The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-13
TALKED OF moral SUASI0N
Interesting Debate Of Total Abstain:
crS at Providence.
PLANS FOR A NEN BUILDING
We're Presented to the Quarterly Couven'
tion for scheme for
Raising Necessary Funds to lie Con-
sidercd-Bus mess Transacted.

yesterday AFTERNOON. ADout -vV ueie-
gates We're present. one-fourth of the
number being ladies. Timothy Mccoy,
president of the district. called the con-
vention to order at 80 and from that
hour until adjournment in the evening
Interesting business was under consid-
era tion.
The most important subject was sub
mitted by the committee on hall. Six
months ago at Il quarterly convention
held on the West Side. NJ. J. O'Toole
and John II. Devine We're appointed on
this committee. 1t was the purpose
that they should have set of plans
prepared. Mr.. O'Toole made report
for the committee. He exhibited a
front view of a building so by 100 feet
and five stories high, designed by
Architect Harvey Blackwood. The
basement Is for a gymnasium; the first
story Is fifteen feet high, the second and
third ten feet each. and the fourth and
fifth twenty-five feet entirely.
When the committee was appointed
the hall matter was thoroughly dis
cussed. 1t was thought that there is a
sufficient membership of total abstain
ers in the district to be able to erect a
building tina: will reflect credit on
them and serve as monument to the
| cause. All agreed that if some feasible
900 necessary to erect the hall, ii ought
to be undertaken at once. At the next
meeting the committee will have re-
port to make on how to get the money.
| The manner in which II can be raised
and which commends itself to the earn
est consideration of the societies Is on
a building and loan association plan
BY equipping Il large part of it for
store and office rent large revenue
can be raised to nut into the building
fund; the rest will be met by assess
| ments from the societies.
AN INTERESTING DEBATE.
When Chairman Mccoy called the
turn President j. J. O'Hara and Vice
President Peter Mccoy, of the Diocesan
union, and c. +. Foley. of Mahanoy
| Plane, who addressed the delegates
briefly: then came on a debate upon the
subject. Resolved, That moral sua-
sion has done more for the cause of
temperance than legislative enact
ments." John II. Devine and John Nc
Lane upheld the affirmative and the op-
! posite side was represented by James
+. Judge and John McTiernan. The
three judges were Frank +. Brady. Of
the South Side; j. C. Gallagher. of the
North End. An hour was allotted for
the arguments, thirty minutes to each
! side.
| Mr.. McLane opened the debate His
argument was that total abstinence Is
| not the outcome of any legislative en-
! actments but was begOtten of moral
suasion. Mr. Judge was the next
speaker He agreed with the argument
of Mr.. McLane, but he said that Rev.
| Theobald Mathew was sorry at the end
of his crusade against the liquor traf-
1ic, after having pledged thousands,
that he had not started out with the
same amount of energy against the
traffic from legislative point of view.
Mr.. Judge read letter written by the
/ apostle of temperance in which this
regret was voiced, A letter written by
Bishop Sraulding, of Peoria, at Chi
cago in May, 1889, was read in which
| the renowned prelate characterized the
| saloon as Il menace to the nation, cor
rupting politics and government.
| Mr.. Devines argument was to the
| effect that God said that the drunkard
| shall not inhabit the Kingdom of
Heaven. Father Mathew did not say
| here goes in the name of the law, but
| he said in the name of God. The
thousands of mon and women i'm the
Prohibition movement today. said Mr.
DeVipc, are actuated more by moral
and religious convictions. Mrs. Fran
| ceS Willard was not started out by any
| legislative enactment.
M'TIERNAN'S ARGUMENT.
Mr.. McTiernan read his argument A
| young man joins the temperance ranks
through moral suasion. he said the
! gildcd whiskcy palace throws snares in
| IA moi l,n f1l ~,
brings him back again to the temper
ance society, and just as sure as fate
the whiskey palace tennis him to fall
! again, until at last he falls never to
rise again and goes down into a drunk
ards grave. The only thing to be done,
| therefore, is wipe out the saloon alto
, gcthor. BY legislative enactment he
means legislation, which if it does not
root out the saloon altogether. will sur
round it with barriers to prevent open
| shop being kept on Sunday and children
from running for beer with pals.
Mr. McLane said 1t was not necessary
to refer to Maine and Iowa where leg
! islative enactments are in force regu-
lating the liquor traffic; right here In
our own very midst the laws governing
the SALOON eve violated every day and
the speak-easy is thriving industry
Mr.. Judge answered that millions in
Iowa and Kansas are benefited by Pro-
| hibition. and it has done more in seven
years to Danish drunkenness from these
states than moral suasion has done in
f39 years. This is from testimony OF
authentic character, and to corroborate
1t he read letter from Rev. Father
O'Herlihy, of Kansas City.
THEY COULD NOT DECIDE.
The judges retired to deliberate on the
arguments and after due consideration
they came forward and announced that
they could decide in favor of neither
propositions. a motion was made to
submit the question to the delegates
for them to settle but 1t was debated
and finally laid on the table.
John II. Devine, NJ j. O'Toole John
Collins, p. +. May and Frank j. Gavan
We're appointed a committee on resolu.
tions and the following which they drew
up were approved:
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, We view with much pleasur,
| and qualification the increase in the mem
bership and influence of the organization
comprising the Second District, and re
spectfully urge members to continue in tn,
| noble warfare begun so many years age
by the Rev. Hheobold Mathew and en-
dorsed by the clergy of this diocese, be /
Resolved, That we extend our cOngratu
lations to the many total abstinence soc!e
ties in this section who have within tn,
past year moved along the educatona
lines. And that We earnestly urge the dis
cussion of questions relating to our move
ment in the local society meeting an,
other popular topics in regulation de
bate We believe the educational effor
to be a good one and urge that II be 81
concentrated as to afford the young mel
and women of our societies an oppor
tunity to more fully equip themselves TO
the active affairs of life.
, Resolved, Further. That we feel graft
fled at the interest taken by total alb
stainers In the ether Catholic societies
of this section and fully appreciate tn
harmony that now exists between thes
societies. We urge those interested I,
continue in the efforts which tend to ele
vate the members and maintain a higl
standard Of citizenship
Resolved. Further, That we tender ou