You are right that the Demorest medal contests were oratorical
contests based on prohibition ideals (indeed, Prohibition Party ideals).
They were funded by William Jennings Demorest and his wife Ellen Curtis
Demorest.  The Demorests had made a fortune in the publishing and
dress-pattern business, especially with their DEMOREST'S FAMILY MAGAZINE.
The contests began in 1886, and by the time of William Demorest's death in
1895 it was estimated that he had spent $100,000 on them.  The WCTU took
over the contests after William Demorest's death and continued them
thereafter.  Contests were held not only in the U.S. but also in Canada,
Australia, Honolulu, South Africa, China, Burma, and Norway.  See the
entries under "William Jennings Demorest" and "Demorest Medal Contests" in
the STANDARD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM, vol. 2, and Ishbel Ross,
CRUSADES AND CRINOLINES: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ELLEN CURTIS DEMOREST AND
WILLIAM JENNINGS DEMOREST (New York, 1963).
 
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Jack Blocker
History, Huron College, University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario N6G 1H3 Canada
(519) 438-7224, ext. 249 /Fax (519) 438-3938