The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-22
The Temperance Conventions of the 24th.

The Temperance Conventions of the Gath.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
From the calls of Cumback & Co, Reynolds g.
Houser and Shiel, it is evident there will be two
temperance conventions on the oath, and in all
probability these conventions will not harmon
ize as to the policy best calculated to advance
the cause of prohibition. The Cumback,
Reynolds & Go. convention, though representing
by far the largest element of Temperance voters,
will hardly fail to be in the interest of the
Republican party. This will naturally result
from the fact that t~hree-fourths Of the temper
ance people are Republicans, and the callers of
the convention are opposed to a third State
ticket. The Shiel convention will be in the in
terest of a few original third-party temperance
workers, and cannot fail to be controlled to
some extent by Democrats who care little or
nothing for temperance, but hope. to secure a
strong third-party organization in order to draw
votes from the Republican, ticket, and thus Sc
cure the election of their State ticket.
I am led to this belief from the following con-
siderations: Leading Republicans, who have
taken no active part in temperance, tell US that
the constitutional convention clause of the plat
form was adopted in part that the temperance
people might have an opportunity afforded them
to vote on the question of prohibition in the new
Constitution-that it gives us a better chance
and a shorter route to secure prohibition; and a
very large majority of prohibition Republicans
favor a convention for the purpose of framing a
new Constitution; and the Democrats, in their
campaign work, charge the Republicans of favor
ing a convention for the purpose of ENGRAVING
prohibition in the new Constitution; and, second,
the Democratic papers Of the State are urging
up, as far as they can, the movement for a new
party and State ticket. / am receiving Demo
cratic papers from different parts of the State,
sent from the publishers office, giving every en-
enlargement to the third party movement.
Then the question stands thus: The Repub-
licans in favor of a convention to adopt a new
Constitution. thereby giving an opportunity, if
they secure the next Legislature, of submitting
the desired amendments to a vote of the people.
One of the conventions of the oath in the inter
est of temperance Republicans; the other very
likely to be controlled in the interest Of Demo
Gratis, and those who have clamored for a third
party long before the political conventions, and
independent of what they would declare. The
Democratic party declaring against any consti-
tutional amendment relating to the subject of
the manufacture and sale of Intoxicating and
malt liquors"-sopposed to any change in. the
Constitution, or to any legislation interfering
with their personal lberty1-opposed to pro-
hibition-opposed to ''su mptuary legislation
in fact, opposed to everything in favor of the
cause of temperance as now acknowledgement
to every measure of the Republican party.
With the temperance people divided, one fac
ton, as it looks to me, to be controlled by the
Democrats, and the other by the Republicans,
in hopes of a chance hereafter, what are we pro-
hibition Republicans to do9 With all the non
committal and evasiye plank of the Republican
platform, we cannot consistently do otherwise
than declare against the third party movement,
and in favor of the party of our choice-the Re
publican party. As to the Democratic party, 1
am a little like Davy Crockett. When a member
of Congress, he had gone to sleep, and the teller
came round and wakened him up, asking him
which side he voted OH, he answered: 81 can't
tell. I don't EnOw fha O11eefi0n y tRrt Won rnnat