The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-19
LIQUOR MEN IN CONVENTION.
National Meeting of Distillers, Brewers,
and Wholesale and Retail Dealers.
The Business Claimed To Be Reputable as Any
Dealers Want Abuses Removed, After
Which They Would Like TO Be Let Alone.
Epeclal to the lndianaDolis Journal.

EpecaI TO the lndlanapolI6 Journal.
CHIcAGo Oct. 18.-The national convention
Of distillers brewers and wholesale and retail
wine, spirits and beer dealers opened this
morning at the Madison street Theater The
object of the convention-which was held in re-
aponse toa cali signed by several hundred firms
and individuals identified with the liquor traffic
IN all parts of the country-is to form a national
organization for the purpose ofcombatine the agi-
tation against the liquor interests which foryears
has been carried on by the Prohibition party
and more recently by the antisaloon Republicans.
A large rnmber of delegates came in from the
East on the early morning trains, those from
the Middle States setting up headquarters at the
Palmer House, the New Englanders at the Sher
man House, the delegates from the South at
the fremont, and those from the Western States
at the Grand Pacific.
Among the early arrivals at the convention
hall were ]. D. Pratt, of the Louisville Wine
and Spirit Review; editor Tovey. of the New
York Brewers Journal; President P. j. Fitzger-
ald of the New York Association, repre-
senting its membership of twelve thou
sand; Buffalo Miller, of whiskypool fame
and President j. j. McGibben, of the Kentucky
Distllers' Association. A large delegation from
Kentucky entered the hall in body and was
eeived with applause. Cincinnati and st. Louis
were represented by large delegations As the
participants came in by twos and threes the
register showed that the leading distlling and
brewing firms Of the East and West were we'll
represented. The States of Massachusetts,
Connecticut New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl
vania, Maryland Virginia, West Virginia, Ten
nessee, Kentucky. Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Michi
gan Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota. Dakota
California and Kansas each contributed dele
gates, the majority of whom were elected by the
respective State and county organizations.
Considerable enthusiasm was manifested dur
ing the Assem- bling of the convention the we'll
known representatives o1 the trade being
heartily cheered Precisely at noon G. ]. Cur
10y, OF Lexington, KY, called the convention to
order, and nominated j. d. Pratt of Louisville
as temporary chairman. Paul Schuster, of
Chicago, and the New York delegation seconded
the motion, which was unanimously carried
and Mr.. Pratt assumed the chair.
The temporary chairman made a conservative
and temperate speech. He said that the dele
gates present represented States which, in the
aggregate, contained four-ffths of the popula
tlon OF The country, and he appealed to them to
act with conservatism, and in their deliberations
to have an eminent regard for the good morals
ef the country and the community in which
they lived 1t was natural that in country
growing up as this is there should be abuses,
and that the liquor business should be an ex-
ception to the rule would be singular in
deed. But while, at the same time,
abuses did exist they were anxious,
If it were in their power, to provide remedy,
and to suggest such remedy was one of the
purposes for which the convention had been
called. Applause. Yet these abuses had been
greatly exaggerated, until many people believed
that the Wholesale calumnies which were d.
rected against the traffic were but the simple
truth. With the preJudces against the business
30 long passed current by the rostrum, the press
and the pulpit it was hardly to be wondered at
that the slanders laid at their doors should be
taken as veritabe truths. He was satisfied that
if the trade was oneh half as disreputable, if it
contained half of the abuses which had
been charged there was not gentleman sitting
before him who would not quit it in absolute
disgust. prolonged applause There was
much honor, as much decencY, as much temper
ance, as much conservatism in the liquor trade
OF the country as in any other.
The speaker continued at length, referring to
the various charges made against the traffic by
It's opponents. and declared that it was the ex-
perience OF Europe that the more untrammeled
the traffic the less drunkenness that prevailed.
He gave credit for honest motives to MANY of their
opponents, bnt thought that the pulpit had made
great mistake in taking the ground il had on a
spiritual basis, and in assuming to care for the
bodies of people instead of their souls. In doing
10, 1t was driving thousands from the church
and .readng on very dangerous ground. 1t
might as we'll take up the question OF sanitary
epgineering and he would suggest that il car
ried to its logical conclusion, that baptism be
dispensed with, and vaccination substituted
Laughter
In conclusion, he said there were parasites in
tho trade, living not only on it. but on the gov
Drnment, which should be wiped out, and he