Smyrna times., 1886-05-26
Mr.. Goodwin and the Franklin
Reformatory Home.

In pursuance of previous announce
ment a meeting was held in the Court
House, Media, Pa, on Monday even
ing, under the auspices of the Della
ware county executive committee of
the party. A delegation of seventy
eight members of the Franklin Kefor-
matOry Home attended the meeting in
a body, and commanded much atten-
ton and no little admiration from
those who had the pleasure of watch
ing them march, two deep, from the
station to the Court House. The gem
eral verdict was they were fine look
ing body of men, characterized by a
quiet, respectful and self-respecting
demeanOr. Upon reaching the Court
House they took seats to the front and
made quite an audience of themselves.
The delegation was under the superin-
tendence of Samuel p. Goodwin, presi-
dent of the Home, and c. J. Gibbons,
Superintendent, and each wore a badge
of blue ribbon on their breast. When
the delegation was seated the auditor
ium rapidly filled up with citizens.
I A caricature hanging over the
Judges bench caused considerable
speculation and, when disciphered, no
little amusement. 1t represented a
type much too common nowadays of
the average political ward-worker and
was labelled Practical Politician"
the figure being of burly proportions
and its attitude one of mammoth con-
fdence in the ability to carry his ward
or precinct. This he was doing in the
picture by means Of two bottles la
belled "rum and rye " one of which
he held in each hand and to the mouths
of couple Of sovereign m voters one
proud Caucasian and the other of
African birth, who in return for the al
coholic bribe were told to Vote as l
dictate" And this mandate, said one
of the speakers later on, was generally
Obeyed. A quartette of male voices
rendered several appropriate selec-
| tions whilst the audience gathered.
Herbert A. PennOck, of LandsdOwne,
called the meeting to order by inviting
to the chair Samuel P. Goodwin, the in
defatigable President of the Franklin
RefOrmatory Home. In opening, Mr..
Goodwin said neither he nor his col
leagues were afraid to come front and
show their faces and adhesion in such
a cause as Prohibition. Their cause
was Just and inVincible, and as sure as
God rules would eventually triumph
There was much more interest mani.
tested everywhere in the Prohibition
movement, especially in the Southern
and Western States. On the other
hand there was mortal trepidation il
the minds of the politicians of both par
ties as to the outcome of their move
ment, and for every good canse. So
long as the politicians could persuade
and juggle temperance people to keeI
the question "Out of politics." they
were good fellows; little misguided
of course, but harmless. They had haC
a varied experience with these self
same politicians, and had been through
the gauntlet of practical politics.
That experience was worth a great dea
inasmuch as it enabled them to shap
their course to definite purposes ant
more practical ends than in the past
We are classed visionaries and enthus
lasts, but he assured them they knew
full we'll what they were about
They were no nOvices. If chicaner,
and double dealings was calculated t
open apybOdy's eyes, temperance peo
pie had had theirs opened. The evil
of the liquor traffic had been fOrcibl,
; demonstrated by communion and con
= tact with thirty-twO hundred victim
of the vice of intemperance, in all it
: varied and hideous forms. The dele
| CATION present but represented a sma
moity of those plucked from the insid
2 iOus and body and soul-destroyin
/ paths Of the licensed liquor traffic, b
: the home with which he had tina pleas
2 ure and honor of being identified
: Both parties are in league with th
liquor interests and therefore oppose
f to US the one openly and the othe
} secretly. 1t is our business to emanc
| pate ourselves from political force
t which hold and possess such atiinitie
Others again, as you know, desis
4 nate us as cranks and visiOnarie
/ dealing in impossibilities. Well as a
} individual, am willing to meet tn
e advocates and apOlogists of the liquC
e interests with a practical offer. al
2 willing and ready to pay 81 900 for
/ public discussion of this question in th
' Academy of Music of Philadelphia
: with any advocate or adherent of th
l liquor interests. l have frequentl
t made this offer whenever I met tn
5 class of opponents who pride then
Z. selves upon their practical mindednes
v but I have never yet been able
h bring them to terms. They skulk OIL
= of their position.
: Then again, we are advised by on
e kind and cOnsiderate friends on IL
e outside to strike for high license. R
o membering from whence comes tn
n advice l am in favor of its utter repud
alton. To license such n gross, I'll
mixed evil as this traffic in the people
best and highest interests, in any fOrr
high or low, is mOnstrous and indefel
h sible. The whole business is wrong
y principle, and its license is subversiy
v of sound policy and directly opposed
. the public morals The ira ffic is a te
:. rible usurper of the most sacred righ
of men, and crushes out the very Ii
! blood of the best youth of the Ian
y Mr. Goodwin was followed several 9th