The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-18
, INTELLIGENCE.
CITY
TEMPERANCE.

state Representcd-Ought there to be
Independent Temperance Partyt
This morning at 10 o'clock, in Concert Hall.
there assembled State Temperance Convention
composed of delegates from all the temperance
organizations in the State of Pennsylvania.
The assembling of this body is in virtue of
resolution which was passed at a meeting of the
Temperance State Executive Committee on the
Sd of March last and which provided that the
chairman be authorized and directed tc ,,.,ua A
call for said convention, to consist 90 delegstes
20 20 oe elected or appointed as follows:-Each
State organization, suct, as the Grand Lodge of
GOOD IempIars, Grand Division Sons of Tenn
perance. Grand Temple of Honor State Tenn
per@nce Union or of any other regular
temperance society and each State reli-
each to send six delegates; county or district
temperance or religious organization, such as
district convention of temperance organizations
mentioned above, each to send two delegates.
The committee in their call say that 'the
Keepers of drinking shops are thoroughly
organized in every important city and
town, and in some localities they. are
now openly and defantly proclaiming
their determination to wage unceasing warfare
against temperance aud religion throughout the
State. At meeting of German saloon keepers,
infdels, and Sabbath breakers, held in the city
of Scranton recently, money was raised and the
formal declaration was made that they mean to
resist the alarming increase of priestcraft and
religious hypocrisy in America, and especially
to oppose temperance in every form, and the
so-called Young Mems Christian Association,
whose chief object is to ruin the business of
honest dealers in beer and liquor" etc. What
shall we do TO resist this Satanic drunkard
making power What particular policy or
plan do we need to promote the good cause of
temperance throughout the State Has the time
come for direct political action, and if so, should
we organize as balance of power league or as
ar independent political party? These aud
other questions will come before the oonven-
tion for its fair and impartial consideration.
At 10 o'clock an audience had assembled
which filed about one-fourth of the hall. The
programme announced that hour would be
devoted to religious exercises, which was
accordingly done, Rev. DR.. Meredith, of the
NJ. r. Church, leading in the same, and others
participating in prayer, singing of psalms and
the reading of the Scriptures.
At IL o'clock the convention was called to
order by E. II. Rauch, of Lancaster, who ex-
planned the objects of the convention. Let us
bear in mind, said the speaker, and keep it
prominently in our memories that we are now
under State and national disgrace ia the pro-
cess of 6runkard-making by the laws. Let us
bear in mind that we are to discuss the question
that for the miserable pittance of thirty pieces
of silver the Courts legaliZe the sale of poison
that sends its thousands of Immortal souls yearly
to perditior. We are all agreed that the license
system is most infamous and disgraceful, and
we are to discuss plan by which this is to be
removed.
The speaker had no plan to urge of his own.
That was for the convention to decide. He had
his own opinions on the matter, but he went
there in a frank and impartial spirit, perfectly
willing to yield any pet schemes of his own, if
any other better were proposed. AS far as he
was individually concerned, he believed that the
time had now arrived for entire, absolute, and
unqualified prohibition. (Applause.)
General Wagner, with view to the organiza-
tion of the convention, then proposed as tempo
rary Chairman Professor VIM. F. Weiers, of
West Chester
The motion was carried, and Professor Weiers
advanced to the platform and thanked the con-
vention. He made few remarks on the im-
nf thn tn hn cnH
For temporary Secretaries Drayton s. Lewis
and Louis j. Weichman were selected.
Messrs. George II. Hick of Philadelphia
McGaugh of Allegheny county, were chosen as
a Committee on Credentials.
The Committee on organization consists of
the following gentleman:ooMessrs. E. Il. Rauch
Philadelphia; Rev. Mr.. Fisher, Scranton; Rev.
Pennell Coombe, Philadelphia; General Bodine,
Philadelphia; Benjamin Schofeld and Rev.
Mahlon B. Linton, of Bucks county.
The Committee on Organization retired for
the execution of its business, and during their
absence Rev. Mr.. Turner, of this city, addressed
On motion Of ]. H. Jones, of Philadelphia,
RevD. G. Babcock, of the New Hampshire
Temperance Association, aud j. n. Stearns,
Secretary of the National Temperance Society,"
were invited to seats in the convention.
Rev. MIR. Babcock, request, made brief ad.
dress, in which he presented some figures on the
retail liquor traffic In states in which the prohbtory
which the law is not enforced at all, or feebly so.
In the State of Maine, which has a population of
S. 257, ,615, while in New Hampshire, where 1t is
feebly operative the amount sold last year was
S12,629 175, while the population of the State is
31S 900, and in the State of New Jersey where there
is no law at all, and which has a population OF
672,000 souls, the liquor traffic amounted to
The Committee on Organization here presented it's
report, with the recommendation Of the following
names for permanent officers Of the convention.
Ine names submitted were unanimously adopted.
Pfesident-General Joshua T. Owen.
Vice e-Presidents-Elijah Pennypacker, Chester; r.
Rush Bradford, Beaver; W. j. Mullen, Philadelphia;
James Beach, Lancaster; Seth Lukens, Mont
gomery; DR.. Griflith, Philadelphia; Rev. w. II.
Fries Dauphin; William W. Axe, Frankford; II. d.
MeGaw, Allegheny; Mary Seiders, Bucks; S. d.
Lewis, WIkesbarre; Rev. A. Ronothaler, Northamp-
ton; J r. Fordham, Luzerne; Charles S. Massey,
wyoming, and S. S. King, Perry county.
Seeretaries-Drayton 8; Lewis and Louis j:
Weicnman, OF Philadelphia; Charles Mason, OF
Bucks and II. ii. Swartz, OF Armstrong.
The convention got into temporsry wrangle over
a resolution offered by General Wagner, which pro-
vded that all resolutions offered be referred TO the
Committee on Resolutions, and that no resolution
shall be discussed Immediately after its presentation
unless the convention gives unanimous consent.
This resolution provoked the ire of j. v. Fem, OF
Dauphin county, who said thai he did not intend to
be crowded. that the resolution was a palpaole
gag" He offered an amendment, which allows
majority of the convention to permit the discussion
OF a resolution when offered
General Wagner said that the gentleman from
Dauphin had made very unnecessary display OF
intended TO crowd or gag anybody. My experience
In these bodies Is that the business will be much
Iacllltaed by referring all resolutions TO the COM
mittee and have them reported back. This plan has
b en- adopted by every preceding convention, and
IL Is wise one 700 Tor IL prevents doubesdlscus-
sion On every motion.
Mr.. Fenn.-This convention has a right to discuss
any motion at any time Ny amendment provides
that the convention mas the In the matter, and
IL il chooses 20 take up and discuss a resolution