The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-14
ILLEGAL LIQUOR SELLERS
They Furnished Material for Lively
Debates Among Temperance Men.
PROJECT TO ERECT A HALL
An Treating League as nn Auxiliary
Organization-Two Cadets Received
Badges for Their Active
Work In the Cause


of the Hyde Park Father Mathew So
ciety was filed yesterday afternoon
with delegates from the Catholic To-
tai Abstinence societies of the second
district, assembled in the tenth quar-
terly convention. Timothy w. Mccoy,
of the West Side, entered upon the
presidency of the convention and Will
remain at the helm during the current
year. John Gavan, of the South Side,
assumed the secretaryship.
President Mccoy Is entitled to much
credit for the ability with which me
conducted the business and shut off
by exLPresident j. II. Devine, of the
Diocesan union. eX-Vice-President
Charles L.avan, OF Wilkes-Barre, and
Vice president Peter Mccoy. The pre-
liminary business having passed, the
question was put for debate. What Is
the best means of advancing the tenn
perance movement" On this subject
the unanimous sentiment was that the
cooperation of the clergy Is the best
means
Delegate McTiernan, of Luzerne
street, believed in stopping the illegal
sale of liquor. He had personal knowl-
edge Of a grogshop in full blast yester-
day. Some of the delegates asked him
If he knew about the matter, why he
didn't report it to the proper authori-
ties? He answered that they as well
as he knew the same facts; they knew
that every Sunday in the year a half
dozen saloons in the very block the con-
yentiOn was meeting in keep open
house.
Editor Judges ROnsing Motion.
James +. Judge, editor of the Index,
logued quite lengthily motion that a
longed quite lengthily motion that
vigilance committee, consisting of one
member from each society, be appoint
ed to go around on the Q. Il. and col
lect evidence against the liquor sellers
who do not regard the laws of the
state. This committee would be ex-
pected to confer with the spiritual di-
rector of the union, with the aim in
view to use moral suasion toward
bringing the saloon element to terms.
The motion caused commotion and
spirited cross-fire. President Mccoy
refused to entertain the motion and
Mr.. Judge appealed from the decision
of the chairman. The appeal was sus-
tanned and the motion came up for de-
bate.
"a. ]. Martin was greeted with many
''Oh's!" when he declared himself not
opposed to the licensed saloon. He
would put his foot on the hole in the
wall and the man who, having IL
cense. sells liquor on Sunday and dis
penses it to minors. There We're 9TH
ers. many others, who spoke on the mo-
ton; but, finally. when the motion
came to vote, it was put over until
the next quarterly convention. All
other questions that We're down for de-
hate were continued until the next con-
vention.
Mr.. Judge brought up another mat
ter, which was that a committee should
be appointed to formulate a plan of
honorary membership in societies. He
and Delegate M. j. OToole. with the
district officers, We're appointed on
that committee.
Anti.Trcating League.
There was vet another matter on
which Mr.. Judge desired to be heard.
II was the formation of an 'anti-treat-
in league as an auxiliary organization
the intention of the league to be the
prohibition of the habit of treating.
The author declared that treating is
baneful matter. Ex-President Devine
characterized Mr.. Judges project as a
radical and dangerous step. There was
some discussion and eventually the
matter was laid on the table until the
next convention.
Mr.. O'Toole introduced a subject that
received favorable consideration and
was recommended as possessing very
much merit. He thought that the TEN .
perance movement is powerful enough
to have y central hall building on some
Of the principal streets of the city. as
monument to the stability and en-
during of the temperance cause. At
the next convention the plans of differ
ent architects will be submitted to the
delegates, and they will he Informed in
regard to the cost Of erecting hall.
Mr.. Devine spoke for the subject and
thought 1t would be just the thing that
is needed The delegates took vote
on the matter of the hall. and decided
that it would be well to look over plans
and consider the estimate of cost.
Cadets Receive Bndscs.
A worthy feature of the convention
was the presentation of gold badges to
Edward J. McHale and Thomas Ken
ney, two young cadets Of the Hyde
Park Father Mathew society, for having
brought in the greatest number Of
members to the cadet society. J. II.
Brown, president of the Father Mathew
society, made the presentation speech.
and the badges were pinned on the
breasts of the boys by President Nc
Coy.
An intermission of thirty minutes
was begun at o'clock. and the dele
gates were served with coffee, sand
wiches and cake by a corps Of young
ladies'. The convention afterward was
occupied with the adoption of plans for
expedting business. 1t has been Gus
tomary heretofore to allow unlimited
debate on all questions. and too many
have taken advantage of this latitude
and turned the convention into an ora
torical Kindergarten. The convention
adjourned to meet on the second Sun
day of January in st. Johns hall, Ca
pOuse avenue.