The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-24
Proposed National Anti-Saloon Repub.
llcan Convention.


Mr. Albert Griffin, of Kansas, ar
rlYsu IN the city day or two ago.
liAaplli remain until Friday in order
toNdk with leading Republicans in
regard TO movement which orgi.
mated in Kansas last November and
has Tor its object the guidance of the
Republican party's attitude toward
the liquor traffic. One Of the first
moves of the organizers of the plan
was 70 call National Anti.Saloon
Republican Convention to meet in
Chicago. The date was originally
fxedRipr some time in May, but ar
nngehients for ii could not be com.
pleted. Next week the Kansas COM
niiteesof which Mr.. Griffin is Chair
man, &p i'll meet and fix the date of
ihe slsSenfipn.
Z Hgfr.s &sfi sBSw.eNlsis.way .hatae
from the East where he visited Wash
ingtoG, New York, and all the New
England States. 1.-THE object of this
movement" he said yesterday, "is
not TO bind the Republican party to
indorse prohibition or any specific
measure in regard to the liquor traffic.
What we want is to adopt definite
policy which shall haye for its object
the reduction of dram-selling and its
accompanying evils to minimum.
That does not mean that prohibition
shall be adopted as the general policy
of the party. 1t will leave the party
in each State to decide what laws are
best adapted to their particular cir
cumstances, and while it might adopt
prohibition in some, it would adopt
Il high-license or lOcal-option law in
others. We recognize the fact that
there are large numbers of men who
are enemies of the saloon, but who
advocate local-option or high-license
laws. 1t is esst ntial to the welfare
of the temperance cause and the Re-
publican party that a common ground
be adopted upon which the opponents
the saloon can stand. AS the thing
now stands one set of fellows can go
to the temperance men and tell them
they will find the Republican party
will give them the best protection,
while another can 60 to the liquor
dealers and tell similar story. For
this lodging and double-faced policy
we would substitute one of absolute
good faith between all elements of
the party"
Speaking of the possible effect upon
the political strength of the Republic
can party if this policy should be
adopted, Mr.. Griffin said that while
it would probably be loss of 10000
saloonkeepers, it would in the end
win back to the party all the Inde-
pendent Prohibiti0nIsts who have
left it, as well as the anti-salOon ele-
ment of other parties. He said he
had not found much encouragement
from the managers of the Prohibition
party, who would find their occupa-
ton gone if this plan should be sue
cessful, but he had no doubt that if
adopted the rank and file of the tenn
perance voters who now vote for
Prohibition candidates would go back
into the Republican party and leave
their leaders without any followers.
Il think something Of this kind is
absolutely necessary to save the Re-
publican party" he continued. "This
policy would commit the party to
the enactment and enforcement of
good laws against the saloons. We
haye got to make this stand if we ex.
pect to carry six States for the Repub-
lican ticket at the next National cleo
tion. Leading Republicans all over
the East have indorsed the plan as
feasible and wise. / saw all the New
England Senators save three. They
all indorsed it. The Vermont Re-
publican State Convention authorized
the State Central Committee to APP
point delegates to our National Anti
Saloon Convention in Chicago. The
other day l saw J. H. Manley, of
Augusta, Chairman of the Maine Re-
publican Central Committee. He has
called the committee together to ap-
point twenty-four delegates, and Sem
ator Frye, Congressman Boutelle and
Others of that class will be appointed.
The New Jersey, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Michigan and Kansas
Republicans have also decided upon
similar action. We expect to have
delegations from every Northern
State and a portion of the Southern
States at the National Conyention.
Probably it would be hard to get
some of them in, hut they'll have to
come. The proposed policy is reas-
enable and just. II places the Repub
lican party squareIy on the platform
Of reducing the evils of The saloon
business to the lowest point. A meet
ing will be held some time soon to
a Il. .s. 4.