The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-18
LICENSE A FARCE
Such Is the 0pin,Oa OF tx-Mayor Brock
OF New Bedford.
h CRIME AND POVERTY, NURSERY.
No Benefit Even Derived From
Liquor Licenses.

BosroS, Seq ie.-The citizens Of Mass
schusotts wSo believe In tho principles
and aims Of tho Prohibition party of
Massachusetts sont delegates to a conven-
tion held at Association hall, Y. M. O. A.
building today for tho purpose OF placing
In nomination ono candidate each for
governor lieutenant governor, secretary
OF tho commonwealth, treasurer and re-
oeiyer general, attorney gReral and
Tho basis Of representation Is one dole
gate at largo for each town and ward of
cities and one delegate for every ten votes
cast for the prohibition ticket at the last
state election or majority fraction thereof.
Tho meeting was called TO order by the
chairman Of the state committee. Sing
ing and prayer was followed by the cleo
tion Of Rev. Mabel MacCoy OF Mansfield
as temporary chairman.
The election OF convention committees.
the report Of the treasurer, the report of
the committee on permanent organization
and election Of permanent officers Of tho
convention followed.
Ex-Mayor Jethro @. Brock of New Bed
ford was elected permanent chairman, and
he delivered the following address:
Chairman Brooks Address.
II thank you most heartily for the
honor you have conferred upon me in call.
Ing me to preside over your deliberations.
1t is an honor at any time to preside over
state convention of the Prohibitory
party, but this year 1t Is doubly so. cele-
brating, as we do, the 25th anniversary Of
the organization Of the party.
while In charge of the police depart
inent OF New Bedford / had tho oppor-
tunity to test the practicability OF the en-
forcing OF prohibitory policy, and salts
fled myself. the liquor dealers and tho
public generally that IL was entirely prac-
tical. Again, during my torn us mayor,
for tho short time during which no license
prevailed, IL was again demonstrated that
prohibition could be enforced, and in this
connection give, as the result OF my OBJ
servation, that any failure To enforce tho
law is not due TO the rank and file of tho
police department or TO the juries.
"lf those in authority really desire the
saloon closed the police can and will se-
cure evidence, and juries will convict.
While experience has demonstrated TO me
these facts relative to prohibition, it has
clearly convinced me OF the complete fail
ure OF license as an aid TO the cause of
temperance and sobriety. License, high
or low, never has, does not and never can
accomplish any good. The whole scheme
look upon as a perfect farce. 1t may be
a success In the matter Of revenue, but a
nursery OF poverty and crime and could |
our taxpayer be induced TO look at the sub
ject from financial standpoint and see |
that for every dollar received from license |
they must be taxed S. for the support of |
paupers and criminal expenses they
would perhaps take an entirely different |
view of IL.
Liquor Receipts of No Benefit.
"In fact, believe IL the receipts from
licenses went to the state treasury, instead
of that of the city or town, many places
that now annually vote license, would in
stantly swing into the no-license column.
II Is the prevailing and absurd idea that
the license money, going directly to the
local treasury, helps to pay the municipal
expenses, and thereby reduce taxation.
which leads many men to muzzle their
and vote for license But how
good men, even with the erroneous idea OF
taxation, can vote shoulder to
shoulder with the saloon mon for license,
IS beyond my comprehension
"We are apt 10 speak very harshly Of the
liquor dealers, but cannot lose sight of
,he fact that they are but the legalized
representatives OF the good citizens who
1ote for license and thereby give an air of
'espectability to the business In nv
opinion. the LOCALIZED dealer ought not to
,ear all the odium Of the traffic. We often
lear it said that the Prohibtionists vote
n the air, but no vote for the right, for a
principle, is ever thrown away, and no
Of the healthy influence of the
'arty can ever be made by tho number of
otes polled or even by the number of
'oters In attendance at caucus held under
he ingenious Republican caucus law.
Friends, we are advocating a good and
ust cause, and that ought TO be sufficient
o inspire US to renewed activity. The
Tomen, who should be with US In voting
re with us in the sentiment; the young
,hristian element, under the burning
lords of Wooley, is looking this way, and
10 should take courage and press for
Yard"
Miscellaneous business was transacted ,
fter the chairman's 8 address, and the con- !
cntion, at 1890 adjourned till Q d. IN. ,
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