 
 
 May we Thy glory see 
 To earth descend; 
 
 And from the East and West 
 May all mankind be blest. 
 
 And in Thy keeping rest 
 Till time shall end. 
 
 MRS. GRACE KIMBALL. 
 
160 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA 
 
 Declaration of Principles. 
 
 We believe in the coming of His Kingdom whose service 
 is perfect freedom, because His laws, written in our members 
 as well as in nature and in grace, are perfect, converting the 
 soul. 
 
 We believe in the gospel of the Golden Rule, and that each 
 man’s habits of life should be an example safe and beneficent 
 for every other man to follow. 
 
 We believe that God created both man and woman in His 
 own image, and therefore we believe in one standard of purity 
 for both men and women, and in the equal right of all to hold 
 opinions and to express the same with equal freedom. 
 
 We believe in a living wage; in courts of conciliation and 
 arbitration; in justice as opposed to greed of gain; in “peace 
 on earth and good-will to men.” 
 
 We therefore formulate, and for ourselves adopt the follow- 
 ing pledge, asking our sisters and brothers of a common dan- 
 ger and a common hope, to make common cause with us, in 
 working its reasonable and helpful precepts into the practice 
 of everyday life : 
 
 I hereby solemnly promise, God helping me, to abstain 
 from all distilled, fermented and malt liquors, including wine, 
 beer and cider,* and to employ all proper means to discourage 
 the use of and traffic in the same. 
 
 To confirm and enforce the rationale of this pledge, we de- 
 clare our purpose to educate the young; to form a better 
 public sentiment; to reform, so far as possible, by religious, 
 ethical and scientific means, the drinking classes ; to seek the 
 transforming power of Divine grace for ourselves and all for 
 whom we work, that they and we may wilfully transcend no 
 law of pure and wholesome living ; and finally we pledge our- 
 selves to labor and to pray that all these principles, founded 
 upon the gospel of Christ, may be worked out into the customs 
 of society and the laws of the land. 
 
 ’State and local constitutions can include the words “as a beverage,” 
 if desired. 
 
OFFICIAL ROSTER 
 
 AND 
 
 Index of Portraits 
 
 (Elections always occurring In October, all official terms begin then, 
 except in case of a resignation.) 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 Date of Service. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Mrs. G. S. Abbott 
 
 1879 
 
 to 
 
 1880 
 
 9 
 
 Mrs. P. D. Browne 
 
 1880 
 
 to 
 
 1882 
 
 24 
 
 Mrs. E. H. Gray 
 
 1882 
 
 
 
 
 (Resigned in May, year finished by) 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. P. D. Browne 
 
 1883 
 
 to 
 
 1884 
 
 
 Mrs. S. G. Churchill 
 
 1884 
 
 to 
 
 1888 
 
 24 
 
 Mrs. R. R. Johnston 
 
 1888 
 
 to 
 
 1890 
 
 24 
 
 (Resigned Jan. 6, 1891, and was 
 
 
 
 
 
 succeeded by the First Vice President.) 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. B. Sturtevant-Peet 
 
 -Jan. 1891 
 
 to 
 
 1907 
 
 25 
 
 Mrs. S. J. Dorr 
 
 1907 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 32 
 
 First Vice-Presidents. 
 
 Mrs. John A. McNear 1879 to 1880 
 
 Mrs. G. S. Abbott 1880 to 1882 
 
 Mrs. B. Sturtevant-Peet 1884 to 1891 
 
 Mrs. S. G. Churchill 1891 to 1893 
 
 Mrs. E. G. Greene 1893 to 1899 
 
 Mrs. S. J. Dorr 1899 to 1901 
 
 Vice-Presidents-At-Large 
 
 Mrs. S. J. Dorr 1901 to 1907 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Ross Miller 1907 to 1911 
 
 Mrs. Addie Garwood Estes 1911 to 1913 
 
 9 
 
 25 
 
 24 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 General Secretary. 
 
 Mrs. Mary E. Congdon 1879 to 1883 
 
 Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 Mrs. H. H. Havens 1884 to 1889 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer 1889 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. Henrietta E. Brown 1897 to 1897 
 
 Resigned Jan. 1897, term filled by) 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer 1897 to 1904 
 
 Miss Anna E. Chase 1904 to 1913 
 
 2 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 Recording Secretary. 
 
 Mrs. L. P. Williams 1882 to 1884 
 
 Mrs. A. L. Van Blarcom 1884 to 1885 
 
 Mrs. Nellie Blessing Eyster 1885 to 1887 
 
 Mrs. Mary H. Field 1887 to 1889 
 
 Mrs. Henrietta E. Brown 1889 to 1894 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 32 
 
162 
 
 OFFICIAL ROSTER 
 
 Presidents. ' Date of Service. 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer 1894 to 1897 
 
 Mrs. R. A. Emmons 1897 to 1899 
 
 Mrs. Annie Little Barry 1899 to 1904 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer 1904 to 1906 
 
 Mrs. Addie Garwood Estes 1906 to 1907 
 
 Mrs. Dorps J. Spencer 1907 to 1908 
 
 Mrs. Addie Garwood Estes 1908 to 1911 
 
 Mrs. Emily M. Skoe 1911 to 1913 
 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Mrs. William Elder 1879 to 1880 
 
 Mrs. I. G. Wickersham 1880 to 1882 
 
 Mrs. S. G. Chamberlain 1882 to 1887 
 
 Mrs. M. C. Hart 1887 to 1889 
 
 Mrs. Emily Hoppin 1889 to 1907 
 
 Mrs. Iowa M. Holston 1907 to 1913 
 
 Auditor. 
 
 Dr. C. Annette Buckel 1879 to 1882 
 
 Mrs. Thomas Varney 1882 to 1885 
 
 Mrs. L. M. Carver 1890 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. Joseph Knowland 1885 to 1890 
 
 Mrs. Sarah C. Sanford 1894 to 1895 
 
 Mrs. M. A. Coughlan 1895 to 1896 
 
 Mrs. Blanche English 1896 to 1906 
 
 Mrs. Annie Little Barry 1906 to 1909 
 
 Mrs. Ina Orvis 1909 to 1913 
 
 YOUNG PEOPLE’S BRANCH. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Miss Mabel Sabelman 1900 
 
 (Lapsed) 
 
 Mrs. Alice Newton ;-.1905 to 1908 
 
 Miss Foneta Chase 1908 to 1910 
 
 Mrs. Mary Bosworth Clarke 1910 to 1911 
 
 Mrs. Ethel Estes Stephenson 1911 to 1913 
 
 LOYAL TEMPERANCE LEGION BRANCH. 
 Secretary. 
 
 Mrs. Alice Bowman 1902 to 1905 
 
 Mrs. Mary F. Gilley 1909 to 1913 
 
 COUNTY PRESIDENTS. 
 
 Alameda. 
 
 Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet 1885 to 1891 
 
 Mrs. Sarah C. Sanford 1891 to 1893 
 
 Mrs. Sarah C. Borland 1893 to 1895 
 
 Mrs. N. Jolidan Croake 1895 to 1897 
 
 Mrs. R. R. Johnston 1897 to 1898 
 
 Mrs. M. McLean Hardy 1898 to 1899 
 
 Mrs. Sarah McClees 1899 to 1900 
 
 Mrs. Hattie E. McMath 1900 to 1902 
 
 Mrs. Margaret B. Pelton 1902 to 1903 
 
 Mrs. S. M. M. Woodman 1903 to 1909 
 
 Mrs. Christine Mansfield 1909 to 1912 
 
 Mrs. Rosa D. Barker 1912 to 1913 
 
 Amador. 
 
 Mrs. S. J. Sallee 1887 
 
 Mrs. J. R. Tregloan 1888 to 1892 
 
 Page. 
 
 32 
 
 48 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 32 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 97 
 
 32 
 
 49 
 
 49 
 
 25 
 
 48 
 
 56 
 
 56 
 
 24 
 
 56 
 
 56 
 
 56 
 
 56 
 
OFFICIAL ROSTER 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 Date of Service. 
 
 Mrs. E. J. Towrns 1892 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. C. M. Cooper 1895 to 1897 
 
 .Mrs. S. P. Sallee 1897 to 1899 
 
 Mrs. L. J. Fassett 1899 to 1913 
 
 Butte. 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas W. Gray 1890 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. L. A. B. Curtis 1894 to 1896 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas W. Gray 1896 to 1897 
 
 Mrs. Annie K. Bidwell 1897 to 1901 
 
 Mrs. Mary M. Thornton 1901 to 1903 
 
 Mrs. Lilian F. B. Gray 1903 to 1904 
 
 Mrs. Anna K. Bidwell 1904 to 1910 
 
 Mrs. Mary M. Thornton 1910 to 1912 
 
 Mrs. Estelle Baltimore 1912 to 1913 
 
 OiS'Vcr^s 
 
 Mrs. Jennie A. Bennett 1892 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. Susan Wright 1894 
 
 Mrs. Lois B. Shank 1895 
 
 (Calaveras joined with San Joaquin in a bi-County Union.) 
 
 Colusa. 
 
 (Then including Glenn Co.) 
 
 Mrs. Harriet Richey 1891 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. Emma J. Hall 1894 
 
 Mrs. W. W. Kilgore 1904 
 
 (Lapsed and then became a tri-county, 
 with Tehama and Glenn.) 
 
 Mrs. W. W. Kilgore 1911 to 1913 
 
 Contra Costa. 
 
 Mrs. Adella B. Schott 1885 to 1888 
 
 Mrs. L. J. Wills 1888 to 1890 
 
 Mrs. C. M. Olliver 1888 to 1890 
 
 Mrs. L. J. Wills 1890 to 1892 
 
 Mrs. Carrie G. Merrall 1892 to 1893 
 
 Mrs. Oma R. Miller 1893 to 1895 
 
 Mrs. A. T. Richardson 1895 to 1896 
 
 Mrs. Oma R. Miller 1896 to 1899 
 
 Mrs. M. E. Bowers 1899 to 1901 
 
 Mrs. L. F. King 1901 to 1903 
 
 Mrs. A. Smith 1903 to 1904 
 
 Mrs. Alice D. Dickenson 1904 to 1913 
 
 Del Norte. 
 
 Mrs. K. L. Cooper 1893 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. C. E. Winning 1895 
 
 El Dorado 
 
 Mrs. L. M. Worth 1892 to 1893 
 
 Mrs. S. G. Beach 1893 to 1896 
 
 (Organization lapsed.) 
 
 Mrs. Anna M. Arnot 1906 to 1913 
 
 Fresno 
 
 Mrs. S. J. Kahler 1885 to 1886 
 
 Mrs. J. G. Tuttle 1886 to 1888 
 
 Mrs. Emma R. Colwell 1888 to 1890 
 
 Mrs. Reba Smith 1890 to 1891 
 
164 
 
 OFFICIAL ROSTER 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 Mrs. Fanny Wood 
 
 Mrs. L. F. Young 
 
 Miss Clara Boyer 
 
 Mrs. Emily Webb Giesey 
 
 Rev. Mary J. Borden 
 
 Mrs. L. F. King 
 
 Mrs. H. H. Tyler 
 
 (Included Madera as bi-County.) 
 
 Mrs. M. K. Pickerell 
 
 Miss Lizzie Webb 
 
 Mrs. M. B. Pelton 
 
 Rev. Mary J. Borden 
 
 Mrs. Anna M. DeYo 
 
 Mrs. Anna M. Pettit 
 
 (Madera withdrawn, 1913.) 
 
 Humboldt 
 
 Mrs. B. F. Bergen 
 
 Mrs. A. M. Gill 
 
 Mrs. R. Taylor 
 
 Mrs. J. W. Kelley 
 
 Mrs. M. L. Brown 
 
 Mrs. B. F. Farmer 
 
 Mrs. Jessie B. Thomson 
 
 Mrs. E. L. Burch 
 
 Mrs. E. T. Hanson 
 
 Mrs. M. S. Drake 
 
 Mrs. Alice M. Peebles 
 
 Mrs. Jessie B. Thomson 
 
 Mrs. Margaret Morgan 
 
 Mrs. Alice Bardford 
 
 Lake 
 
 Miss L. J. Torrey 
 
 Mrs. H. N. S. Newton 
 
 Mrs. R. A. Lyon 
 
 Mrs. Viola Boardman 
 
 Mrs. Emma T. Ramsdell 
 
 Lassen 
 
 Mrs. E. V. Spencer 
 
 Madera 
 
 Mrs. Ida Tulley Jones 
 
 Mendocino 
 
 Mrs. B. G. Mast 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Ross Miller 
 
 Mrs. Myrtle Saxon 
 
 Merced 
 
 Mrs. Mary Norwood Ostrander 
 
 Mrs. C. H. Castle 
 
 Mrs-. M. N. Ostrander 
 
 Mrs. M. M. Elmore 
 
 Modoc 
 
 Mrs. E. E. Sparger 
 
 Date of 
 
 Service. 
 
 Page. 
 
 1891 
 
 to 
 
 1892 
 
 112 
 
 1892 
 
 to 
 
 1893 
 
 
 1893 
 
 to 
 
 1895 
 
 64 
 
 1895 
 
 to 
 
 1896 
 
 
 1896 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 64 
 
 1897 
 
 to 
 
 1898 
 
 64 
 
 1898 
 
 to 
 
 1901 
 
 64 
 
 1901 
 
 to 
 
 1902 
 
 
 1902 
 
 to 
 
 1905 
 
 
 1905 
 
 to 
 
 1908 
 
 56 
 
 1908 
 
 to 
 
 1911 
 
 
 1911 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 64 
 
 1913 
 
 
 
 
 1888 
 
 to 
 
 1889 
 
 
 1889 
 
 to 
 
 1890 
 
 
 1890 
 
 to 
 
 1892 
 
 
 1892 
 
 to 
 
 1893 
 
 
 1894 
 
 to 
 
 1896 
 
 65 
 
 .1896 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 
 .1897 
 
 to 
 
 1899 
 
 
 1899 
 
 to 
 
 1900 
 
 
 .1900 
 
 to 
 
 1901 
 
 
 .1901 
 
 to 
 
 1902 
 
 
 .1902 
 
 to 
 
 1904 
 
 65 
 
 .1904 
 
 to 
 
 1909 
 
 
 .1909 
 
 to 
 
 1911 
 
 
 .1911 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 
 ■1890 
 
 to 
 
 1892 
 
 
 .1892 
 
 to 
 
 1894 
 
 65 
 
 ..1894 
 
 to 
 
 1895 
 
 
 ..1895 
 
 to 
 
 1896 
 
 
 ..1896 
 
 to 
 
 1901 
 
 
 ...1896 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 65 
 
 ...1907 
 
 to 
 
 1911 
 
 64 
 
 ...1888 
 
 to 
 
 1894 
 
 
 ...1894 
 
 to 
 
 1912 
 
 32 
 
 ...1912 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 
 ...1908 
 
 to 
 
 1909 
 
 80 
 
 ...1909 
 
 to 
 
 1912 
 
 
 ...1912 
 
 ...1913 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 129 
 
 ...1896 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 
OFFICIAL ROSTER 
 
 16S 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 Date of Service. Page. 
 
 Napa 
 
 Mrs. W. W. Stillwagon 
 
 (Reorganized.) 
 
 Mrs. Viola R. Tays 
 
 Mrs. Clara Elliott 
 
 Mrs. Ellen C. Taylor 
 
 Mrs. A. W. Norton 
 
 Mrs. Emma Mooney 
 
 Mrs. Viola R. Tays 
 
 Mrs. Olliver Smith 
 
 (Lapsed.) 
 
 Mrs. Mae Tompkins 
 
 Nevada 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer 
 
 Mrs. H. J. Merritt 
 
 Mrs. L. E. Everett 
 
 Mrs. A. H. Needham 
 
 Mrs. A. J. Rapp 
 
 Mrs. Juliet Lukey 
 
 Mrs. E. S. Hathaway 
 
 Placer 
 
 Mrs. T. P. Marston 
 
 Mrs. Mary Bell Mallory, M. D 
 
 Mrs. M. Fanny Theiss 
 
 Mrs. Maria A. Croly 
 
 Mrs. Susannah Van Lennep 
 
 Mrs. S. E. Callen 
 
 Mrs. Harriet B. Watt 
 
 Mrs. Della Fassett 
 
 Mrs. Carrie Gladding 
 
 Plumas 
 
 Mrs. M. L. Drew 
 
 Miss Tillie Kruger 
 
 Mrs. F. G. Hail 
 
 Sacramento 
 
 Mrs. C. E. McKelvey 
 
 Mrs. Margaret B. Willis 
 
 Mrs. Jennie Dixon 
 
 Mrs. E. H. Waggoner 
 
 Mrs. M. E. Jenks 
 
 Mrs. Margaret B. Willis 
 
 (El Dorado was joined in bi-county in 1899.) 
 
 Mrs. R. E. McMullen 
 
 Miss Sabra Finch 
 
 Mrs. Alice Stalker 
 
 (El Dorado withdrawn in 1906.) 
 
 Mrs. Alice B. Hinman 
 
 San Francisco. 
 
 Mrs. Laura P. Williams 
 
 Mrs. L. M. Carver 
 
 Mrs. Laura P. Williams 
 
 Mrs. Maria Freeman Gray 
 
 Mrs. Rose M. French 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 Ol 
 
 to 
 
 1886 
 
 
 -.1891 
 
 to 
 
 1893 
 
 
 -1893 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 
 -1897 
 
 to 
 
 1899 
 
 
 -1899 
 
 to 
 
 1901 
 
 80 
 
 -1901 
 
 to 
 
 1902 
 
 
 -1902 
 
 to 
 
 1903 
 
 
 -1903 
 
 to 
 
 1904 
 
 
 -1913 
 
 -1885 
 
 to 
 
 1888 
 
 32 
 
 -1888 
 
 to 
 
 1889 
 
 
 -1889 
 
 to 
 
 1890 
 
 80 
 
 —1890 
 
 to 
 
 1891 
 
 
 -1891 
 
 to 
 
 1898 
 
 
 -.1898 
 
 to 
 
 1900 
 
 80 
 
 ....1900 
 
 to 
 
 1903 
 
 
 ....1891 
 
 to 
 
 1890 
 
 1894 
 
 81 
 
 ....1894 
 
 to 
 
 1895 
 
 
 ....1895 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 
 ....1897 
 
 to 
 
 1900 
 
 
 ....1900 
 
 to 
 
 1908 
 
 81 
 
 ....1908 
 
 to 
 
 1910 
 
 81 
 
 ....1910 
 
 to 
 
 1912 
 
 
 ....1912 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 
 —1890 
 
 to 
 
 1891 
 
 
 ....1895 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 
 ....1897 
 
 to 
 
 1901 
 
 81 
 
 ....1891 
 
 to 
 
 1890 
 
 1893 
 
 80 
 
 —1893 
 
 to 
 
 1895 
 
 80 
 
 ....1895 
 
 to 
 
 1896 
 
 
 -.1896 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 80 
 
 ....1897 
 
 to 
 
 1901 
 
 
 ....1901 
 
 to 
 
 1902 
 
 
 ....1902 
 
 to 
 
 1903 
 
 80 
 
 ....1903 
 
 to 
 
 1906 
 
 80 
 
 1906 tol913 
 
 80 
 
 ....1885 
 
 to 
 
 1887 
 
 48 
 
 ....1887 to 
 
 1890 
 
 
 ....1890 
 
 to 
 
 1891 
 
 
 ....1891 
 
 to 
 
 1892 
 
 120 
 
 ....1892 to 
 
 1893 
 
 88 
 
166 
 
 OFFICIAL ROSTER 
 
 Presidents. Date of Service. 
 
 Mrs. Laura P. Williams 1893 to 1894 
 
 Miss S. M. N. Cummings 1894 to 1895 
 
 Mrs. Lydia F. Luse 1895 to 1897 
 
 Mrs. Annie Little Barry 1897 to 1898 
 
 Mrs. Maria Freeman Gray 1898 to 1900 
 
 Mrs. Alice E. Bradley 1900 to 1905 
 
 Mrs. Augusta C. Bainbridge 1905 to 1907 
 
 Mrs. Alice E. Bradley 1907 to 1913 
 
 San Luis Obispo 
 
 Mrs. M. A. Frick 
 
 Mrs. M. H. Whitmer 
 
 Mrs. J. Janette Coyle 
 
 Mrs. M. H. Whitmer 
 
 Mrs. Helen Stewart 
 
 Mrs. Nora Tanner 
 
 Mrs. Fanny Wood ’ 1885 to 1886 
 
 Mrs. Adeline M. Gates 1886 to 1887 
 
 Mrs. H. B. Ladd 1887 to 1888 
 
 Mrs. S. M. Wyllie , 1888 to 1890 
 
 Mrs. Henrietta E. Brown 1890 to 1891 
 
 Mrs. S. J. Churchill 1891 to 1897 
 
 Mrs. Sara E. Ayres 1897 to 1903 
 
 (San Mateo Co. came into bi-county.) 
 
 Miss Sarah M Severance 1904 
 
 Mrs. Effie D. Whitman 1904 to 1906 
 
 Mrs. Sara J. Dorr 1906 to 1908 
 
 Miss Isola Kennedy 1909 
 
 (San Mateo withdrawn in 1910.) 
 
 Mrs. Effie D. Whitman 1909 to 1912 
 
 (Resigned and term filled by Mrs. I. M. Holston.) 
 
 Mrs. Ina Orvis 1912 to 1913 
 
 San Joaquin 
 
 Mrs. S. J. Salinger 1886 to 1888 
 
 Mrs. P. H. Truax 1888 to 1890 
 
 Mrs. M. W. McMaster 1890 to 1891 
 
 Mrs. H. R. Schomp 1891 to 1892 
 
 Mrs. Sara J. Dorr 1892 to 1894 
 
 Mrs. Laura E. Knowles 1894 to 1897 
 
 (Annexed Calaveras as bi-county in 1895.) 
 
 Mrs. George Hyde 1897 to 1898 
 
 Mrs. Susan L. Locke 1898 to 1899 
 
 Mrs. Luda S. Reynolds 1899 to 1890 
 
 Mrs. Addie G. Estes 1900 to 1903 
 
 Mrs. Nellie Goodwin 1903 to 1905 
 
 Mrs. Addie G. Estes 1905 to 1907 
 
 Mrs. Angie Van Buskirk 1907 to 1911 
 
 (Calaveras withdrawn in 1911.) 
 
 Mrs. Edith Moulton 1911 to 1913 
 
 Mrs. Alice Murphy 1913 
 
 Shasta 
 
 Mrs. Mary L. Nourse 1891 
 
 Mrs. J. H. Summer 1891 to 1894 
 
 Miss Rosaline N. Bell 1894 to 1895 
 
 Mrs. J. L. Bell 1895 to 1897 
 
 1895 to 1896 
 
 1896 to 1897 
 1898 to 1901 
 1901 to 1907 
 
 1907 to 1908 
 
 1908 to 1912 
 
 Page. 
 
 48 
 
 88 
 
 48 
 
 88 
 
 88 
 
 112 
 
 112 
 
 96 
 
 96 
 
 96 
 
 32 
 
 24 
 
 96 
 
 49 
 
 96 
 
 32 
 
 96 
 
 48 
 
 88 
 
 32 
 
 88 
 
 88 
 
 32 
 
 88 
 
 32 
 
 88 
 
 88 
 
OFFICIAI. ROSTER 
 
 167 
 
 Presidents. 
 Mrs. H. C. Gle 
 
 Siskiyou. 
 
 (Lapsed) 
 
 Mrs. E. 
 
 Solano. 
 
 Mrs. C. A. Hutton.. 
 Mrs. Mary Dillas 
 
 Mrs. Effie D. Whitman- 
 
 Mrs. Nina S. Sheppa 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth D. Biggs- 
 
 Mrs. M. E. Mallett 
 
 Mrs. Alice Coombs 
 Mrs. Jessie S. Clarke.— 
 
 Mrs. L. M. Hutton-. 
 Mrs. E. M. Higby.. 
 
 Sonoma. 
 
 Mrs. D. S. Dickson 
 
 (Marin County was joined as a bi-county.) 
 
 Mrs. A. J. Wheeler 
 
 Mrs. E. H. Button 
 
 Mrs. D. S. Dickson.. 
 
 (Marin County withdrawn.) 
 
 Stanislaus 
 
 (Lapsed.) 
 
 Mrs. A. D. Smith 
 
 Miss A. A. Mansfield.. 
 
 Tuolumne 
 
 Date of Service. 
 
 Page. 
 
 1897 to 
 
 1902 
 
 
 1902 to 
 
 1903 
 
 
 1903 to 
 
 1904 
 
 
 1904 to 
 
 1905 
 
 
 1905 to 
 
 1908 
 
 
 1893 to 
 
 1894 
 
 80 
 
 1894 to 
 
 1895 
 
 
 1911 to 
 
 1913 
 
 
 
 1890 
 
 89 
 
 1890 to 
 
 1895 
 
 89 
 
 1895 to 
 
 1898 
 
 
 1898 to 
 
 1901 
 
 
 1901 to 
 
 1902 
 
 96 
 
 1902 to 
 
 1904 
 
 89 
 
 1904 to 
 
 1907 
 
 89 
 
 1907 to 
 
 1908 
 
 
 1908 to 
 
 1909 
 
 
 1909 to 
 
 1913 
 
 
 1886 to 
 
 1888 
 
 96 
 
 1888 to 
 
 1889 
 
 
 1889 to 
 
 J890 
 
 
 1890 to 
 
 1894 
 
 96 
 
 1894 to 
 
 1900 
 
 
 1900 to 
 
 1901 
 
 
 1901 to 
 
 1902 
 
 
 1902 to 
 
 1905 
 
 96 
 
 1905 to 
 
 1907 
 
 
 1907 to 
 
 1910 
 
 
 1910 to 
 
 1911 
 
 
 1911 to 
 
 1912 
 
 96 
 
 1912 to 
 
 1913 
 
 48 
 
 1887 to 
 
 1889 
 
 112 
 
 1889 to 
 
 1892 
 
 112 
 
 1892 to 
 
 1897 
 
 112 
 
 1897 to 
 
 1898 
 
 
 1898 to 
 
 1899 
 
 
 1899 to 
 
 1900 
 
 
 1907 to 
 
 1913 
 
 112 
 
 
 1892 
 
 
 
 1893 
 
 
 TRI-COUNTY UNION 
 
 Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz 
 
 Mrs. Duncan Berry 1886 to 1888 
 
 Mrs. J. L. Everts 1888 to 1892 
 
 Mrs. E. G. Greene 1892 to 1899 
 
 112 
 
 112 
 
 32 
 
168 
 
 OFFICIAL ROSTER 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 Date of Service. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Sara J. Dorr 
 
 1899 
 
 to 
 
 1903 
 
 32 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Iowa M. Holston 
 
 1903 
 
 to 
 
 1908 
 
 48 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Margaret Coleman 
 
 1908 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 112 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Ella S. Pringle 
 
 1913 
 
 
 
 145 
 
 
 Tulare 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 M. F. Kline 
 
 1885 
 
 to 
 
 1888 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 R. A. Hawkins 
 
 1888 
 
 to 
 
 1892 
 
 112 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Lucy F. Sharp 
 
 1892 
 
 to 
 
 1894 
 
 
 (Kings County joined in bi-county.) 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Lizzie H. Dopkins 
 
 1894 
 
 to 
 
 1896 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Jennie Whittington - 
 
 1896 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Lizzie H. Dopkins 
 
 1897 
 
 to 
 
 1898 
 
 
 Mrs.- 
 
 Flora Savage 
 
 1898 
 
 to 
 
 1899 
 
 112 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 E. Ballagh 
 
 1899 
 
 to 
 
 1900 
 
 
 (Lapsed.) 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Lydia Horseman 
 
 1903 
 
 to 
 
 1905 
 
 112 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Rachel Bartholemew 
 
 1905 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 112 
 
 
 Yolo 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Emily Hoppin 
 
 1887 
 
 to 
 
 1890 
 
 48 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Ruth A. Armstrong 
 
 1890 
 
 to 
 
 1895 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 E. C. Laugenour ’ 
 
 1895 
 
 to 
 
 1897 
 
 97 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Annie Hilliker 
 
 1897 
 
 to 
 
 1899 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 T. D. Morin 
 
 1899 
 
 to 
 
 1900 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 S. A. Huston 
 
 1900 
 
 to 
 
 1904 
 
 97 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Emily Hoppin 
 
 1904 
 
 to 
 
 1905 
 
 48 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Alice Scarlett 
 
 1905 
 
 to 
 
 1906 
 
 97 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 S. A. Huston 
 
 1906 
 
 to 
 
 1910 
 
 97 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 George Pierce 
 
 1910 
 
 to 
 
 1912 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Alice Scarlett 
 
 1912 
 
 to 
 
 1913 
 
 
 
 Yuba and Sutter 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Ida Frances Lee 
 
 1891 
 
 to 
 
 1893 
 
 80 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Coombs 
 
 1893 
 
 to 
 
 1894 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Ida Frances Lee 
 
 1894 
 
 to 
 
 1896 
 
 
 Mrs. 
 
 Justus Greely 
 
 1896 
 
 to 
 
 1907 
 
 
 PORTRAITS OF ORGANIZERS, 
 EVANGELISTS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND OTHERS. 
 
 Armstrong, Mrs. Christine 144 
 
 Bailey, Mrs. S. Renowden 144 
 
 Barrett, Mrs. Julia A 120 
 
 Bauder, Mrs. Emma Pow 120 
 
 Bean, Mrs. Hannah 96 
 
 Bentley, Mrs. Frances H 128 
 
 Bidwell, Mrs. Annie K 56 
 
 Bidwell, Gen. John 56 
 
 Bidwell Hall, Chico 153 
 
 Boalt, Mrs. C. M. 5 
 
 Bowen, Mrs. Mary E 120 
 
 Cartwright, Mrs. M. H 128 
 
 Coffee Club and Rest Room, Campbell 153 
 
 Coleman, Mr. Edward 121 
 
 Coleman, Mrs. Edward 5 
 
 Cook, Mrs. M. N 129 
 
INDEX OF PORTRAITS 
 
 169 
 
 Curtis, Mrs. E. Luella 144 
 
 Danks, Mrs. C. S 144 
 
 De Veiling, Miss I. C 120 
 
 Dibble, Mrs. A. B - 5 
 
 Edholm-Sibley, Mrs. Charlton 120 
 
 Ellis, Mrs. Margaret Dye 4 
 
 Elrnore, Mrs. Mary M 129 
 
 Parish, Mrs. E. W 128 
 
 Fryer, Mrs. Eliza Nelson 128 
 
 Gray, Mrs. M. F 120 
 
 Gove, Mrs. A. B 128 
 
 Harry Mrs. S. C. 88 
 
 Headquarters 33 
 
 Kimball, Mrs. G. M - 128 
 
 Long, Mrs. E. P 144 
 
 Macomber. Mrs. L 0 144 
 
 Mallory, Mrs. Mary 1 144 
 
 McDonald. Dr. R. H 121 
 
 McLean, Miss M. H 144 
 
 Mathews, Mrs. Pauline 56 
 
 Miller Memorial Building, Stockton 152 
 
 Minges, Mrs. B 144 
 
 Painton, Mrs. R. B 144 
 
 Pringle, Mrs. Ella S 145 
 
 Reading Room, Boulder Creek 152 
 
 Refugee Camp 113 
 
 Rowell, Mrs. N. A 144 
 
 Russell, Mrs. Joel 128 
 
 Sanders, Mrs. N. T 96 
 
 Shelley, Mrs. E. H 129 
 
 Skelton, Mrs. H. 120 
 
 Smith, Mrs. Mary 88 
 
 Southard, Mrs. C. 0 128 
 
 Stoddard, Mrs. G. A 5 
 
 Teats, Mrs. M. E 120 
 
 Thomson, Mrs. L. M 120 
 
 Vaslit-Hackett, Mrs. S. F 129 
 
 Ward, Mrs. O. J 145 
 
 Ward, Mr. James 145 
 
 Wakefield, Mrs. H. F 144 
 
 Washburn, Rev. B. C. H 120 
 
 Watson, Mrs. E. L 49 
 
 Whitman, Mrs. Ella A. 96 
 
 Whitman, Mrs. Mae M 120 
 
 Whtney, Mrs. Susan D 128 
 
 Wolfe, Mrs. Elizabeth 145 
 
 Young, Dr. C. F. 56 
 
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 1 
 
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