Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-30
NO LOVE LOST
Between the Warning Tenn
perance Factions.
A FIGHT FOR LEADERSHIP
Is the Cause of the Trouble, as EX-
planned by Lawyer Price.
HE RUBS SOME W. C. TU. LEADERS,
And Says They Would Rather Defeat Pro-
hibitiOn Than Join
HE RUBS SOME W. C.TU. LEADERS,
IN COMMON WITH THE OTHER WORKERS

There is no doubt that certain complica-
tions have arisen in the ranks of the tem-
perance people since the announcement of
an intended general conference in Harris
burg on February 5, and affairs have become
even more awkward since the Constitutional
Amendment Association and the W. c. T.
Q. of this city have both refused to send
delegates to the conference.
In order to get at the secret of this disaf-
fection, W. NJ. Price, Esq, well-known
lawyer, and a member of the National and
State committees of the Prohibition party,
was asked Tor his views of the matter, and
gave some lively inside views of the present
difficulty, that will be somewhat amazing to
those who imagined all was serene.
'In regard to Chairman Stevens of the
Prohibition party, calling general confer
ence in Harrisburg" said he, Il most
heartily favor his good reasons and good in
tentions in the matter. will attend the
conference myself, and do all in my power
to assist and consummate combination of
all the temperance organizations OF the State
under one common head, to lay plans, and
to carry out these plans: for successful and
general campaign.
PRoHIBITI0NISTS MODEST.
81 do not believe that the political organ
izers of the Prohibition party should lead,
nor do 1 believe they desire to lead, this
fight as political party.
"My information is that the Constitu-
this time, declined to participate in this
coming conference, claiming that it (the
Amendment party), being strictly non
partisan, should lead in the fight.
"Now, there will be no effort made BY the
Prohibition leaders anywhere in the State
to dominate or lead this fight to the exclu-
sion of other organizations. There is not
word of truth in the statement that they
want to lead This, know, and more; if
there is any possibility of all the organiza-
tions coming together as one, the Prohibi-
tion party will be perfectly willing, not
only to unite, but to push to the front men
of other organizations to take the lead.
These societies, you understand, consist of
both national and State temperance and
church societies.
There isn't single Prohibition leader
or voter in Pennsylvania but is anxious to
assist in the adoption of the amendment, even |
il it is necessary TO relegate themselves to |
the background, but not in order that one
or any other organization can or shall lead,
but that all together shall make the fight
RANK AND FILE CAN'T RULE.
$50 far as the W. c. 7. q. of this part of |
the State is concerned, l believe the rank |
and file of the union are ready and anxious |
to Join hands with all organizations on a com |
mon ground.
There are certain leaders in this part of |
the State, however, who so utterly despise
the third party Prohibitionists that they
would rather see the amendment defeated
than join hands with the Prohibitionists on
a common ground and win.
Nothing would please me more, and
nothing would please the party OF Prohi-
bition more, than even to be permitted to
make fight for the amendment on a COM
mon ground with these organizations, hand
in hand with the Constitutional Amend
mentites and the W C. T. U. Whether we
will be permitted to do so, however, remains
to be seen.
''The Prohibition party will lay entirely
aside its political status in this fight, no
matter what may be the consummation of
the proposed conference at Harrisburg on
February 5" said Mr.. Price emphatically
in conclusion.
1u view of the points now at issue be-
tween the W. c. 7. U. and the Prohibition
party,a little history as 10 the Constitutional
amendment party may not be out of place.
This history is furnished by well-known
temperance leader, who goes on to say that
the famous party was organized by
A GENTLEMAN OF sEwICKLEY.
eight years ago. This gentleman's name is
DR.. Starr, and he was the very first to con-
ceive the idea of such a party, and to push
its organization.
A few years ago the Constitutional
amendment party took in the w. c. 7. u,
and from that time, the historian said,
Jealousy and party feeling arose. The up
shot of the matter was that the W. C. T. Z.
of this end of the State gradually took
almost entire charge of the amendment
party; DR.. Starr was put out of Office, and
other officials were put in his place. 1t was
also said by the same gentleman that, in
stead of having a membership of 90, 900, as
said, the actual membership of the amend
ment party as party Goes not exceed 10, O00
This little history, which is voucbed for,
may explain why, when the Pittsburg end
of the W. c. 7. U. refused to participate in
a general conference at Harrisburg, the
Constitutional Amendment Association
made the same refusal.
1t is said that Chairman Stevens has in
vited Powderly to join in at the conference.
This, II true, will certainly create more than
even State interest as Powderly is well
L. Il.