Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-17
ANTI-SALOON RADICALS.
THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVEN-
TION AT CHICAGO.

CHICAGO, Sept. 16.-The first national
convention OF anti-saloon Republicans
began Its session in this city to-day. The
convention was held In the Madison Street
Theatre. When called to order there
were 2S7 delegates on the floor. A
few ladies and gentlemen were IN the
gallery. Senator Blair, OF New
Hampshire, was made temporary
chairman. On taking the chair Mr.
Blair said: "We are here for the destruc-
ton of the rum traffic throughout this
country and throughout the world. l
think / speak the sentiment of the con-
vention when say that as between free
rum and low license, we are in favor OF
high license. [Cheers.1 That as between
nigh license and prohibition, we are in
favor of prohibition. [Great cheering.l
ALSO AS REPUBLICANS.
Mr.. Blair went on to say that they also
met as Republicans. They were in the
party and could not be driven out, and he
was one OF those VINO believed tbatlt was
only through the Republican party that
the suppression OF the liquor traffic could
be secured. The COMMITTEE on Creden-
tials found accredited delegates present
as follows: Illinois 40, Iowa 20, Kansas
80, Indiana 11S, Maine l, YER
mont g., New York 6, Rhode
Island 7, Michigan 4, Wisconsin IL,
Massachusetts u, Nevada 1, Minnesota
10, Texas 3, Dakota l, Pennsylvania /,
Ohio l, New Jersey 8, New Hampshire ,.
THE PERMANENT CHAIRMAN.
Ex-senator Window, of Minnesota,
| was made permanent chairman. Mr..
Window said he never had the slight
est thought Of attempting to organize
new political party. The speaker said
the record of the Republican party for
| twenty years showed its willingness to
grapple this new issue and carryit to VIC
| tory. The issue was as grave as any that
the Republicans had ever to meet IN the
past. 1t resolved itself to the question
whether the saloon was to dominate the
| politics of the nation. I'VE do not meet
| to dictate to the Republican party" said
the speaker. 1--WE are here simply for
consultation. We meet to encourage 1T
to take hold of this question. which 1t
surely Will have to do, and the sooner the
better"
CALLING IN THE PRoHIBITIoNIsTs.
| he spoke for thirty minutes on the gen.
eral issue. He touched on the Prohibi-
tionsts and said it was his view that
they could carry out their purposes in o
! better way folio wing tue lead Of the Re-
pnbiican party. They would find that
that party had said that slavery should
| extend no farther, and on that platform
slavery was abolished. II the Republi.
can party would declare for high license,
| local option, ,and recognize the right of the
| people to vote on the question directly
when they wished, all lovers OF temper
ance should follow that lead.
THE REVOLUTIONS.
mi Il
| the following:
The anti-saloon Republicans, by their rep
resentatves in national conference assem-
bled, do declare as follows:
/. That the liquor traffic as it exists to- day
in the United States, is ap enemy OF society, a
fruitful source of corruption in politics, the
ally of anarchy, a school of crime, and with
its avowed purpose of seeking to corruptly
control elections and legislation is menace
to the public welfare and deserves the con-
demnation of all good men.
3. That we declare war against the saloon,
and hold IL to be the supreme duty of the gov
ernment TO adopt such measures as shall re-
strict it and control its influence and eXtin-
gulsh il altogether.
8. We believe the national government
should absolutely prohibit the manufacture
and sale OF liquors in the District of COlumbi
and in all the Territories of the United States.
THE PLAN OF PROCEDURE.
4. 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 submission of con-
stitut.opal amendments and until such
amendments are adopted by the passage of
local option laws.
5. That inasmuch as the saloon business
creates a special burden of taxation on the
people to supDortcourts, jails and amshouses,
therefore q large animal tax should be levied
uDon saloons so long rs they continue to exist,
and that they should be made responsible for
all public and private injury resulting from
the traffic.
REPUBLICAN PLEDGES,
6. That the Republicans, wherever and
whenever in power, will faithfully enforce
whatsoever ordinance, statutes or constitu-
tional amendments may be enacted for the re-
striCtiOn or suppression OF the liquOr traffic,
Z. That we approve the action of Congress
in providing for teaching the physiological
effects Of liquor in our public schools, and
that we earnestly recommend to every State
Legislature the enactment of such laws for
thorough teaching OF such effects to our chill
dren.
8. We demand that the Republican party,
to which we belong and whose welfare we
cherish, shall take a firm and decided stand
as q friend Of the home and the enemy OF the
saloon. In favor OF this policy and these
measures. we pledge ourselves TO do our ut
most to cause the party TO take such "a stand,
and we call upon all temperance men and the
friends of humanity, of whatever party or
name, to JOIN with us IN securing these OBJ
jects, and In support Of the Republican party,
80 far as IL shall a'iOpt them.
Some opposition was provoked TO the
fifth resolution ON the ground that it rec
ognizes taxation 0t liquor. IL was op-
posed by MIR. Wright OF Iowa, and Mr..
Dodge Of Michigan. The resolution was
defended by New York, Kansas and
Rhode island and several other States.
IL was finally adopted, and the report was
adopted with only three dissenting votes.
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
The following National Committee was
appointed. leaving some existing vacan-
cies to be filled hereafter:
Maine--Senator w. =. Frye.
New ampshire-Senator III. w. Blair.
Nermont--George o. Brown.
Massachu. etts-COl. Il. ii. Haskell.
Rhode Isand-Henry Is. Metca!t.
New York-Gen. 4. W. Conway.
New Jersey-Rev. II. w. Carol.
Pennsylvania--lion w. W. Braun.
IOwa-Hiram Price.
Minnesota--Geh. u. B. Nettleton.
IndIana-Ex.Gov w. Cumback.
Wisconsin-E. =. Wheeler.
Kansas--A. Griffin.
Illinois-Col. w. A. James.
Georgia-Hon. Alfred r.. Buck.
The convention then adjourned sine
die.