Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-16
T HE LILO U OR MEf
They Continue Their Convention at the
Ebbitt House.
Resolutions Presented Calling for
Legislation to Secure an Equitable
BASIS for the Traffic.

| The National Retail Liquor Dealers As
| ISOLATION got down to real business in its
convention at the Ebbitt House this morn
| ing, ard sat behind closed doors for several
| hours, engaged in an animated discussion
| of the various matters needing considera-
| ton. Chairman Morrissey grew warm de-
| Gliding the many parliamentary questions
propcunded and got out OF his coat in order
| to better settle them. The first business
| considered was the report of the finance
| committee, which showed the organization
| to be in excellent financial standing, and
then Mr.. B. T. Kearns. chairman of the
committee on resolutions, submitted the
| report of that body.
The Resolutions Presented.
The resolutions recited that the associa-
| ton affirmed and believed that its men,
| bers are engaged in a legitimate trade,
| from which a larger revenue is exacted
than any other business in the United
| States, and such being the fact, insists
| that all citizens are entitled to enjoy the
largest meas ure OF personal freedom con-
sistent with good government and the vel
| fare of the community. 1t believed that
| the public demands the existence Of the
saloon because it was public necessity
| and authorized by legislative enactnents,
| and the members believed the suppression
crate the traffic and society retaliates by
supporting illicit and illegal establish
| ments. which not only tend to debauch
| the morals of the community, but deprive
| the nation and state of their revenue. 1t
| was therefore resolved that it was the
| wish of the representatives present that
on organization be maintained, through
| which and by which the interests Of the
| retail trade In every section of the
country can be united in strength and
| influence, and while they favored the ex-
sense affiliated with any political party, yet
| they deemed it necessary to watch all po-
| litica1 movements with the greatest care
and carefully investigate the personnel Of
| the respective candidates and support only
| those who declare themselves in favor of
personal liberty and oppose to the utter
| most any candidate of any party who
| caters to the intolerant and fanatical.
An Equitable Regulation of the
| Traffic.
| It was also resolved to demand from the
| national and local authorities an equitable
| regulation of the retail liquor traffic upon
| basis which would accord retail dealers the
same rights as those engaged in any other
legitimate trade The association protested
| against the enactment of unjust sumptu-
| airy legislation, and pledged itself to resist
| all lawmakfng powers who may attempt
upon one class of business, and to aid in
| opposing all, unjust restrictions to the
| liquor traffic In conclusion the resolutions
emphatically denounced all Illicit and dis
| reputable resorts which may be tolerated
| for any purpose, because they propagate
| drunkenness and debauchery among the
| youth Of the community, desecrate the Sab
| bath and cast an odium upon the legitimate
| trade, and pledged the association to assist
| in their suppression. After discussion, the
| resolutions were unanimously adopted, and
| the convention proceeded to the considera-
tion of grievances existing in various states
| and cities.
The Afternoon Session.
! The afternoon session was devoted to a
consideration of state reports, and meas
| ures were taken to assist the city and
| state associations which are confronted
| with issues that constitute grievances An
| effort to get some definite expression on
| the proposed increase of the beer tax was
| frustrated, it being pointed out that The
| resolutions adopted in the morning gener-
| ally covered that subject, while there was
| no necessity of meeting an issue until 1t
| was more FULLY defined. The election of
| officers was then proceeded with, and quite
a contest developed over the presidency,
| the candidates being John MorrisSey and
| Mr.. Patterson of Philadelphia.
The delegates will be entertained at a
| banquet at the Ebbitt House tonight, and
| will spend tomorrow in Philadelphia. as
| citation there, while the New York organ
| ization will entertain them in the metropo-
| lis Friday.
Swinging Wires.
| Frank H. Clark, officer of the United
States Electric Light Company, was charg
| ed in the Police Court today with occupy
| ing public space for private purposes.
1t is charged that persons in the employ
| of the company strung two service wires
| across NJ street in Georgetown in violation
| of law.
| Mr. Henry Wise Garnett will represent
| the defendant when the case is tried in the
| Police Court Saturday.