titution. While we smile over the accusation, knowing how
small a part woman can occupy in the politics of this country, yet with
great earnestness we back up the smile with the thought that when we
_are_ a political institution--or, more properly speaking, a _voting_
institution--the backbone of the liquor power will be broken, _the
saloon must go_, and the era of happy hearts and happy homes will be
ushered in. That we have always taken an interest in politics is true,
and always on the right side. Away back in 1876 we find the following:

_Resolved_, That, in view of the present political crisis, we as
Christian women effectively urge upon all voters with whom we have
influence that they cast their votes only for total abstinence
candidates.

In 1883 our convention received the following telegram from
Syracuse:

_To the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of New York State_:

Prohibitory party convention sends greeting. Where you lead with
prayers, we will follow with votes.

DWIGHT WILLIAMS,
_Chairman of Committee._

The reply sent is found in Joshua i., 9.

The convention of 1884 adopted the following resolution, only twelve
voting against it:

_Resolved_, That we express our endorsement of the action of our
beloved president, Miss Willard, and of the national executive
committee, in regard to the Prohibition party, as being in harmony
with the resolution passed in the national convention at Detroit.

In this same year our president attended the nominating convention at
Pittsburgh, as delegate from the Prohibition convention.

In 1885, Mrs. Burt in her annual address referred to what is known as
the St. Louis resolution, which reads as follows:

We refer to the history of ten years of persistent moral suasion work as
fully establishing our claim to be called a non-political society, but
one which steadily follows the white banner of prohibition wherever it
may be displayed. We have, however, as individuals, always aimed
ourselves, in local and state political contests, with those voters
whose efforts and ballots have been given to the removal of the
dram-shop and its attendant evils, and at this time, while recognizing
that our action as a national society is not binding upon states or
individuals, we reaffirm the positions taken by the society, both at
Loui