New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-25
CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION.
GENERAL y. NJ. CURTIS DtscklDEs 1HE EFFORT
LAST WINTER tn GET THs QUESTION SUBMIT

CONSTITUTIONAL PROHl BITION.
GENERAL y. NJ. CURTIS DfscklDE5 1HE EFFORT
LAST WINTER tn GET THs QUESTION SUBMIT
TED 10 THE PEOPLE.
firm M An ,sIoNAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
An,yy. Oct 21.-The denomination of General
n NJ Curtis tor a fourth term in the Assembly by the
Repupliclns without Oppo'ition may he accepted "a
nm emphatic indorsement OF his legislative record
In view of his ton last winter Ia IN reducing ahd
abandoning the resolutions submitting Constitutions
=, amendment PROHIBITING the manufacture and sale
ot intox,cants as a beverage this unanimous nomna-
ZION il certainly calculated to strengthen the conviction
of the temperance people ID the State that the
Republican party in ia stronebolds. the rural
conoties il earnestly in favor OF prompt submission
Of this question to the people, Notwithstanding the
attemtts which have been nadc to create contrary
onn,on In response to an inquiry rs to the action of
the Lersla,ure u,on his resolutions last winter and
what efforts we're made to nfu' nee fnvorably or
OIL erwise their adoption bv the Assembly, General
Curtis recently gave the following detailed state
ment: -. Al, . 81.
inrroin carly in the session, OF the request OF
Mr. John n Stearus. chairman OF the Prohibition
Committee, concurrent resolutions proposing an
Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting he uahu-
facture anu sale beverage, OF intoxicating liquors
At the same time presented petitions from a large
number of persons raymg for the adoption OF the
resolr tons The resolutions were printed aud re-
committed to the Excise Committee, before which
those interested had opportunity TO appear ana ne
heard. After giving several hearings the COMMITTEE
Wa requested to postpo.e the tnal consideration OF
the resolutions that Others who caimrd 10 be favor
abe 10 their adoDtiou. mi!ht aso be heard IN Their
hunnort, which requests han the effect OF delaying
final acti m and they would have ded in Gcnetal
Orders had it ben tor the number they obtained
when printed aid recomn Itic III was Impossible 10
obtain two birds vote To advance them ont oil thei
order, M several times tre".
It soon came 10 he understood that the supporters
nj the resolutions IN the Assembly receiving no
baVo
r. r a., and other Republican Journals, an |
that much of the decay which had attended, TIER hnal
consideration IN committee was cause by those who,
while protesting TO be earnest friends 81 the measure,
were Unwilling TO assume any responsibility Tor the
adopt Oh of the rcso tons or say an approving word
for their submission the people Some declared The
time mad NOT vet come others that proh,btory laws.
without a patty would he OF no value. ana the
adoption OF "A Constitutional amendment would I've
detrimental the grow oil the Prohibition party II
moi absolutely destructive; there were others who
believed regulation OF the traffic to be the best. and
sill others who opposed to prohibition IN any
event.
- rbe prosuect of securing the requisite sixty-fve
votes was good until The adoption OF the prohibition
amendment in the State ct Rhode 'siaid whcn
several open OBJ oneDts OF promotion came 10
Albany and made CONVEX OF some who had indicated
a disposition to support the resolutions, and greatly
endan1 ered Their Adoption me question OF Suolis-
Aiop had been brought before a conference oil tine
Republican members and resolution to support 1t wac
carried by n nnc-tentbS vote. called upon Mr'
Ste ,rus and otte fnehds. who really desired the
odoot,on OF the resolutions aud afterward on
Mr D.maresi ana Mr. Gatchell. of New ork
known ms Party Plohlbitionls's. and stated tue
difficulties tn friends OF The rlsure had to con,
fond with: that the agents OF the liquor dealers had
appeared ALBANY, ana stated that the action OF the
people Of Rhode Island had alarmed tire n and ex,
dressed the lear that the resolutions were submitted
The neople would. the present state o the public
mind declare Tor prohbiiion Mr. Ntearns ahd some
nj his friends wuni to albany consult with aud cu
conra e members who had expressed Willingness "a
,uppor the resou ions provided they could he assured
the support OF Prohiiiton sts ana n'i place them,
serves such a position 10 receive the opposition oil
both Prohbit,nniots and liquor dealers Others. who
| understood were more influential IN the councils oil
the Prohibition party refused TO give any encourage
mert to those wh) should favor the RESOLUTION or
re ne Il their trends refrain from placing ffohbi-
ton candidates oistr cts represen ell nv men VINO
shord vo'e Tor submission. Mr.. DemoreSt ana MT
Gatchell were wiling TO take any responsibility i"i
the paasage of resolution and expressed TIE opn
ION that the of the question OF prohibition
not desirable at Tat time ihe tendency OF sucI
action. they said wouli he injurious 10 The lbird
pat. and therefore they could We no encouragement
to those who should support prohibition outside OF tht
Prohibition party. They said they should advise
asan,t every effort 20 secure prohibl ion except
through the trty which thew hoped to create thh'
every effort they put orh TO strengthen those iav"r
able to prohihi ion outside their party te.ded tC
postpone the end thew sought as OF hfrt importance
the destruction OF the ola and creation OF party
Mr. Wheeler, chairman Of the Prohibition ate Com.
mtfee SAID he was willing the Republicans should
pass the resolutions but his party could not AFFORD to
ard hem. -, =,
views n the question OF submission. aud Their replies
in opposition the measure. were p1ntcd IN fioho
ton papers and marked copies were seat to memD RS
which had the tne"t OF deterrlng MANY representa-
c.ose districts from supporting the measure | wa,
told that these eli onlars printed at the once oil
The oice replies were printed In tn pa err
@What Is your OPP ,ion asked a. to u prooao'e
passage OF the prohibtory amendment III The future
@II the temperance people OF the State unite upon
this question they can secure the adoption Oh u re7o
lutiors for suit MISSION the coming or any
future Legislature. So long the temperance people
are divided a. the to he pusned-one portion
Z. H., faith nv fha MN
oarris an methods which have secured the adoption
pro ,ibtory laws in the Stite where they exist aud
another noriion having desire ter the PASSAGE Of
pro.ihory laws, until prOhOiiOry party shall bf
ere ted to enact and enforce thsnthr solution OF thi'
question viii be most dincnt one. and IT IL equally
di ncult to form oplnon to Tie time when It WI
b.. settled Each division seems 10 think that thu
methods advised by the other are calculated to post
pone tho result the arri, al OF the Greek kaends