Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-09-20
PROHIBITION CONVENTION.
The saloon-Keepers Must Got

Last Thursday, at 2:40 P. NJ. Rev. VIM.
Copp, of Grand Meadow, called the con-
vention to order. He found himself in
the presence of three ladies and thirty
elderly, substantial men, whose number
swelled to seventy during the afternoon.
The city and country were about equally
represented. Several liquor dealers were
seen on the back seats, and we'll known
politicians were visible in various parts
of the hall.
A temporary organization was effected
by electing Rev. Copp chairman and Rev.
L. H. Moses secretary.
The chairman and two or three others
then invoked the blessing of God upon
the meeting and its object and prayed
earnestly for divine guidance. While
these prayers were being offered, we were
struck with two facts; first, that praying
men always win in the cause of reform,
and second, that we never hear saloon
keeper pray for his business and for Gods
help in running liquor dealers conven-
ton.
The following committees were then
appointed by the chair:
On Delegations-J. D. Marquis, Jno.
Beach, J. c. Jensen.
On Permanent Organization-C S.
Beaulieu, VIM Hoppin, A. j. French.
On Resolutions-H. A. Mcconnell, Job.
Engle, T. F. Goslee.
Later in the afternoon Rev. Moses, the
secretary, was appointed to furnish a re-
port of the convention to the local and
state press.
While the committees were preparing
their reports, there was general discus
sion of the plans and methods of procur-
ing constitutional prohibition in Mime
sofa. The discussion was largely partici-
pated in and was enthusiastic and
interesting.
DR.. E. J. Kingsbury, of Leroy, said
that practice of twenty eight years con-
WINGED him that alcohol is not needed as
medicine. He wants the manufacture
of liquors stopped entirely. Alcohol is
not required for any purpose, not even as
a chemical or a mechanical agent. The
Drs. remarks were excellent, and we'll re-
ceived; but his zeal in the good cause
unquestionably carried him too far in
advocating the total cessation of alcohol
manufacture. His experience as Justice
of the Peace confirms the statement that
the ratio of crime to liquor selling varies
directly with the latter. Prohibition has
a host in Or. Kingsbury.
Hon. G. W. Clough, of Austin, spoke
briefly on the right of the people to have
the question of prohibition submitted to
them at the polls and on the unftness of
any candidate for the legislature who dis
favors such measure.
Rev. E. r. Lathrop, of Austin, en-
phasized the point that no new party is
to be formed; that each man is to abandon
his party only in the event of that party
refusing to nominate men for the legisla-
ture who will favor bill submitting a
prohibitory amendment to the people; and
that candidate otherwise disposed is to
be promptly scratched. After election,
two petitions, one to be signed by the
voters and the other by the women of our
county, should be circulated in every town
and school district. Such petitions would
strengthen our legislators in their support
of temperance measures.
Rev. VIM. Copp of Grand Meadow, was
opposed to petitions, for they are of little
weight particularly if signed by women,
who cannot vote. He was in favor of
each voter pledging himself not to vote
for any candidate opposed to a vote of the
people on prohibitory amendment. Mr..
Copp had blank pledges for distribution,
and he thought the aggregation of these
pledges from all over the state would be
more effective that cart-load of petitions.
DR.. Beaulieu, of Brownsville, after
listening to objections to the voters
pledge by DR.. Kingsbury, arose and de-
Tended the pledge. In an earnest manner
he spoke of the evils of the liquor traffic,
and confirmed all that had been said about
the unnecessariness of liquors in the phys
ician's practice.
The DR.. was followed by Mr. Wheelock
of, Rose Creek, who cherished the idea of
a third party, and by Rev. J. D. Marquis,
who spoke warmly in favor of any means
of advancing the good cause. AS Gen.
Logan consented to the arming of any
thing to put down the rebellion, so he
would adopt any means which would con-
tribute to the final overthrow of the
whiskey business.
The discussion was brought to close
by the appearance of the report of the
committee on permanent organization.
The report was adopted and the organi-
zation completed by the introduction to
the audience of the following gentlemen
in their respective positions:
President-E. J. Phillips. Austin.
Vice Presidents G. Jensen. of Dex-
ter; L. D. Carter, Of Lyle; and Rev. E. R.
Lathrop of Austin.
Secretary-Rev. L. H. Moses, of Rose
Creek.
The committee on delegations took the
name and residence of each one present
for publication in the Temperance Re0ieao
and recommended that all present be con
sidered members of the convention.
AS moved by the house, the chair ap
pointed Edwin French, of Window, G.
W. E. Hill, of Lyle, and Burr Maxwell, o.
Udolpho, as committee to nominate {
permanent county committee of five, ant
also committee Of one, from each town
ship. The committees report of the fol
lowing names was unanimously adopted
E. j. Kingsbury. chairman, Of Leroy
John Beach, of Lyle,
, Geo: Emery, of Udolpho,
! E. J. Phillips, Of Austin,
! G. s. Beaulieu, of Brownsville.
1t is the duty of this committee to carr
on any necessary correspondence, direc
the work of the town committees, and t.
call a convention for the nomination o
legislative candidates, should the regula
. parties fail to put up the right men. TIL