Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-25
OUR LIQUOR-DEALERS.
A NETTING OF THEM ADDRESSED BY
TIE GOVERNOR AND MAYOR.
Thersupon Resolutions are Passed to Pay
the State Licenses In Money,
Not In Coupons.

A meeting OF the liquor rade OF hicn-
| mond, called BY the Executive Committee Oh
the Liquor. Dealers Association TO consider
"business OF the most urgent necessity and
Of the utmost importance to the trade" was
held ct sznger Hall last night at 8 o'clock.
There were between sixty aud seventy gen.
tlemen engaged in this business, most OF
them members OF the association, present.
Mr.. N. J. Smith, the president, occupied the
chair, with the secretary. Mr.. Redford, al
his post.
THE important business for which the con-
| ference was held was 10 consider what action
the trade, as q body, should take with
reference TO It's members using coupons IN
the payment OF their license taxes, which
fall due the 1st day OF May. The meeting
was entirely harmonious, and It's action was
not outy important but signifies very de-
cided step in favor OF the success OF the
| Commonwealth IN the troublesome litigation
| in which she is now involved with her credi-
tors.
ELLYsoN AND LEE.
| As soon ss the meeting was called 10 order
/ spd it, object explained committee, con-
| sisting OF Messrs. John Murphy and John
| N. Higgins, was appointed TO wait on Mayor
j. Taylor Elyson and Governor Fitzhugh
Lee and invite them TO appear before the as
Sembiage aud present their views on this im-
portsnt mstter. The request was very
| promptly complied with, and these honored
| gentlemen were soon ushered into the hall,
| aud quite an ovation was given them.
The Mayor was first introduced. He was
| cordially received, and during the delivery
OF bis speech, which occupied about twenty
| five minutes, he was frequently applauded.
| In plain, practical, common.sense, business
manner he presented TO his auditors cogent
reasons why 1t WAS to the interest OF them
and the State to use money In the payment
| Of their license taxes and appealed to their
| patriotism to severely let alone the "cut-
worms OF the treasury"
OUR PITT.
The Governor followed In an address OF
about equal length with that OF his prede-
| cessor, and besides endorsing all that the
| Mayor said supplemented and enforced 1t by
| additional reasons Neither OF the speakers
| appealed TO sentiment only, but TO the prac-
| teal sense OF their hearers, and plainly
pointed out TO them the line OF policy which
| they with justice TO themselves, their fellow
| men, and the State should follow.
Both speeches made profound impress
sions, and the Governor, like the Mayor,
was warmly received, and the approval Of
bis utterances was shown by the abundant
| applause bestowed upon him.
Both OF the speakers retired as soon as
they had been given hearing and repaired
to Mayor Ellyson's residence, on Franklin
| street, where 1t was understood that a COM
mittee would apprlse them OF the action
taken.
THEY ACT QUICKLY AND WISELY.
The members OF the association discussed
the matter briefly among themselves, and
unanimously adopted the following resolu.
tiOns
ResOlyed, 1, That we here present, repre-
sentiBg the liquor trade OF the city OF Rich
mond, most heartily endorse the wisdom OF
the remarks Of his Excellency Governor
Fitzhugh Lee and bis Honor Mayor Ely
son, and hereby pledge ourselves to pay
our licenses In money, and not In coupons,
in May next.
Resolved, 9. That the thanks Of the body
here present be, and are hereby. extended
10 hi. Excellency the Governor aud his
Honor the Mayor for their patriotic remarks
submitted to us tonight.
SIGN THE PLEDGE.
II was thought beforehand that some such
resolutions would he adopted, but no one
even hoped that such proposition would go
through without the slightest opposition or
single dissenting vote.
This was indeed encouraging. But the
matter did not end here. The association
was determined TO do the whole thing and
TO do II noby.
A proposition was therefore made that as
further guarantee OF their good faith pc.
tition be circulated In the hall aud every one
who felt inclined TO do so could sign 1t,
agreeing that the signers would pay their
taxes in money and use all Of their influence
10 get others to do likewise. At this time
there were sixty-three members OF the trade
present, and each one affixed his name to
the article Of agreement.
resolution was also adopted providing
for the appointment Of committee OF five
TO wait on all persons iu the trade in Rich
mond absent from the meeting, whether
wholesale or retail dealers, to sign the same
obligation.
THEY WERE INFORMED.
This matter disposed OF the meeting ad.
iourned and a committee at once to pro-
ceeded to Mayor HIysou's and presented 10
the Governor and the Mayor the above reso.
lutions. Among those who went were
Messrs. n. j. Smith, president Of the asso-
citation; John NJ. Higgins. Chris. Evensen,
Robert Hill, Jr., A. W. Rosene. J. L. Ferri-
ter. and {. c. Thon.
Aht pN'SihpA obh NHt uAlOl tABltNstu
to these gentlemen their extreme gratifica-
tion at the unauimity and wisdom with which
they had acted. All Of the gentlemen
seemed highly pleased at the outcome OF the
meeting, and they really might be said to
have been enthusiastic.
ALL ALONG THE LINE.
Governor Lee, while speaking at the ball,
said that be did not wish the impression
created that be and the Mayor meant this as
an onslaught upon this particular class OF
businessmen. Far from 1t. They bad de-
cided uDon such course after giving the
subject careful consideration, and they pro-
posed to 20 among the other branches OF
business and labor with all OF their zeal to
bring about the same result. They did not
intend even TO infer that the liquor.deaers
bad given more cause for complaint thsna
other businessmen they simply began with
them because they were organized and could
be approached as body, whereas the other