Mumps, Hops

Twenty years ago the Women's Christian Temperance Union and their fellow fighters had the satisfaction of seeing the U. S., preoccupied with the effects of World War I, vote liquor out. Liquor came in again almost 15 years later, but the W.C.T.U. was only momentarily daunted. Meeting in annual convention in Rochester, N. Y., last week, during World War II, 1,700 temperate Christian delegates heard President Ida B. Wise Smith proclaim that "there is no doubt prohibition will return--the only question is when." The W.C.T.U. wants prohibition or nothing. Says Mrs. Ella Boole, world president of W.C.T.U.: "Moderation points the way to excessive indulgence. Total abstinence closes the door. We have always been opposed to moderation."

Barred from a scheduled visit to the birthplace of Frances Willard* because the present occupants were quarantined with mumps, the delegates regaled themselves with such intricate concoctions as "Mug o' Joy," "Blackbird Giggles," "Sawdust Specials" (innocuous potions designed to show the superiority of nonalcoholic drinks over alcoholic ones), witnessed a pageant called "World Night" directed by Mrs. Boole, who announced that the war was interfering with the society's work, tied white ribbons on the wrists of twelve infants whose mothers pledged them to total abstinence, minimized the loss of Tennessee from the dry column, re-elected Mrs. Smith president, went home to their dry houses.

Meantime in Manhattan, 500 members of the United Brewers Industrial Foundation worried about the possible war shortage of hops unless the U. S. modifies its acreage restrictions, deplored "unsocial" conditions in some bars, with an eye on such sleepless adversaries as Mrs. Boole's W.C.T.U., pointed proudly to their good housekeeping in cleaning up dubious dispensaries (resulting in the suspension of 120 licenses in seven States), elected tanned, towering, outdoorsy Carl Baden-hausen president, went home to their breweries.

*Founder of W.C.T.U., whose centenary it was.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.