The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-04-22


The State Temperance Society met at Jack
son, on Wednesday, the 18th INST. There were
about 400 in attendance. tbs convention was
called to order by j. q. Bonteoou, ant Prof.
p. Wilson of the university, was chosen tenn
porary chairman, and Prof. J. Il. Steere o. the
same place, secretary.
This meeting OF the temperance people was
called in accordance with resolution adopted
by the last State red-ribbon convention. The
chairman in his address, used the following
language:
"The fact is patent that certain OF the repre-
sentatives OF the people OF Michigan have
proven false to the trust reposed in them.
Forty years ago the right OF petition was de-
MED 10 the people on the floors OF congress,
and the "old man eloquent" John Quincy
Adams, at the risk Of hs life, stood single
handed against the combined tyrannical dema-
gogues, until the north was aroused from her
lethargy, and came to his support almost as
one man. Never, from that day 10 this, has
the right OF the people to petition been denied.
But what an anomaly ia this, that to-day in
the free and enlightened state OF Michigan, not
the right OF petition, but the petition itself, is
denied? By what authority are the voices OF
$4,000 free men to be hushed? by argument?
No it was tried and failed. BY counter petit
tons No. they fell short in numbers, and
had it been one-thousaDd fold more, would
have failed, because no counter petition, in the
nature OF things, could invalidate the rights OF
the petitioners. by what right, then, has our
petition been denied? By no right whatsoever,
but by gigantic wrong. To submit to such
wrong without protest would make us unworthy
the name OF freemen."
After the address, the chairman appointed
committees on resolutions and state work. Mr..
Frank Whipple, of Port Huron, was appointed
chairman OF the former and Mr.. d. II. Shier OF
the latter.
Tne committee on state work made report
recommending an incorporative association to
be known as the Michigan temperance alliance,
its purpose to secure constitutional and statu-
tory prohibition by thorough canvass OF the
state, and to inform the voters, both through
addresses and printed documents, OF the req
sons for the suppression OF the liquor traffic;
the business Office TO be located at Jackson
also, providing for county and township organ
ization. 1t was amended by allowing a branch
in each voting precinct. Any voter may belong
who is a known abstalner. The officers are TO
be president, secretary, treasurer, one vice
president from each congr essona district, and
board OF Q directors, OF which the president
secretary. and treasurer shall be members ex-
ofico. All property to be held by the board OF
directors, and officers to hold Office for one
year. Regular meetings to be held first We'd
nesday in February, at j ackson. The funds
and endowment OF this organization to be
raised by gifts, grants, and stock shares Of $40
each, one-tenth down, the balance in nine equal
installments. Any citizen not a voter may be-
come an honorary member by purchasing stock.
The officers for the ensuing year, are Henry
Howard, OF Port Huron, President; j. 3.
S.eere, OF Ann Arbor, Secretary, and lack
Chase, of Flint, Treasurer.
The committee on resolutions submitted both
q majority and minority report. The minority
report was, after a heated discussion, which
terminated in personalities, adopted. The fol-
lowing is the minority report as adopted:
Resolved, that we, the temperance men OF
Michigan, will not support the candidates nom
mated for state officers by any political party
which does not, in it's platform frankly admit
the right OF the people to settle the question Of
prohibition for themselves, and which does not
in its platform, pledge the party to abide by
and defend the principles OF statutory and
constitutional prohibition and,
Resolved, that IN the election Of members OF
the legislature, VIC will work and vote to secure
the election OF that candidate only who 10 open
ly pledged to statutory and constitutional pro-
hibition, no matter what his political complex
ion may be, and that in case the candidate OF
neither party will give such pledges, we will
make an independent nomination, and devote
our time, labor, and money, to secure the cleo
ton OF our candidate.