Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-31

phgeEss
AL Kooch of the Freic Presse, presided
nj the meeting of German. American citi-
zens at German Hall, last Thursday, called
for the purpose of expressing opposition
to local option. The following vice-presi-
Ernest Henderer, Theodore p. T. Feukel,
Joseph Rymshi and secretaries, Gerhardt
Schrmer, II. Z. Balling and NJ. j. Miren-
berg.
resolutions which were passed
WHEREAS, We, the undersigned, German
American citizens of Wilmington, Del, have
assemhled on Thursday evening, January 24th,
lSg5 In the German Hall, for ths purpose OF
protesting against the local option movement
being agitated ut the present time ny Ho-called
fanatlcal temperance eople, VINO propose 70
introduce In the present session OF tho General
Assembly a Local option bill; and
WHEREAS, The Undersigned ctizens consider
the adoption OF such II bill a. au arbitrary and
tyranhiral infringement II the personal rights
and liberties OF every free American cittzeL;
aud,
nit tamely TO such infringements of our rights
aud privileges and have ssemolcd here for
the purpose CT entering our protests and
intend to employ every lawful means to pro-
vent any curtament Of our personal liberties;
and
WHEREAS. It is our belief that every free
| and independent human being created and
| endowed with free will does possess the right
10 Ont and To drink according to his own In
clnation, and that no Legislature Is empow-
| cred TO dictate to anybody what he should cat
or drink; and
WHEREAS, IL has been proved by experience
| in those States whero local option and pro-
| hlbliion laws have boon passed that they did
| not accomplish the desired results; but, on tue
contrary have been the cause Of Illegal liquor
| selling and lntenIperanee, producing u detest-
ablo spy-Systcm; and
| WHEREAS, The abolition Of the sale OF liquor
would license
| amounting to about 100000 per annum, The
| loss OF which would nocess.tatc an Increase IN
| the tnz rate To the same amount, thereby
| augmenting the burdens of the taxpayers
| throughout the entire state and at the same
| tlmo decreasing the value OF their property;
and
WHEREAS, We consider the selling of liquor,
whom we'll conducted, "A lawful and respectable
| business, like any other, and Tho saloon a
necessity for the accommodation OF our homo
| people and the travelling public: aud
| WHEREAS, We are OF the opinion that local
| option law Is also aimed against the working
classes il adopted will be used by some em-
! ployers OF labor as u subterIuge to reduce tho
wages Of their employees: and
| WHEREAS, We are convinced that our repre-
sentativos in ths Legislature, elected by the
| people, believe in equal rights TO all citizens,
whether rich or poor, and that they will pass
| no laws for the benefit OF certain classes, but
for the benefit Of all citizens; therefore be IL
| Resop!ed, hat We declare and denounce the
| proposed Local Option bill a. an infamous
measure unworthy Of the attention and con-
sldsration Of the Legislature; and DO 1t further
Res0'Ued, That We request The Legislature
not 10 lass the Local Option bill and that a
| committee be appointed for the purpose of
| submitting 10 every member OF the Legislature
a, copy OF these preambles and resolutions
signed by every Gernan-A merican citizen of
| the city Of Wilmington, and that these reso-
| lutiOns expressing the sentiments oil all the
| German'Amerlcan citizens will not be disre-
garded by tho Legislatures: and be IL
ResOlped, That "A copy OF these preambles and
Resolutions be sent 10 every daily newspaper
| in Wilmington for publication.
WILMINGTON, DEL, January 9Th, 1885.
Father Sylvester Jorg Of the German
Sacred Heart Church, was the first speake
on the resolutions. He believed there are
times when a pastor might be seen in
| public outside his pulpit. The speaker
thought the present to be one of those oc-
casions. lie would speak, he said. from a
| Christian temperance standpoint. His
church had never, so far as his knowledge
extended, forbidden the use of Intoxicating
drink in moderate quantities. lie invited
anyone present who knew otherwise to
stand UP and state so. The speaker con-
detnned the prevailing idea of local option.
He had had experience of local option
neighborhoods. There is always an cpl
demic OF pains in the stomach there and
the drugstores do all the liquor business.
If local option were enforced in Whining
ton il would be the cause of violation of
the law.
Other speakers were Louis Melchior,
Gerhardt SchrIner, Fred Won Bourbon,
Herman Erb, Ernest Henderer Daniel
Buhenzer, Theodore p. 4. Feukel and
Valid Uhse. .-- =.. =.
1t was decided to circulate the anti.local
option petition among the German Ameri
can citizens of Wilmington for signature;
and for presentation to the Legislature II
was arranged that no saloon keepers sign
the document.
The committee on resolutions is ALFRED
Schneider, j. +. T. Feukel, Albert Beuhlel
and DIR. Emil Hertel