Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-06
The License Question.
A DELEGATION FROM WILMINGTON IN FAVOR OF
LEES STRINGENT SYSTEM.
Special TO The Commercial

. DELEGATION FROM WILMINGTON IN FAVOR OF A
LESS sTBINGEST SYSTEM.
Special to HE Commercial.
DOVER, Del, March ).
A delegation from Wilmington waited upon
the Legislature, to-day, in reference to gen.
eral license law. At the close of the afternoon
session of the House, meeting OF the Moral
Reform Committee was called in the hall OF the
House, with Mr.. j. W. Phillips in the chair.
large number OF persons, hearing OF the meet
ing were present.
In response to the invitation Of the Chairman,
Joseph Fullmer said that few OF those engaged
in the traffic in intoxicating liquors wished to be
heard before the Legislature. A few have lcen-
ses, while others, equally IL not more respecta-
BILE than many that have license, cannot get
them. The law should be go changed that those
wishing license could go to the Clerk OF the
Peace and get it.
George VI. Ortlip, proprietor OF the Delaware
House, said there were 800 unlicensed liquor
sellers in Wilmington and only about 40 places
that were licensed. The licensed liquor sellers
wanted general license law, that would allow
every body that wanted to go to the clerk OF the
peace and get 1t.
The next speaker was Mr.. Archibald Given,
who said he had come down with these friends
| OF his to introduce them TO the members. The
| law as it now stands ls very Obnoxious. Jhe
State looses thousands of dollars OF revenue
! Gag laws wont work in Delaware. Let every
| body have license that comes well recommended.
| With all due respect TO the Court the Judge
licenses some very bad places and refuses license
other very Erong %0r'hy people, yeore ,hst
ments of the law. am no whiskey seller. Yon
may pass prohbitory law tomorrow and will
| have no objection. Put heavy penalty upon
all who violate the law. lou never can stop the
traffic. 1t is manufactured at Sing Sing prison
in the quarries. These gentlemen
along with me all have license
Mr.. Ortlip keeps the Delaware House he has
no trouble getting license. The people Of Will
| mngton are in favor of modification of the
law, except few women who are opposed to it.
l can take a little of it. but l never take too
much. A large majority of the men of Whining.
| ton are in favor of general license law. The
most of them drink but they don't drink too
much great many of the members OF the
Temperance societies and churches drink. and
some of the leading ones take it behind the door.
Mr.. Given III reply again stated that he was no
drinking man. but he would take a drink, and
| was as moral man the gentleman who had
taken his seat. | reiterate that there is not
handful of men engaged in this movement.
They are nearly all women who had
better be at home attending TO their babies in.
stead of trapsins through the streets going 10
the lodges. MIR. Donahoe and Mr.. Philip G.,
Plunkett were all present on behalf of the hquoI
interests OF the city, but refrained from making
any remarks. The meeting was then dismissed
A petition has come here but the most OF the
rigners are Sunday School children, and women
NJ children 60 to Sunday School. They were
asked to -ign. Very few men have signed
the petition. The almost universal sentiment
of the people of Wilmington il for a genera
license law.
Rev. Joseph Dare. who happened to be pres
ent in the audience, earnestly controyerted the
last speakers argument, and made a comparison
OF this meeting with that held by the ladies
which was opened by prayer. Not only the wo
men, but the most moral, religious, temperate
ard upright men in Wilmington were i'll favor o
| the lays