The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-17
NATIONAL PROHIBITION.
THE FEELING OF THE NATIONAL
TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.

Constitutional Prohibition Urged as
the Best Preventative of Drunken
ness-A Distinct Third Party Vein
Noticeable Throughout the Discus.
sion-ARgressive Temperance Men
Wanted in Office.
SARATOGA, N. Y, July 16.-The first
business before the national temperance
convention this morning was the reading
and discussion OF an essay on "Constitu-
tional Prohibition" by A. NJ. Powell of
New York. The essayist and each speaker
who discussed his paper was earnestly
in favor Of prohibition by constitutional
amendments. The side issues of local OPP
tiunn and "high licensen were characterized
as makeshifts that were advocated by poll.
titions and distiNeries and breweries as
tending TO distract the temperance vote.
The Napoleonic principle of finding out
where your enemy wants you TO strike him
and then hitting him elsewhere and in his
weakest point was appl cable In this case.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION.
Constitutional prohibition was asserted TO
be the attack that the enemies OF temper
ance most dreaded and if the leading par
ties were in favor OF prohibition and against
its enforcement and party caucuses are to
control and silence legislative voices, then
independent action must be taken
by che temperance men that will
command attention. A distinct third party
suggestion ran through the whole line of
discussion with but one dissenting voice.
The speakers were John Lloyd Thomas,
Rev. Hugh Montgomery and Rev. u. Law
son of Massachusetts; Rev. George II.
Hicks, j. II. Bronson and George w.
Powell and Mrs. Perkins OF New York.
THE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE.
The same sentiment was further expressed
IN the discussion of ESSAYS on the Citizens
Protective League" by w. Jennings Dem
crest OF New York, Mrs. Helen M. Cougar
of Indiana, ana others. Mrs. Cougar gave
as an axiom that prohibition can never be
obtained by eleoting passive men to Office.
There can be no national prohibition until
there is apolitical party behind it, the same
as anti~slavery was never successful until
an antl-savery party succeeded at the polls.
This brought out Rev. George L. Roul
son OF New York, who thought that the
action OF the rum power In controlling the
present political parties should be followed
and fought within the old party lines.
This brought out Rev. j. b. McGraw OF
New York, who believed that it was the
duty Of temperance men to make their ut.
most efforts felt by the strongest blows, and
that can only be done effectually by work.
ing outside the old parties
OFFICERS ELECTED.
| The following officers were elected: Presi-
dent, e. H. Clapp of Massachusetts,; vice
| presidents, DIR. A. G.. Lawson of New Jer-
| eey, Mrs. Mary G. Leavitt of Massa-
chusetts and Mrs. f. j. Phinney of Ohio;
secretaries j. n. Stearns of New York, A.
r. Winter of Connecticut and Miss Camp
bell Of Massachusetts; executive committee.
B. F. Dennison Of Pennsylvania, s. Dickie
of Michigan, s. J. Rawlings Of Maryland,
Mrs. Burgess OF Pennsylvania, Rev. A. w.
Winter Of Connecticut, Miss A. NJ. Ed
wards Of Ohio and j. ID. Whiteside OF
| Vermont.
The following papers were read and dis
onssed this morning: The High License
Method Of Dealing With the Liquor
Traffic. by Rev. Albert G.. Lawson
of Massachusetts, 1.-THE National
Government and the Liquor Traffic.,
by Hon. w. b. Hill of Georgia
Constitutional Prohibition, State and
National" by A. M. Powell Of New York;
1.-THE Prohibition Party. State and Nation
al, )" by A. A. Hopkins OF New York; "Citi-
zens Prohibition Leagues by Rev.sDT. A.
j. Knyeth of Pennsylvania, and "Cau FRO
hibition be Enforced" by Hon. l.. B. Kel-
| logg OF Kansas. The attendance at the
meetings is not very large.
TWO REPORTS.
At the afternoon session Of the convention
two reports were presented from the COM
! mlttee on resolutions, one BY its chairman.
ex-Gov. Goodale and the other, a minority
report, by Rev. DR.. Dickey. The first was
silent on the question of partisan action and
the second enjoined .and recommended in
effect, by the formation of town, county,
state and national prohibition leagues.
an Independent party cotton in
unison by all the organizations
represented in this convention. Pending
discussion of a motion to adopt the mi
DOritY rppOrf M Poyyan Of Nau Vork
offered a substitute which was accepted
and adopted by atwo-thirds vote in lieu of
both reports. 1t recites that whereas,
the liquor dealers ard saloon element have
united regardless Of party to carry their
ends, all temperance men by united action
at the polls should stand in defense of hu-
manity from their evil influence The re-
port condemns all systems Of licensing the
liquor traffic.