The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-26
ALI, AT SEA
Camden People Struggle
with the Platform
Plank.
TALKS WITH POLITICIANS.
Come Say Local Option; others
Say No; and the Rest
Give 1t Up.
TALKS WITH POLITICIANS.


Wnlcn IS placed upon Cne Temperatures
plank IN the Republican platform in this
county that 1 called on several of the
leading Republicans and temperance
men of this city today.
E. A. Armstrong, ex-Speaker of the
House of Assembly. when asked if he
could tell just what the plank meant,
seemed somewhat indignant to have such
question put to him.
''Do know what it means?" he ex-
claimed, "well I should think 1 did. l
was one of the committee that framed 1t,
and l ought to know what it was in
tented to say. 1t commits the party en-
tirs to local option"
"Do you think it will draw any Prohi-
bition votes to the support of General
Grubb?' | asked
''Those who think more of party than
of principle it will not effect, but those
who wish to see temperance established
without regard to theprogress of the Pro-
hiDition party will vote the Republican
ticket. The plank meets with favor in
this section of the State and will receive
the support of the temperance Republi-
cans.''
County Clerk Burrows, after reading
the plank over carefully, was In doubt as
to what it did exactly mean, but said:-
"As the people of South Jersey were in
favor of the local option law which was
killed by the Werts law last winter
take it to mean THAT measure. That law
was not enough, but it was a step in the
right direction, and the plank means that
measure no doubt"
WHAT DOES IT MEAN, Anyhow
''Idon't like it at all, !" exclaimed John ].
Crandall, prominent lawyer of Camden
and q prominent temperance Republican.
u don't care to speak upon the subject,
but was for an out and out, unmistak
able whiskey issue. What does this plank
mean, anyhowW
l next went up to the City Hall, and
asked Mayor Pratt what construction he
placed upon the perplexing plank. Like
almost every other Republican to whom
the question is submitted he seemed to
ponder deeply over my question Gar a
while and then said that he did not Care
TO speak upon the subject at all. j. Will
lard Morgan, the city solicitor, was less
s0h, no; it does not mean Ecal option. .
he said, with a smile. which denoted deep
pity for the ignorance of any one who
should think so, ''but it does mean that
will restrict and control the liquor traffic.
Personally, think the question should
be left to the various communities, to be
settled by each in its own manner"
Lawyer Hayes, OF the firm of Robson g.
Hayes, d leading republican of the city,
read the plank carefully, shook his head
obviously, and with q smile of derision
said that all he could make out of it was
''that by their record ye shall know
them.n
Surrogate West also read the plank.
but it was evidently too much for him, as
he said that he had nothing to say about
it.
AN EMBARRASSING QUESTION
"This whole question is an embarrasS-
ing one to the Republican party" said ex-
To al +Io1,
that it was an unwise thing to commit
the party to local option and high license,
and there is large portion OF the Repub-
lican party which doubts the wisdom of
the movement But General Sewell, who
don't believe in it himself, insists on
throwing it out as tub to the Prohibit
tion whale. We know that the Republi-
cans of Hudson and Essex don't like the
measure, and | don't see why we should
cram it down their throats. However, it
won't lose us any votes down this way
Grubb will get a larger vote than Hoey
did"
| found Postmaster Browning in his
cozy office in the post-office building and
submitted the plank to him for his opin-
ion thereon, which he gave as follows:--
81 think the platform commits the
party to local option, and If the Republi-
cans should be successful this fall and
elect q Legislature believe it would re-
peal the Werts law and restore the local
option law. No. do not think that the
doubt which might arise over the word
ing of the platform will drive any temper
ance people from the support of General
Grubb, except the out and out third party
men, who would not vote the Republican
ticket if the platform declared for prohi-
bition."
EDITOR GRAw's OPINION.
next visited the Office of the Temper
nnce Gazette, prohibition organ which
has wide circulation in the southern
part of the State. Its editor. the Rev J.
b. Graw, is one of the most aggressive
State. When asked for his views upon
the subjectI was told that they were ex-
pressed in the following extract from his
paper
publican party stands committed by its plat
forms and legislative enactments to the most
thorough measures that will be sustained by the
t. d simply pledges itself to such legislation as
wifi most speedily eradicate the evils of ntem-
peranee," " but it doesn't specify, the measure.
throughout the State affirm that high license is
better temperance measure than is local or
state prohi6tiop1 1r 20 20 not be deceived ely No
perancen is named. There are but three ways
Of dealifsg with the traffic-not intemperance
(sic)- ameiy:--Proh local option and
license high and low. The leaders in their
wisdom will select the measure" which in their
estimation is the best Which will it bes Can
The Excise Board of Camden is COM
posed of three Republicans and two Pro-
hibitionists. The Prohibitionists say
that the Board was formed in this way by
the Republicans in hopes of capturing
the Prohibition vote, but as three beats
two every time the cold water men might
lust as we'll be out of the Board as in
when the Republicans want to grant a
license.
DELUsIoN AND A SNARE.
/ called upon Commissioner Copper
waite, one of the Prohibition members of
the Board, with my little plank and laid
it before him for construction.
at is delusion and u snare" said Mr.
Conperwaite, sand means nothing. 1t
viii draw no Prohibitionists to the sup
port Of General Grubb, but will rather.
think, win votes for La Monte from
among the prominent temperance men