Evening journal., 1897-02-10
THAT SPECIAL MEETING
Board of Trade Washes It's
Hands of Local Option.
ONLY ONE DISSENTING VOTE

TEMPERANCE ADVOCATES CLAIM
A BIG VICTORY. BUT THE LIQUOR
MEN WOULD HAVE WON HAD
THERE BEEN A FIGHT.
The special meeting OF the Board of
Trade held last night was largely at
tended. The board. at a meeting held
on February d. passed resolutions OPP
posing the local option clause whicn
the temperance advocates are trying to
have placed In the new Constitution
AT the previous meeting. the three
brewers of this city, were represented
and Harry Stoeckle spoke in the inter
ests of the brewers. He said that III such
a clause should be inserted i'm the new
Constitution the three concerns i'm this
city would have to close. This would
mean a loss to the community and
state as the State of Delaware would
lose the revenue derived therefrom. and
which amounts to thousands Of dollars.
The Board of Trade looked at the
matter in business way and decided
that Il could not allow the business in
terests OF Wilmington to suffer and by
unanimous vote. passed the resolu-
tions opposing the local option clause
When this action Of the board became
public. several members threatened to
resign, and called upon William Law
] ton. president of the board, to order
special meeting for the reconsideration
of the motion. The board was de-
nounccd from pulpit and pew, and was
the subject of much general comment
Accordingly, the special meeting was
held last night But those who went
to witness a turbulent time were disap-
pointed, and the matter was amicably
settled.
The liquor sympathizers were In the
majority and had the motion to re-
consider the boards previous motion
been ordered, the friends OF John Bar
leycorn would have won
After a preliminary skirmish. Josiah
Marvel opened the discussion by saying
that he would move for the reconsider
alton of the resolution President Law
ton put the question. and there was not
a dissenting voice.
n. ID. Pickles addressed the board on
the subject OF its organization. In re-
gard to the rum traffic, the speaker
said that the board has no right to ask
the Constitutional Convention TO op-
pose such a clause The trade bureaus
in other cities have not meddled with
this question, and there is no reason
for Wilmingtons board to do so.
keep in your line' said Mr., Pick
els. you have done a great deal of
good for Wilmington, and you have the
people with YOU"
A. G. McCausland moved that the
whole question be laid on tho table
without discussion. The motion was put
and lost by a vote Of % to 10.
DR.. j. y. Smith said that the clause
would mean a serious loss of industry
to this city. II would close up three
large concerns, throw men out Of work
and otherwise inflict loss and injury.
n. ID. SlOcOmb said he believed the
board should go ahead and either vote
for the question or down IT, The board
made a blunder in taking up the ques-
tion. 10 should not consider one certain
firms interest. but the Interests Of the
whole city.
A. ID. Warner said that he thought
the board labcred under a misappre-
hension, as the members knew that the
boari had no jurisdiction in the mat
ter.
Just as Mr. Warner had said the
jurisdiction J Milton Solomon. the
big, good-looking coal dealer fell to
the floor by the sudden dissolution of
the chair which he occupied He Sc
cured another and the meeting pro-
ceeded amid great laughter
Mr. Warner concluded by saying that
all over the city this matter has been
the general topic for discussion, and
the Board of Trade has been de-
nounced. If the board endorses such
measure he would oppose it with both
vote and voice. To adopt these resolu-
itons would mean disruption 20 the
Board of Trade. lt Is entirely out of
the scope Of this organization, and Il
should be placed where it belongs.
d. w. Taylor was the next speaker,
and said that he was as good q tenn
perance man as any one i'm the room.
But when he voted on the resolution he
looked at the matter In a business
sense. The board is a business or
ganization, and the business ends of the
firms doing business here must be
looked after.
A. G. McCausland moved to take the
matter cut Of the jurisdiction OF the
board
r. l.. Rice Jr, moved to strike out
the word moral In the resolution and
insert the word business.
Mr.. Warner said that such a change
would not alter the resolution. TO take
out The word moral Is not the thing
wanted. The Board of Trade is taking
a stand against local option, when il
has no right in the matter
3 The vote on the motion to change
the word moral to that of cuisines"
! was taken and lost by vote of "A to 21
There were other speeches, and the
board finally adopted this resolution:
Resolved. That the resolution adopt
ed at a previous meeting Of this board
p relating to local option was not within
the province of the board"
lt was adopted by a vote of "a to l..
! Josiah Marvers being the dissenting
! vote. The meeting then adjourned