Encyclopedia Dubuque
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WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. The Dubuque chapter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was formed by thirty women on October 13, 1875. Officers of the organization included Mrs. J. P. Poor, president; Mrs. R. E. Bishop, Mrs. J. L. McCreery, Mrs. W.. P. Large, Mrs. C. E. Whdeler, Mrs. C. E. Hetherington, and Mrs. M. M. Trumbull, vice-presidents; Miss I. W. Hetherington, recording secretary; Mrs. D. N. Cooley, corresponding Secretary; ad Mrs. S. D. Nichols, treasurer. Mrs. D. N. Cooley was also appointed the Superintendent of Young People's Work.
It was declined for the time being to unite with the INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF GOOD TEMPLARS in a series of Sunday afternoon meetings.
Reverend J. H. Rhea and Rev. Ostrander assured the members of their personal cooperation.
A proposition was made that the Union address a petition to the ladies of Dubuque asking them to refrain from offering intoxicating liquors to their callers New Year's Day. This was printed in the Times and Herald.
A committee was appointed by the president to go to each church urging the pastors and official members of the necessity of a reform in the use of fermented wine at the Lord's Supper.
There were at the time 150 saloons in the city: German, 125; Irish and American, 15; English and French, 10.
Francis Murphy gave four lectures for the union and three hundred people signed the pledge of total abstinence. (1)
On January 29, 1878 some members of the organization became the LADIES' TEMPERANCE LEAGUE OF DUBUQUE.
Work of the W. C. T. U. continued. On June 27, 1882 an all-day prayer meeting was held at First Congregational Church (later [[FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST). Different ladies presided at different hours beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. From noon until 1:00 p.m. one of the pastors of the city presided. This time was chosen to benefit the business men who were invited to join the services if only for five minutes. The session from 3:00-5:00 p.m., the usual hours of the W. C. T. U. meeting were lead by Mrs. D. N. Cooley, the president. Among the mottoes for the day were read including: (2)
The dollar that does to the brewer goes not to the merchant.
Beautify your own, and not the brewer's home.
Many drunkards of to-day are the sons of moderate drinkers.
Determined to solve the problems of alcohol, the W. C. T. U. fell for bonus claims of remedies. Advertisements for one of these was printed locally between 1902-1904. In 1913 reports from the national convention of the W. C. T. U. found the organization advocating for temperance in dress which would result in the banishment of the decolette gown and the slit skirt. (3)
In January 1945 the president of the World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union called for the closing of all liquor stores in the nation for 48 hours after Germany surrendered. (4)
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Source:
1. Drummond, A. A. Mrs. "History of the W. C. T. U. of Dubuque," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, February 29, 1920 p. 3
2. "Temperance Work," The Daily Herald, June 24, 188, p. 4
3. "Temperance in Dress is Urged by W. C. T. U.; Sister Movement Among Working Girls Plan," Telegraph-Herald, September 26, 1913, p. 1
4. "Asks Prohibition for 2 Days After Victory," Telegraph-Herald, January 24, 1945 p. 9