The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-01
THE GRAND TEMPERANCE COUNCIL.
A Poorly Attended Meeting at Which Moth
ing Was Accomplished Officers Elected.

The annual meeting of the Grand Council of
Prohibition was held in the Y. NJ, G. A Hall,
yesterday, with an attendance of about 100 The
session began at 2 o'clock, and was opened with
a brief address by E, B. Reynolds the president
in which he spoke principally of the evidences
that prohibition sentiment is growing in Indi-
ana. AT the close of his remarks, Eli Ritter
made a brief speech in favor of disbanding the
organization of the Grand Council, and closed by
moving that when it adjourned it be sine die
The motion met with such strong opposition
that, after heated discussion of the matter, it
was withdrawn by Mr.. Ritter. DR.. Houser
moved the appointment of a committee of seven
to prepare new constitution for the organiza
ton, which was ruled out of order.
The was considerable confusion about creden-
tials, and committee of three, consisting of
Sylvester johnson, Robert Denny, and Mr..
Mitchell, were appointed to receive credentials,
and report who were entitled to a voice in the
proceedings of the convention After being out
for nearly two hours they returned with re-
port stating that they had found it impossible to
determine who were entitled to a voice in the
convention, and therefore recommended that
all friends of temperance should be allowed to
take full part in the meeting, which was adopted.
John W. Ray and several others vigorously pro
teSteQ, ana SalQ JhaJ under Lne operation OI
this motion, it was meeting of temperance
people and not convention of the
Grand Council of Prohibition. After q
few spirited remarks in relation to the matter
the president stopped further discussion, and
the convention proc eeded to the election of the
officers of the council for the next year. result
ing as follows
President-Sylvester johnson.
Vice-presidents-M Wells, James Sewan and
Robert Denny.
Secretary-Mrs. Rose Wilson.
Treasurer-Dr r. T. Brown.
There were 1874 votes cast for president, of
which 81 were for Mr. johnson, Al for DR..
Bartholomew, and three scattering. There
were not to exceed ITO persons present, and the
ballot box was STUFFED. Reporter
A motion was introduced providing that the
grand council should not hold itself responsible
for any moneys collected that are not turned into
the treasury, and that all money needed for the
expense of the organization should be raised in
the annual meetings, instead of allowing persons
to go over the State begging contributions,
which were often never reported. The lndebt-
edness of the council it was stated, now amounts
to about $40, 900, and money enough has been
collected by unauthorized persons to pay this
debt, but had never been reported. The motion
was defeated and the council adjourned until
evening.
At the evening session a committee on resolu-
tons was appointed, of which DR. r. T. Brown
was chairman, and it reported an Endorsement of
the prohibition party movement, which was
adopted by a vote of fifty-three against eight.
Most of the evening session was occupied in
hearing reports from the representatives present
from the different congressional districts in re
gard to the temperance work and the strength
reports were given in general way, and were
indefinite and contradictory. A long speech was
made by J. H. Pinkham, of Iowa, and the con-
vention adjourned.