St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-11
MILWAUKEE LETTER.
Organization Of a League to Pre-
serve Personal Liberty.
A Conference of Prominent Wisconsin
Democrats.
The Manufacturers Bank-The Wells-Mc-
Geoch LitigatiOn-Oth Items Of
Interest.
Especial Correspondence of the Globe

~A~~s3'
the prohibition and temperance people OF
the city against the beer traffic and Sabbath
amusements at the German parks is being
met by counter movement in support of
the present order of things. Greek is pre-
pairing to meet Greek, and anyone who i'm
partially measures the strength of both sides
will be compelled to acknowledge that the
coming tug of war-should the prohibition
lists invite struggle-can only result in vic
tory for the sturdy sons of Germania who
love Liberty for the fullness of her gifts to
them. Several weeks ago, at preliminary
meeting fifty-seven organizations were rep
resented by three delegates each, making a
respectable showing. At the second meeting,
held on Tuesday evening last, sixteen addi-
tional societies sent delegates, swelling the
number of Representatives to 219. Otto
Zwetusch, the soda water maker, presided,
and Valentine j. Blatz, the brewer, acted as
secretary. A subcommittee on organiZa-
ton presented declaration of principles
and a constitution, which were adopted. The
objects of the society as set forth in the con-
sttution is to fight the Sunday reformers
and prohibition adherents, and seek to abol-
The working force will include
an agitation committee which shall exc
cute the tasks outlined by the executive
com mittee; and all political parties are to
receive recognition as far as possible. When
unsuitable candidates are put in nom ination
by the different political parties, it is made
the duty of the executive committee to make
acceptable nominations. The temper of the
crowd was displayed in vote on a motion
by a too conservative delegate to erase the
word fanatic from the constitution, on the
ground that 1t might wound the sensibilities
of some of the weak sympathizers with the
movement. The motion was defeated by a
storm of neins. The full name agreed upon
is League for the Preservation of Personal
Liberty. AS the voters represented by the
league number between 5000 and 5000 its
voice will be powerful at the polls, and the
cool manner of the organization Tuesday
night is good evidence of unity. The frothy
threats of few Prohibition cranks, who re-
Gently involved the Citizens'l league in an al
legged movement in favor of the Sunday laws
are responsible for the formidable counter
organization of Tuesday night; and if even
the Prohibitionists had chance to make a
gain in Milwaukee, that chance has been
scattered to the four winds of heaven by the
formation of the League for the Preservation
of Personal Liberty. Viewing this new ele-
ment of local politics from all sides, the con-
viction will assert itself that the Republicans
will lose largely of its German strength,
owing to the fact that the temperance politi-
clans and prohibition crusaders are mainly
recruits from its ranks. "Birds of feather
will flock together" you know, because ac-
cording to Lord Dundreary, a bird cannot
flock all by himself.
A DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.
A large number of prominent Democrats
from all parts of the state had conference
at the headquarters of the Democratic state
central committee Tuesday evening. AS
usual the talk was quiet one, beyond ear
shot Of the reporters and caves troopers; but
the registers of the hotels 'slet the cat out of
the bag" and although the politicians had
gathered with the quietude of volitional ac-
ton. The scribes were prying about and
spreading their expansive ears for every
zephyr of information. After the meeting
was over Chairman Anderson was placed
under the pumps, but gave out fractional in-
formation only. To more insinuating re-
porter, later on, he admitted that the object
of the meeting was the discussion of Cleve-
lands chances, and an interchange of opin-
ion as to the proper manner of conducting
the campaign in Wisconsin. The state
ticket was discussed only incidentally. Col.
VIM. Villas of Madison was present at the
the conference. Great pressure was brought
to bear on him to break his resolution to de-
cline the gubernatorial nomination. The
matter was placed before him in such light
that he receded from his first position of i'm
perative refusal, and leading men of the par
ty ure hopeful that he will consent to accept
the nomination. The fact is Mr. Villas has
consented to accept if he cannot, between
now and the meeting of the state convention,
clearly show the leaders of the
party that the best interests of Democracy will
be sub5erved by the nomination of another
man. This would seem to settle the guber-
material question so far as the Democrats are
concerned, as Mr. Villas is just now a figure
of national prominence-just the stock
needed for the presidential year." If
elected, Col. Villas would make an executive
of whom every citizen of the Badger state
could justly feel proud. 1t is sincerely hoped
he will remain on the track.
TROUBLE IN THE CAMP.
War is brewing in the Fourth (Milw aukee)
Battalion, Wisconsin National Guard, the
result of severe criticism of the Lincoln
Guard by the editor of the National Guard
column of the Sunday Telegraph. During a
recent boom in militia matters in this CITY,
S. c. Mower, who resigned q position in the
govern ment engineer service to assume an
interest in the Sunday Telegraph, was made
major of the battalion. As retired regular
army officer it was expected he would prove
a strict disciplinarian, and expectations have
been fully realized. But the soldier bows
looked for correction from the lips of their
EOe VI u
newspaper. Capt. Chas. King, the editor of
the Taegaph's National Guard column, is a
a strict disciplinarian of the regular army
school. He is West Pointer, and has seen
honorable service, but the friction of field
duty has not toned him down to the level of
the common herd" and as consequence
his advice does not penetrate willing ears.
A recent inspection of the Lincoln Guards
was witnessed by Capt. King, in the capacity
of critic, and the next number of the SUNDAY
Telegraph contained scathing criticism of
the company. Naturally the scoring irritated
the soldier boys. who claim that they are
bread winners, and cannot give their entire
time to military discipline. Their objection
took the form of vigorous protest against
further newspaper criticism coupled with
hints of withdrawal from the battalion or dis