The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-07-22
STATE TEMPERANCE CONVEN-
TlON.
Organization Of n state AssOCia Ito n
at 1alatka ON July Ath.

Organization Of n Mate AsSOCtA tito n
at Palatka ON .Duly 4th.
On the call OF the Orange County Local Option
Alliance of which Judge Wotford Tucker is
President, convention of all interested in the
temperance reform and maintaining the principle
of the local option law, was convened on Friday,
July 4, in the court house at Palalka, at II
o'clock A. About fifty delegates We're pres
emf from the ea'llng temperance organizations
in the State, and representing nearly thousand
members. Judge r, b. Archibald, of Jackson
vile, Gale! The meeting to order and proposed
Judge Tucker Tor Chairman, which unani-
mOusY agreed To, and DR.. James NJ Fairlie OF
jacksonville, elected Secretary Judge
Tucker, in opening The proceedings, delivered !.
brief address, IN the course OF which he outlined
what his ideas were regarding The work that lay
before the temperance people in the near future.
After some informal discussion as to the business
likely to come before the convention, il was
agreed that 4 committee Of seven be appointed
to draft series of resolutions, declaration of
temperance principles, &c, and that an adjourn
ment lake place To give the committee time to
report. The committee consisted OF Judges
Tucker, Archibald and Meek Rev G. e. Mclean,
Messrs ) F Cove, O. g. Augur and james NJ
Fairlic.
At p NJ the convention reassrmb ed, and
after being considered and discussed the follow
ing constitution declaration OF principles and
resolutions were fiually adopted
CONSTITUTION.
Article |. That the delegates here assembled
agree to the form tton of an organic tlOn 10 h..
called "The Florida State Temperance Associa-
ton" with President, seven Vic"-PreSdens :, :,
Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treas.
urer
Article :. These officers shall b. elected an :
nually and shall hold office one year. or until
their successors are elected at the regular annual
meeting.
Article 9. That an Executive Committee OF
five members shall be elected ut the annual NEE
ing, whose duty it shall be tn represent The ASST
ciaion in all matters that pertain to lis Interest,"
including its financial administration.
Article t. The association shall meet annu llly
at such time aud place rs sh al b. determined "A,
each annual Session, when the Executive Com
mitter and officers shall present reports of their
tr .nstconS during the year.
Article 5. That I'LL Temperance Associations
OF this State that are now, or shall from time 10
time signify their desire TO be represented shall
be considered as belonging to the association
Article 6. That all persons in the State in full
sympathy with the organization my become
members Of the association.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolped That the friends OF temperance re-
form in the State of Florida are earnestly re-
queslcd I" establish county, town and city or
ganiZaiious in sympathy with THIS State organi-
zation. and report the same TO the Corresponding
Secretary whereupOn they shall I've considered
forming part of this association.
Resoiced That the members of this association
cannot conscientiously, nor will they in any case,
support candidates for public Office who will moi
sustain the local option law
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
For the purpose of placing before the impair
tial public some of the leading ideas and views
OF this convention, We respectfully prOpOund-
That the statutory enactment of 1888 known
as the local option law, is no more a temperance
law than it is whskey law that the same
regulations which may prevent the opening OF
whI-kcy shops in any precinct, also confers the
power 10 open such shops, subject to the action
OF maj'Tllies in every city, town and crossroads
OF lh" STATE The principle Incorporated in the
statute is that of local selfgOvernment which
comes down through ages as the cherished right
Of Anglo Saxon treemen. Although some am
biquities crept into tie text of the statute which
have embarrassed its administration in practice,
Yet the scheme and reason and right of the law
have been sanctioned by The highest judicial
authority OF our commonwealth. Some simple
enac mens defining the proceedings Of County
Commissioners will be all that is required to Sc
cure the uniformity and equality OF the law.
As an ass"iation promoting order and peace,
and social well.being, we represent every po
litical party. every nativity every branch of
Prnlestnnf and Catholic Christianity, every
class, every age and sex of the body polite, in
spired with one grand purpose, and that is To
save the youth and manhood Of the country
from that moral pestilence which carries down |
annually to the grave in our own country 1O0, 900 |
human lives
We appeal with confidence 10 the great mid !
die class OF our citizens-thpse who pay the |
axes and build the schools and bear up the
State; who prize the blessings OF peace aud
plenty, and civil order, and the glad faces of
women and children. hedged about with do
nestle comfort We appeal to these our fellow
,itlzens, to maintain the local option law Let
10 deal with our own affairs 10 our own neigh
)Orhood, and decide what Is best for ourselves.
1--we want drinking places We will have them.
Z We prefer not 70 have them, ma power in the
State has right 70 force them Upon Us against
'ur will This is local option and selfgovern-
nent. On this principle alone are We truly free
n the exercise of our rights.
The constitution resolutions and declaration
we're then adopted ss . whole, after which offl-
ERA for the permanent organization were elected,
8 follows:
President-Judge J. WoHnrd Tucker.
ce-Presidenis-Rev. A. q. McCAnis, Italia
assoc Rev. B. w Bees. Rev. A. A. Robinson,
Judge RJyert II. WjtherSDqnln DR. W. L. Bald |