Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-17
NATIONAL TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.
Working i'm Third Party Generally Fa-
yored-Papers Read Yesterday.

The first business before the national tenn
the reading and discussion of an essay on
Constitutional Prohibition" by A. VI. Powell
of New York.
The essayist and each speaker who discussed
his paper was earnestly in favor of prohibition
by constitutional amendments. The side is
sues of local option" and high license were
characterized makeshifts that were advo-
Gated by politicians and the distilleries and
breweries as tending to distract the temperance
voice 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 applicable in this case. Constitu-
tiOnal prohibition was asserted to be the attack
the enemies OF temperance most dreaded. and
If the leading parties were i'll favor of prohibi-
ton and against Its enforcement and party
caucusses are to control and silence legislative
voices then Independent action must be taken
by temperance Ken that will command at
tention.
TEMPERANCE PARTY FAVORED.
The 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. ID. Lawson of
Massachusetts: Rev. George III. Hicks J. III.
Bronson and George ". Powell of New York
and Mrs. Perkins OF New York. The same sen-
tlment WIS further expressed in the discussion
OF the ESSAYS on the Citizens Protective
League. by W. Jennings Demorest of New
York. Mrs. Helen VI. Conger of Indiana and
others. Mrs Conger gave ali axiom that
prohibition can never be obtained bv electinr
passive men to Office. There can be no national
prohibition until there IS political parrs be-
hind II. the same as antl-sl:lvery was never sue
ial
at the polls.
This brought out Rev. George r. Poulson of
New York. who thought that the action of the
rum power In controlling the present political
parties -hould be followed and fought within
the party lines. The Rev. j. l.. McGraw of
New lork believed that ii was the duty of temper
ance men to make their utmost efforts felt by
the strongest blows, and that can only be
done etfectually by working outside the old
parties
OFFICERS ELECTED.
The following officers were elected: Presi-
dent. L. III. Clapp of Massachusetts; vice presi-
dents. DR. A. q. Lawson of New Jersey, Mrs
Mary c. Leayitt of Massachusetts and Mrs. L.
j. Phlnney Of ONO; secretaries. j. y. Stearn of
New York. y l.. Winter of Connecticut and
Mrs Campbell Of Massachusetts; executive
committee. b. F. Denison of PENNSYLVANIA, s.
Dickie of Michigan. j. 5. Rawlings of Mary land
N~s. Burgess of PENNSYLVANIA. Rev. A. Winter
of Connecticut. MS A. NJ. Edwards of Ohio
aud J u. MhitesiJe ot Vermont
The following papers were read and dis
, cussed: The High License Method of Dealing
With the Liquor Traffic. by Rev. Albert c.
Lawson Of Massachusetts; The National Coy
eminent and the Liquor Traffic" by Hon. W
Ii. Hill of Georgia. Constitutional Prohibi-
tIon, State and Ngtionai." by A NJ Powell of
New York: The Prohibition Party, Stat, and
National. by A A. Hop kIns of New Norh: ..Citi-
zens' Prohibition Leagues. by Rev. DR. \. j.
kyneth of PENNSYLVANIA. and Can Prohibi-
ton BE Enforced" by Hon. l.. H. Kellogg of
Kansas.
The attendance at the meetings is not yery
large.
At the afternoon session two reports were
presented from the committee OH resolutions,
one by ITS chairman. eX-(ioy. Goodale and the
other. minority report by Rev. Dr. Dckey.
The first was silent OH the question OF partisan
action. and the second enjolned and recon-
mendCd III effect. by the formation of town.
county. state and nationa! prohibition leagues,
an independent party action III unison by all
the organizations represented III this conyen-
tIoL.
Pending the discussion OF a motion TO adopt
the minority report, A VI. Powell OF New York
offered substitute which was accepted and
adopted by a two-thirds vote in lieu OF both re-
ports. IL rcciies that
Whereas the liquor dealers and the saloon
element have united regardless of party to
carry their ends, all Temperance men. by
UNITED action at the polls. shall stand in
defense Of humanity from their evil infiu-
! ence.'
The report condemns all systems Of licensing
| the liquor traffic.