1894 WCTU Convention and Its Aftermath
The WCTU's national convention in November, 1894 marked the next phase in the escalation of the conflict between Willard and Wells--perhaps beyond even what Willard had intended. Wells was present at the convention, which was held in Cleveland and was the most important event of the year of the WCTU.
Its centerpiece was the annual President's address. In her speech, Willard mentioned Wells by name, calling her "a bright young colored woman, whose zeal for her race has, as it seems to me, clouded her perception as to who were her friends and well-wishers." She repeated her views from the 1890 interview, including a support for voting restrictions. In a veiled way, she criticized Wells for what the latter's research had uncovered--that consensual relationships between black men and white women were sometimes the origin of accusations of rape and subsequent lynchings. Despite these words, in her speech Willard did call for a resolution against lynching to be passed by the assembly.
President's Address
Anti-lynching resolution
Somerset pamphlet excerpts
"In Their True Light" (maybe only need 4th section)
"Frances, a Temporizer"
