Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
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VII
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
ELKroN, Feb. 13.--'rhe convention to
deal with the liquor question, which ad-
journed aver from the 4th inst, met this
morning in Odd Fellowa' Hall. There
was large attendance, reaching 400 or
500 persons, at the afternoon session.
John s. Writ, Esq, made the speech OF
the day. He said that whether prohibit
tion as theory was right or wrong was
not before them for discussion, nor
whether it was suited to Kansas or Maine,
but whether it was success here. He
believed that it was failure in those
states, but we know IL is sham here in
Elkton. Whisky is sold on our streets as
we'll as in secret places, and is passed
from hand to hand. He or most any
| other Elkton man in the house could in
| Ave minutes get anything from
champagne to gin. We see more
| debauched young men on our
| streets than ever before. Are we in
| defence of theory to allow this to go
on, and defend it when we know it is not
/ a suceess2 The law could not be enforced;
he had in the courtroom seen verdict
after verdict of acquittal rendered. Tho
trouble would not be rectiied by prohibit
/ ton of the sale Of cider. In eight or
/ nine cases at the last term of court there
was no mention of cider; it was ginger.
Man after man perjured himself on the
| witness stand. If this is allowed to go
on, all regard for the sanctity of an oath
| will perish. We had better be nation of
| drunkards than nation of perjurers.
The members of the Legislature from our
county were not going to help pass the
amendments TO the local option law pro-
posed by the Prohibitionists. He was
| acquainted with all of them and had
| talked with them on the matter and knew
| it to be fact. He was true local
| optionist; he believed that the people OF
| the county should decide at the ballot
box what they should have. The Prohi-
bitionists said high license was an expert
ment. Allowing this to be 30, it was O
| question between an experiment that had
not been tried, and an experiment that
| had failed.
| Mr.. Writ then introduced resolutions
which he said were not altogether of his
own framing, he having had the assist
ance of several eminent men. These
| resolutions provided for the appointment
/ of committee of Is, one prohibitionisi
| and one license man from each district,
| to draft bill providing for the sub
mission to the people, at the fall election
of the question-high license Vs. the
present local option law with the cider
clause stricken out and such heavier
penalties incorporated ne its advocates
may decide. Other resolutions provide
for regulating the sale of liquors, in cns,
the license system should be carried
licenses to cost from 1915 to 5000, il
addition TO State and Federal taxes dis
elimination to be shown in favor o
hotels no discrimination between seller
by single drink and by quantity drug
gists to be subject to same rules goo,
character and bond exacted; selling +
minors, on Sundays and election days b
be prohibited; sellers to be liable TO
damages resulting from the sale of liquo
to intoxicated persons, &c.
Two clergymen jumped up and eac
offered $40 to any one who could bu
whisky in fiye-minutes' walk from th
hall. No one accepted the challenge, bC
cause, it was alleged, of fear of the ne,
grand jury. George A. Blake, ESQ, the
made strong prohibition speech. Aftt
four and a-half hours lively discussion
interspersed with talk of gag-law, IN n
/, tempt to adjourn, charges and recrimin
tions, the Writ resolutions were adoptet
: The high license men are claiming ii
, county by large majority.