The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-25
The 0Ueek's Ueus.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 81, 1886.
THE ANTI.sALooN CONFERENCE.

The Anti-Saloon Republican Confer
ence in Chicago last week, brought to-
gether nearly two hundred delegates from
various States, many of these being rep
resentative Republicans and well-known
opponents of the liquor traffic. The Con-
ference was organized on Thursday morn
ing at the Madison Street Theatre by the
choice OF Senator Henry W. Blair, OF
New Hampshire, as temporary presiding
officer. Ex-senator Window, OF Mime
sofa, was made permanent chairman.
Both these distinguished gentlemen made
strong and vigorous addresses in behalf of
the movement. The Conference adopted
the following declaration Of principles:
The Anti-Saloon Republicans, by their rep
resentatiyes in National Conference assem-
bled, do declare as follows:
First-That the liquor traffic as it exists
to-day in the United States is an enemy of
society, fruitful source of corruption in
politics, the ally of anarchy, school of
crime, and with its avowed purpose of seek
lation, is a menace to the public welfare and
deserves the condemnation of all good men.
Second-That we declare war against the
saloon and hold it to be the supreme duty of
Government to adopt such measures as shall
restrict it and control it's influence and at the
earliest possible moment extinguish it alto
gether.
Third-We believe the National Govern
ment should absolutely prohibit the manu-
feature and sale of intoxicating liquors in the
District of Columbia and in all the Terrific
ries of the United States.
Fourth We believe the best practical
method of dealing with the liquor traffic in
the several States is to let the people decide
whether it shall be prohibited by the submits
sion of constitutional amendments, and,
until such amendments are adopted, by the
passage of local option laws.
Fifth-That inasInuch as the saloon bust
ness creates a special burden of taxation
upon the people to support courts, jails and
almshouses, therefore a large annual tax
should be levied upon the saloons so long as
they continue to exist, and that they should
be made responsible for all public and pri-
vate injury resulting from the traffic.
Sixth-That the Republican party, wher-
ever and whenever in power, will faithfully
enforce whatsoever ordinances, statutes, or
constitutional amendments may be enacted
for the restriction or suppression of the liz
uor traffic.
Seventh-That we approve the action of
Congress and of those States that have done
SO, in providing for teaching the physiolog-
ical effects of intoxicants in our public
schools, and that we earnestly recommend to
every State Legislature the enactment of
such laws as shall provide for the thorough
teaching of such effects to our children.
Eighth-We demand that the Republican
party, to which we belong, and whose welfare
we cherish, shall take a firm and decided
stand as the friend of the home and the enc
my of the saloon in favor of this policy and
these measures. We pledge ourselves to do
our utmost to cause the party to take such
stand. And we call upon all temperance
men and friends of humanity, of whatever
party or name, to join with us in securing
these objects and in support of the Repub
lican party, so far as it shall adopt them.
Some opposition was provoked by the
fifth resolution on the ground that it rec
ognized taxation of the liquor interest.
1t was opposed by Mr.. Wright, of Iowa,
and Mr.. Dodge, of Michigan. The reso-
luton was defended by delegates from
New York. Kansas and Rhode Island and
several other States. 1t was finally
adopted and the resolutions we're adopted
as whole with only few dissenting
votes.