The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-06
THAT LOCAL OPTION BOMB
Creates CONSERVATION In the Repub-
lican Convention.
AN UNEXPECTED RESOLUTION
Assemblyman Alfred r. Coukliug Causes
Anxiety BY Resolution Offered.
Warm Dsbato Follows a
Compromise Effected.

Anxiety BY . Resolution Offered.
Warm Dsbsto Follows A
Compromise Effected.
Der OF delegates present at the Republi-
can league convention this morning Is
largely In excess of last night. and
there was promise from the start of u
lively session. All last night the lead
ers worked hard to prevent any action
on the question Of excise and at a late
hour II was believed that 1t had been
disposed of. Immediately after break
fast this morning. however, Assembly
man Alfred X. Conkling. OF New York,
dropped bomb In the camp by an
local option resolution. He prepared
1t and showed It to the leaders. 1t read:
Resolved. That the delegates to this con-
ventton favor the principle of local option
BY counties for the sale of liquor on Sun
day, and where county contains city,
the question should be submitted sepa-
rately to the electors Of the c,ty and those
Of the county.
John 8. Kenyon, of Syracuse. Samuel
Morris. Of Troy. Robert z. Porter, Ros-
well G. Horr. and other leaders Joined
N the protest against such action. Mr..
Horr said:
I'VE tried that thing In Michigan.
and l was then In favor Of 1t, but
brought down the wrath of the Prohi-
bitionists and the moral element upon
US. and 1t just made US sick; tell you
1t Is a good thing to let alone"
MIR. Conkling. however. would not be
either persuaded or cajoled into with
drawing from his position, and ex-
n WaaA of Rrnnllyn
said that in any event v Mr.. Cronk-
ling did npt present it, he would. So
when the committee met at 10 o'clock
Mr.. ConlSling handed in his resolution,
and the committee took up its discus
sion. +
Tho Committee Wrangled.
For two hours the committee
wrangled angrily. All of the New
York and Kings county delegates were
In favor of the resolution. Erie county
also favored II.
IT'S about time the country districts
stopped cramming obnoxious legisla-
tion down the throats of New York
and Brooklyn" declared George l..
Weed, of Brooklyn.
Judge Taylor l.. Arms, Of Bingham
ton, resigned the chair to Assembly
man Brown and offered a resolution
Ms u SupSlllutc III tuc SOhhhhS
ure. 1t congratulated the Republicans
to the city Of New York on the closing
of the saloons on Sunday and the en-
forcement of existing laws. 1t also
congratulated the liquor dealers on
their display Of good sense" in agree
ing to comply with the present laws,
and concluded by saying: 1T Is the
sense Of this convention that the
American Sabbath should be preserved
BY allowing the present law to be en-
forced" ".F
Theodore Broadhead, Of New York.
thought that both resolutions were un-
wise. He believed that the matter
should be left to the state convention.
Samuel Mann. of Troy, said Sunday
local option could not be enforced any
more than the present laws, II we do
not have the police force to do It with.
The whole question is a matter Of en-
fOrcement. There IL not city In the
state, outside Of New York." he said.
where you cannot get q drink on Sun
day, and yet the law Is the same all
over. 1t Is not question for this con-
vention to settle. We shall make seri-
Gus mistake and fall In the trap set by
David b. Hill If we handle 1t and cater
to the saloon element"
Favored Local Option.
EuWdTO seymour, OIL NeW IOTk,
spoke in favor Of Sunday local option.
He said that 1t was not catering to the
saloon element at all. The people Of
New York city demanded II and would
vote for the party that would give II to
them.
After a long dispute 1t was decided to
refer both resolutions to committee Of
three consisting of Alfred Conkling,
Judge Arms and Assemblyman Brown,
to report. and at noon they retired for
deliberatiOn.
After some deliberation the sub-com-
mittee returned and reported this sub
stitute to the full COMMITTEES:
We heartily commend the action of the
police authorities Of New York city in
closing the saloons on Sunday, and note
with pleasure that the liquor-dealers, In
taking official action by which they prom.
ise to obey the law and assist In Its en-
and honesty than the newspapers and
public men who have c0unselled against
obedience to law and order by inveighing
against public officials for doing their
sworn duty. The question Of Bpen saloons
on Sunday IL not a political question. but
Is one the determination Of which will to
q large extent measure the moral tone OF
the Empire state. We believe that the
the Republican party favor the preserva-
tion Of all those conditions and principles
calculated to bring peace. prosperity. and
happiness to the masses OF the people.
The reports Of the officers were re-
ceived. One Of them showed 1.035 clubs
in the league.
When the convention received the re-
port favoring Syracuse for the next
conventionplace. a delegate moved to
substitute Albany. but this was defeat
ed and Syracuse was selected.
The convention then took recess un-
til 2 O'Clock.
The committee on resolutions will pre-
sent this afternoon q resolution en-
dorsing the proposition to bond the
state for $9,OOO.OOO to improve the
canals. The vote on the proposition
was eleven ayes to six nays.
Fassctt's Letter of Regret.
Ex-senator ]. Sloat Fassett In let
ter Of regrets to the convention, says:
1.-THE hope of our party is In leaders.
not bosses; cOunsellOrs, not dictators;
friends, not bullies. The hope of the
country Is in the aggressive participa-
tion in all public affairs of all citizens.
In this respect the league Is teaching
practical patriotism which Is made up
Of practical politics In the highest sense
of the words"
President George E. Green was unan-
imously reelected and he accepted
the Office with a pledge of his best eff
forts for the success OF the league.
Other officers were elected, as follows:
vice-presidents. Edward A. Merritt.
jr.. of Potsdam; A. II. Steele. Of New
York, and Francis G. Ward. Of Buff
falo; secretary, Frederick J. Bryant. OF
Binghamton: treasurer, Addison b.
Colvin. of Glen Falls. After the usual
resolution Of thanks to the officers and
local committees, the convention ad-