Bad scan, but cool political item
I found this the other day in an antique shop in Brookings. At $3.50, I think I got a steal. Even though it's a North Dakota political item it's still nearly 100 years old. And for those of you not familiar with the term, W.C.T.U. stands for Women's Christian Temperance Union, one of the groups which campaigned for the 18th Amendment, which most may know as "Prohibition" which passed the U.S. Senate in 1917.
This ribbon is from their ND convention during a time period that would have been the organization's heyday.
This ribbon is from their ND convention during a time period that would have been the organization's heyday.
Comments
And I agree with anon 9:32 p.m. Prohibition and every other attempt to legislate morality fail.
Somewhat like the temporary end of the SD video lottery, there was a drop in spousal abuse and other social problems and expenses related to the consumption of alcohol.
Alcohol is an unnecessary social evil and the industry gets a huge subsidy from all of us in terms of increased vehicle and health insurance costs that the liquor industry should be paying for, but leaves to those who are responsible.
Walmart dumping its healthcare costs onto the public health system has a wonderful model in the liquor industry.
All the taxes paid in South Dakota probably cover only a small part of the social expense related to alcohol-related vehicle crashes.
Corporations want to be treated like individuals for exploiting the advantages of personhood, but don't want to accept anything like personal responsibility for the destruction and costs they dump onto the society that tolerates them.
I wonder if you could find more history on that convention ie platform, candidates endorsed, keynote speakers etc..
I don't think I'd try to fold it, although I might try to mount it under glass if I decide to keep it.
I used to have some that were much neater. The same shop in Brookings has some VERY old Nebraska pins that I might have to go back and get to use for trade.