New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-02
LIQUOR MEN IN A BRAWL.
A STORMY OPENING OF THEIR CONVENTION.
NARROWLY AvERTING FIST FTGHT-HARD
WORK FOR AND AGAINST TAMMANY-

ushered in the ninth annual convention OF the Wlue
Liquor and Beer Dealers Association OF the state Oh
New York al the Lexington Avenue Opera House yes
terday While the delegates were assembling to the
ImposInV strains of Come Back to Erin from a
hand of music stationed in Terrace Garden odoinng
and Mayor Grant was the subject Of handshaing re-
ception in secluded of the building three Well
known nquor-dealeTs were discussing IekuShy's
chances Of election to the presidency OF the assoca
ton The loud tones Of the dsputants showed that
they were in no genial humOr. The three men were
bernard j. Kearns. who moved the ADOPTION OF inc
unit rule in the New-York City Central ASSOCIATION
caucus last Thursday and rabid TanmahSlVc 'ohh o.
Martin who is against Telulsly and John NcCauley'
whose "place" Is at Twenty-eghth-st and tlretaVe'
McCauley had given reasons why Tekulsky should ho'
be chosen Martin followed up MeCauleys argument:
~ wear no Tammany collar" he cried, ana
wouldn't vote for any who has betrayed te secree
Of the organization Martin added that another man
Of his own name. william Martin, had openly accused
Tekulsky in a liquor district association neeuhg VI
furnishing to an agent Of the Society for the Enforce
ment of Criminal Law information on which several
rumshOps were raided.'
A crowd had been collecting about the men while
Martin was speaking and Hearns grew excited.
ats a lie," he declared savagey, and turning !"
MeCauey Kearns told him that he had no business
there anyway and he meant 20 move u nave 'ic>e0'
put out OF the convention.
You can't put him out Of the convention out
can pinch your nOse,7 yelled M0rtin, and ne SptanR
Of Kearns with the evident purpose OF carrying ot MS
threat Kearns put himself on the defensive ana inc
outlook was good for interesting "mn" when
Alderman Clancy pushed through the encircling BY
ISLANDERS got between the would-be eOmbatants, and
proposed that all hands go with him and have drink
The AIdermans diplomacy resulted in truce but the
incident showed the bitterness existing oetWeen l"o
opposing factions. -,
varous kinds OF literature were scattered among
the delegates including multifarious copies Of pup
llcaton Illuminated on its front page with represeh'%
lions of Roswell p. Flower and William f. eheentn'
and under them the words Liquor Dealers u tho
Front-Honest and True Legislation Asked For-ohe
Law for the Rich and the Poor-Lager as well as
Champagne Seven Days in the Week-AH canoloa'es
for the legislature say Yes NO on these quesons
The same paper contained licensees OF ASSISTANT
District-Attorney Cunning Bedford and EXCISE
Commissioner Joseph Koch. Liquor men usually
know their friends ooo
The convention was called to order about II 80
n m bv the president, George G. Campbell, OF syria
cuse lie explained that some delay was unavolaaoie
because tie Brooklyn members were coming III
by easy stages and secretary McCutcheoh was oho
OF them the records not yet present Tempo
rsry secretary was chosen and the PRESIDENT referring
70 the presence of Mayor Grant, appointed committee
If three. headed by Barney" Kearns, TO escort " his
Uonorp to the platform. A great cheer went up when
the committees duty had boon performed and as the
MAYOR bowed his Acknowledgements the Dsno plSyeo
Owe Won't Go Home Till Morning" Ihen the
that the convention had called 10 map out line OF
action and adopt means to to the liquor business
the recognition that II should have as an orgahIeu
trade I'VE come together he SAID, "uholaseu III
politics and laying aside political prejudice' we pro
nose To assist in securing law that VIII enaoe us 70
conduct our business in such a manner Lhat we may
10 regarded as free American citizens. We are not
hero to pass any incendiaTy resolutions against an
organized enemy. We are here TO consider calmly al
the business that may be brought TO our attention.
MIR. Campbell next introduced Mayor Grant, OBJ
serving that the Mayor would deliver AN ADDRESS OF
,yecomes Mr. Grant said that Mr. Campbell was
promising more than he 1.-THE Mayor had agreed 70
perform An address Of welcome he did not propose
20 make, but a few words OF welcome, honestly leit
he freely gave. Then Mr.. Grant said: I'm order
that my language may not be distorted or my meaning
misconstrucd have prepared few words expressive
OF my opinions of the excise laws at present enacted on
our statute books Continuing with his type-wrltten
copy in hand the Mayor enuncated his views on tho
liquor question, as follows:
In common with almost every one who has been
forced TO examine the workings OF the present excise
laws nave for long time had the urn conviction
citizens. These laws were PASSED long ago, before
Ihe character OF the population was also dlherent
then, the greater part of the present excise laws
all selling Of Iquor on sunday should be prohibited
and tie prohibition enforced, or the law should make
Il should not discriminate between the big hotel and
the cheap odginghouse If it Is right for the Broad
eating drinks on Sunday j. Is right for the hotels on
@ ana me Ie esdn s'@S S sma T' Ses y %u
law should be passed which can be enforced: me
not believe In them. 1t would require police force
ten times large TO enforce them literally and strictly,
favor measure which permitted sales on certain hours
ON sunday.
Loud cheers followed the Mayors remarks. He
did not trry with his friends but hurried out Of the
hall before the applause had ceased The Brooklyn
SoleC were on he a thrtv-mdnutes'
recess was taken. Morris Tel1ulsky called out when
the adjournment ordered, that delegates could find
"al they wanted TO eat and drink by stepping iUto
the side rooms"
Electioneering began again at once for Tekulsy on
tho sde and against him and for Robert W. Oliver
Of Brooklyn On the other. The Brooklyn men came
in time 10 take hand for Oliver, who is first vice
president Of the State Association The oliver iaen
were much encouraged by tho widening split In the
New York delegation and claimed large gains among
the up country delegates. Tekulsky and his henchmen
were not idle however They kept "on the jump"
until the convention was called to order again.
AT the second session Mr.. Oliver got conspicuous
place on the platform, and the attention he received
showed that he exceeded Tekulsy in personal popular
ity After the roll had been called and the credentials
had been handed in President Campbell appointed a
committee of five on credentials, of which Frank G..
RIM a Tekulsky -Tammany man, was made chairman.
Whom the committee retired another recess taken
II gave time for lots OF elecOneerng and the effect
Of constant treating soon visible in the faces
and actions of the delegates On coming together again
the Credental Committee submitted a majority and a
minority report. The first favored admitting all the
delegates who had been placed on Secretary hcCUtch-
cons list that IS all who had passed up their cTeden-
uals The other report, which Rim presented, pro
posed the exclusion OF the wholesale liquor dealers
deleeates These were Robert A. Greacen David NJ.
KoehlGr John Keresey and William A. Tyler Rim
said that the wholesalers were not 10 be depended upon
They are known to be opposed TO Tammany rule.
Mr. shaw a BROOKLYN delegate, sad the wholesale
representatives had business in the convention, and
the claim was made that they had not complied with
the requirements OF local central associations John
j. Martin and II. W. oliver both spoke for adopting
the majority report. When the vote was taken Rim
and his report we're defeated by overwhelming
majority and the wholesalers delegates were declared