Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-03-11
CORRESPONDENCE.
the License Question.
A DELEGATION FROM WILMINGTON IN FAVOR OF A
LESS STRINGENT SYSTEM.
Special to the Commercial

DELEGATION FROM WILMINGTON IN FAVOR OF
LESS STRINGENT SYSTEM.
Special to the Commercial
Dover, Del, March 5.
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
large number Of persons, hearing OF the meet
ing. were present.
In response to the invitation of tho Chairman,
Joseph Fulimer said that few of those engaged
in the traffic in Intoxicating liquors wished TO be
heard before the Legislature. A few have licen-
ses while others, equally il not more respecta-
BILE than many that have license, cannot get
them. The law should be 30 changed that those
wishing license could go to the Clerk Of the
George W. Ortlip, proprietor OF the Delaware
House, said there were 500 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 tho clerk Of the
peace and get it.. .-4-
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 is very obnoxious. The
Gag laws wont work in Delaware. Let every
body have license that comes we'll recommended.
With all due respect to the Court, the Judge
licenses some vary bad places and refuses license
s.v. to- other gene very yrours S0rsy people ss eo hst
ments Of the law; am no whiskey seller. You
may pass prohibltory law to- morrow aud will
have no objection. Put heavy penalty upon
all who violate the law. You never can stop the
traffic. 1t is manufactured at Sing Sing prison
hrrfl
in the qusrries. These gentlemen
along with me all have license
Mr.. Ortlip keeps the Delaware House he has
no trouble getting license. The people Of VIII
mington are in favor of a modilicstion Of the
law, except a few women who are opposed to it,
l Can take a little of it, but l never take too
much. large majority Of the men Of Whining
ton are in favor of a 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
ZONE Of tile leading ones take il behind the door.
Mr. Given IN reply again stated that he WAS no
drinking man, but he would take q drink, and
wss az moral man as the gentleman who had
taken his seat. l reiterate that there IL 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 trapsing through the streets going to
the lodges. Mr.. Donahoe and Mr.. Philip G.
Plunkett were all present on behalf Of the liquor
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
signers are Sunday School children, and women
My children go to Sunday School. They were
asked to sign. Very few men have signed
the petition. The almost universal sentiment
of the people Of Wilmington is for II general
license law.
Rev. Joseph Dare. who happened to be pres
ent in the audience, earnestly controverted the
last speakers a1sument, and made 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 in favor OF
the pres ont laws.