Milford chronicle., 1888-07-27
A Queer Position.
Morning Meas, Reb.I

Morning Meas, Rep.l
The ProhibitiOnists who met at
Dover yesterday decided to support
the National Prohibition ticket, Sc
Iecting presidential electors for this
purpose. They also named a candi-
date for Congress. In state matters
they recommended certain needed re-
forms, all OF which, we believe, have
been at one time or another approved
by the Republicans, aud some Ofthem
by the Democrats. In the debate OF
what they should do, some delegates
wanted to work with the Democrats
and some with the Republicans, but
in the end it was decided to work
alone.
We understand that eighteen dele
gates composed this convention, so
that each delegate exercised large
representative powers. So tar as the
practical wisdom efthe course decided
upon is concerned this may be said:
That the National Prohibition party
can do nothing TO promote temper
anee, because, first. temperance is not
one of those questions that come
within the Federal jurisdiction; aud,
second, the National Prohibition
party cannot elect their candidates.
The only POLITICAL expectation associa-
ted with the National Prohibition
party by practical men is that it will
aid. as far as it goes, in electing Mr..
Cleveland. or course Mr.. Cleveland
and the Democratic party have no
idea of doing anything for temper
ance-the record made by the Demo-
cratic party last winter on this ques-
tion being invariably, we believe, at
least in the Northern and Western
states, against any effective restric-
tiOn of the liquor traffic. On the |
other hand the Republican party did |
all that was done last winter in va
riOus states-and a good deal was
dOne-in devising and carrying |
into execution various practical and |
effective measures for restraining /
the lRwlessness of the saloons, reducing
their excessive number, and requir-
ing them to help to pay in part
for the financial losses which their
operation imposes upon local gov
ernments. All this work was per-
formed as part of the normal opera
tiOn of local government local gov
ernment being the only point in our
political system where the saloon
can be touched by law in direct and
refOrmative way.
1t thus appears that the Delaware
PrOhibitionists who cOngregated at
Dover yesterday decided to join with
a national organization that can do
nothing for temperance, and not to
join in local effort with a lparty that
has substantially done all that has
yet been done IN the way of imposing
practical and wholesome local restric-
tiOns upon the saloon. We are quite ,
certain that this result was not d.,
intended, for we believe the Delaware
ProhibitiOnists to he sincere. But I
obviously they are imperfectly in
formed or else they have greatly mis- /
conceived the actual situation. II !
they desire to play at politics or to c
aid the Wilmington saloons in giving (
the electoral vote of this state to Mr..
they have taken the right
road; but if they really want to restrict
The liquor traffic in every practical
way possible, then they are in the -
woods and have lost their bearings. .
The State Executive Committee
was elected as follows: o. G.. Bud s
Alexander Deakyne and 81
Joseph Derrickson of New Castle S
county; r. NJ. Cooper, w. N. Brown p
md w. r. Phillips of Kent J. J.
Boyce, s. H. Messick and w. d. <
Of Sussex. z
The following Presidential electors
we're chosen: H. S. Kent, for New :
Castle; William Denny, for Kent; : :
Benjamin Hitch, for Sussex. :, =
w. N. Brown of Kent county was -
nominated by acclamation as the =
lominee for representative in Con-
,ress, but he declined at once for per- ii
onal reasons. and C. II. Register was d.
in his place. th
Mrs. Brown of the W. C. 7. U. pre-
ented resolution denouncing per- 81
onal abuse and the raising of war ne
sues which was at once adopted. Sc