The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-10-18
Meeting of the Local Option Alliance.


Pursuant to published notice the Tenn
perance Alliance of Cecil county assembled
in Convention at Elkton on Tuesday last,
for the purpose of acting on "matters
vitality affecting the interests of the whole
people of Cecil county" as expressed in
the call.
Meeting was called to order by the Pres
ident, f. D. McClenahan, of Port Deposit,
at / o'clock A. NJ, and prayer was offered
/ by Rev. Mr.. Weston. The President stated
in few remarks the object Of this meet
ing.
A call was made for Delegates from the
different temperance bodies throughout
the county. The following is list of the
delegates.
First District. Delegates from Alliance:
+ John w. Morgan, F. F. Myers, James
A. Morgan. Delegates from churches:-
John Richardson, Thos. p. Jones, w. T.
Weldon, S. &. Lofland, J. G. Price, VIM.
II. Blackston.
| Second District. None present.
/ Third District. Delegates from Alliance:
I John Perkins, Joseph Wells. James
/ McCauley, Edwin Brown, J. w. Anthony,
! Richard G. Reese, Washington Holt, Reu-
ben Haines, Joseph P. Cantwell, William
McNamee and Geo. Harbert. Delegates
from church:-Wm. Torbert, VIM. X.
Wright, Thos. C. Crouch. Good Tenn
plars:-L. NJ. Haines, VIM. McClelland
and Robert Parry.
Fourth District. From Alliance:-Dr. r.
c. Carter, David Devlin, S. X. Miller and
David Scott. Delegates from churches:-
Rev. J. w. Weston, VIM. J. Grant.
Fifth District Delegates from Alliance:
John Shaw, Benoni Cooling, Geo. Simp-
son and Samuel Logan.
tSirth District. Delegates from Cecil
Lodge G. T.:-Geo. B. Passmore, II. 7.
Pyle and Samuel T. Wiley.
!seceaM District Delegates from Gran
lite Lodge G. T.:-Dr. N. Ii. Smith, Adam
Peoples and DR.. j. Haines Mccullough
Church:-Wm. Deninson.
Eighth District. None present.
Ninth District. Delegates from Alliance
Rev. J. II. Johns, Rev. J. B. Mann, Jno.
Marshall, A. T. Lincoln, Ellis P. Pass
more, G. M. Carhart, Amos Martindale,
A. McVey, Charles johnson and Lincoln
X. Passmore.
On motion, James McCauley, chairman
of Interrogation Committee" made a
report, stating that he had notified all can
didates of the action of county Alliance,
and none of them, although they treated the
action of the Alliance with respect, were
willing to pledge themselves. The report
was received and committee discharged.
REPORT.
The report Of James McCauley, chair
man of the committee appointed by the
Temperance Alliance of Cecil county, held
in Elkton on Saturday, Aug. 10th, 1873, to
interrogate the candidates for the General
Assembly of Maryland in regard to their
standing on the subject of Local Option,
respectfully represents, that after having
received a letter from the President of the
Comfy Alliance, the following letter was
addressed to each of the candidates for the
General Assembly.
"ELKToN, Sept. 10th, 1878.
Dear !Sir:-At meeting of the Temper
ance Alliance of Cecil county, held at Elk
ton on the 10th of August last, the under
signed were appointed committee to ad-
dress the several candidates for the Legis-
lature of Maryland, asking each one how
he stood in regard to the passage of a
LOCdl opIlOl law ny bile Leg lsldCuTc OIL
Maryland, by which the granting of a
license to sell Intoxicating liquors in each
Election District, shall be determined by
the votes of said District. and not as at
present by the signatures of two persons.
Please answer within two days.
Signed, JAMES MCCAULEY,
WILLIAM SCoTTEN."
These letters were all received by the
Of ho o;rbt Ioto
called on me before the expiration of ten
days, and acknowledged the receipt of the
letter addressed to him.
One of the first candidates | met, said
the communication is respectful and
ought to be answered, and for my own
part would answer it at once, Negatively
l Inferred as he had asked the question
if pledge myself to support the law you
require, are you able to pledge me the
entire Temperance vote of the county; to
which l answered, that l was not; but that
we claimed the privilege of asking candi-
dates fer our vote, how they stood on GER
tain questions.
One said they had very nice arrange
ment in Talbot county, by which, for or
against Local. Option, was printed on each
ticket, and the majority to determine the
delegates. l was also approached by par
ties outside who approved this method. |
then conferred with one delegate on each
side, who promised to consult his col
leagues on the subject of having their
tickets printed with Local Option on them,
but received no answer.
One candidate gave some assurance that
he would answer right on the subject, but
the answer has not come in.
| must say that all the candidates seemed
serious and rather fearful Of making any
pledges. | think two of them said, " Y GU
| know how we stand on the subject, and
ought not to require us to do thing that
would defeat our election" 1t was further
alleged that we were too late moving in
the matter-that the issue ought to have
been before the county conventions of the
parties, SO that the arrangement ght
have been completed for printing Local
Option on the tickets, which would have
determined our strength in the county, and
placed all delegates on the same footing.
Remarks were then made by James
McCauley, Rev. J. H. Johns and others.
Resolution was then offered by David
Scott, as follows:
ResoIred, That the most effectual pledge
is to be found in the lives and character of
the candidates for the various offices. and
that the members of this convention pledge
themselves to select from the candidates
now in the field, such as are most temper
ate and sober.
After considerable discussion the resolu
ton was adopted almost unanimously.
Some favored an independent ticket, while
others favored the policy Of converting the
present political parties to our purpose,
and in view Of the late hour of action of
the Alliance, it was the sense of majority
of the convention that the latter policy had
better be adopted in the future.
A recess was taken by the convention
till $50 p. NJ. A motion was offered by
Mr.. Scott, that when this convention adj
iourn, it adjourn to meet on December
9th, 1878, at 1890 A. NJ, in the town of
Elkton, which motion was carried.
Mr. J. w. Morgan, moved the appoint
ment, by the chair, of a committee of five
from each District for the purpose of Cir
culating petitions memoralizing the Leg