Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-17
PROHIBITIONlSTS.
NATIONAL TEMPERANCE coNveN-
TON IN SESSION At SARATOGA.
Distinct rhird-Party Suggestion Throsss
tho whole Line Of Discussion-ino
Papers Discussed.
(By telegraph to the Dispstch.l


SARATOGA, N. Y, July i6.--The first btisi'
ness before the National Temperance Con.
vention this morning was the reading and
discussion of an essay on Constitutions
Prohibition" by A. NJ. Powell, OF New
York. The essayist and each speaker VINO
discussed his paper was earnestly IN favo'
OF prohibition by constitutional amend
ments. The side issues OF local option
and high license" we're characterized a.
makeshifts that were advocated by
politicians and che distilleries and brew.
cries, and as tending to distrac'
the temperance voice. The Napoleonie
principle of finding out where yonl
enemy want you to strike HIM ano
then hitting him elsewhere and IN ms
weakest point was applicable in this case
Constitutional prohibition was asserted TO
be the attack that the enemies OF tempe
rance most dreaded, and II the leading
parties were IN favor of proh,otion ano
against its enforcement and party cai-
cuses are 10 control and silence the legis-
lstive voice, then independent action
must be taken by temperance mel tha'
will command attention.
THE THIRD PARTY.
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. ID. lawson. Of Mas-
sachusetts: Rev. George II. Hicks. J.. H.
Bronson. and George W. Powell. OF New
York. and Mrs. Perkins. of New York. The
same sentiment was further expressed II
the discussion of the ESSAYS on the "Citi
zens' Protective League" by W. Jennings
Demorest. of New York. Mrs. Helen Nj,
Cougar, of Indiana, and others. Mrs. Gou
gar gave as an axiom that prohibition car
never be obtained by electlng passive men
TO office. There can be no national prohibit
ton until there ia political party behind It
lust "a antl-slavery was never suc'yo'sful
until an anti-slavery party succeeded at the
polls. This brought out Rev. George L.
Poulson, Of New York. who thought tha
the action of the rum-power IN controuinf
the present political parties should be FOL
lowed and fought within tho old part,
lines. This brought out tho Rev. j. Is
McGraw, Of New York, who believed tha
it was the duty of temperance men to make
their utmost efforts felt by the stronges
blows. and that can only be done efectual
ly by working outside the old parties.
oErIcERs ELECTED.
The Following officers were elected
President-E. II. Clapp, Massachusetts
Vice-Presidents- A. G.. lawson, New
Jersey Mrs. Mary G. Leavitt, Massachu
setts. and Mrs. T.. J. Phinney, ONO
Secretaries. n. Stearns. OF New York
A. L. Winter. Connecticut; Misc Camp
bell. Massachusetts. Executive Commit
tee-B. F. benson. Pennsylvania; )
Dickie, Michigan: J.. s. Rawlings. Mary
land: Mrs. Burgess, Pennsylvania; Rev
A. Winter, Connecticut; Miss A. Nj
Edwards, Ohio, and }. ID. Whiteside, Yer
mont.
PAPERS READ AND DISCUSSED.
Tho following papers were read and dis
cussed this morning: THE High-Licens
Method of Dealing with the Liquor Traf
| tc," by Rev. Albert q. Lawson. OF Massa
chusetts: THE National Government an'
the Liquor Traihc,p by Hon. W; Is; Hill. o
| Georgia: Constitutional Prohibition
state and National" by A. M. Powell, o
New York: The Prohibition Party
State and National" by A. A. Hopkins, o
New York Citizens Prohibition
| Leagues" by Rev. DIR. A. j. kyncth, o
| Pennsylvania. and Can Prohibition II
| Fnforced?" by Hon. l. B. Kellogg, OF han
The attendance at the meetings is no
very large
FOR ACTION "RKGARDLEss oP pARTY."
| SAgsroaA. N. Y, July l6.-At the after
noon session Of the National Temperance
| Convention two reports were presenter
from the ComI,ittee on Resolutions, on
| by its chairman. Ex-Governor Goodale. an
the other "a minority report) by Rev. ID
Dickey. The frat was silent on the quei
ton of partisan action, and the second eI
ioined and recommended. in effect, by th
formation Of town, county. state, aud %
tIonal prohibition leagues, an lnd'
pendent party action in unison by all tn
organizations represented IN the CONVEX
tion.
Pending the discussion OF q motion :
| adopt the minority report. A. NJ. Powell
of New York, offered q substitute whic
was accepted and adopted by two-third
vote in lieu of both reports. 1t recite
that "whereas the liquor-d dealers and th
saloon element have united, regardless {
party. to carry their ends, all temperaDc,,
men. by united action nc the polls. shoul
stand In defence Of humanity from the
evil influence"
The report condemns oil systems OF !
censing the liquor traffic.