Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-08
LIQUOR MEN OBJECT.
An Organization Formed to Fight the
Prohibition Amendment,
ALSO ILLEGAL LIQUOR SELLERS.
Money Secured to Print and Circulate Cam
paign Documents.
SOCIAL CLUBS TO BE ABOLISHED

The retail liquor dealers of the two cities
held an important secret meeting at Grand
Army Hall, No. 78 Fourth avenue, yester-
day afternoon. They were to have met at
No. go Fourth avenue, but the rooms en-
gagged would not accommodate the 200
saloon keepers who responded to the call,
and they secured a larger hall.
All the retail liquor dealers in the county
were notified to attend this meeting to form
an organization to raise funds to prevent
the passage of the Constitutional amend
ment, and to prevent illegal liquor selling.
An association was permanently organ
lied by the election of Matt Weiss as Presi-
dent and John Sauer, of Allegheny, Secre-
tary, and large amount of money was SUBJ
scribed for the issuing ofpamphlets and cir
culars showing that prohibition will not
prohibit, and these will be circulated all
over the State and called campaign docu-
ments.
CAMPAIGN MAPPED OUT.
Another and very important question,
that was brought up was the selling of
liquor during the year by persons who had
not received license, but who are appli-
cants this time. 1t was decided to appoint
committee to prevent these persons from
securing a license. Attorneys will be en-
gagged to attend the License Court, and wit
nesses will be procured to give evidence
against them.
1t is also proposed to proceed against
private clubs, who believe they are pro-
tected by their charters The retail liquor
dealers who pay their license and obey the
law will insist that no other person be al
lowed to sell liquor.
Secretary Sauer in speaking of the meet
ing last evening, said he believed that much
good would be accomplished by the asso-
citation. "I believe the prohibition amend
ment will be defeated" said he, "but we
will be required to do some work. The as
sociation will likely disband when we have
accomplished our object after the election
any person from obtaining a license who
has violated any of the laws"
PRESIDENT WEISS EXPLANATION.
Matt Weiss, Chairman of the new organi-
zation, said to DISPATCH reporter last
night:
wasn't at the meeting this afternoon, and do
not know just what was done, only from what
have been told. One thing is certain though,
the prohibition people must know that we are
not asleep or idle all this time.
We do not propose to come out and say I'VE
are gong TO nGht you TO the last DOCcn," and
place ourselves in the attitude of an avowed
enemy. All we ask is fair show and we will
present our side of the question to the people
as gentlemen. The men now in the business
are not what they were few years ago-aIl
hurrah boys and bullying and saying to their
friends, Here, take of glass beer-all free"
That's not what we intend doing at all.
At our meeting next Thursday. the associa-
tion will be ready for business and its organi-
zation completed, Many retail dealers are
hanging off until they see just what is to be
that we will all be'as one man.
1t is proposed to form all the retailers, whole
salers and brewers into permanent organiza-
ton. Each of these departments of the busi-
ness will have its own executive committee,
and have its work assigned. Men will be
detailed to each ward, borough and section of
the county. These men will watch the polls
and see that we are given fair chance.
Our funds will be used mainly in getting out
printed matter and distributing it among the
people. We certainly have right, according
to the Constitution, to sell liquor, and all we
intend to do is show that right and present our
side of the case. We prefer to work quietly,
though, and not have 1t go before the people
that we 'are going to wage war to the death"
as it has been said.
Several other saloon keepers were seen
and all stated that they have evidence
against number of men who are applying
for license and will use it when they come
up for hearing in the License Court