The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-02

the Columbia Hail. where everything was
in readiness for the convention. The old
Township of Greenville, the home of mos
quitoes, gave the delegation a warm wei,
come, every saloon being gaily decorated
with bunting.
When the Mayor had taken his seat on
the platform on the right of President
August Koehler the latter in very grace
ful words introduced Mr.. Patrick Nc
Ardle, Chairman of the local Committee
of Arrangements, who raped for order
and made an admirable speech at the end
of which he said
Delegates of the New Jersey Liquor
Dealers League 1t is my great pleasure
to see SO large an attendance at this, our
annual convention. To that pleasure is
added the honor of introducing His Honor
the Mayor of Jersey City.
The Mayors name was greeted by
storm of cheers and cries of Hes all
right.
Il want to tell you,'' added Mr.. Nc
Ardle, that Mr.. Hoos is in favor of per-
sonal liberty. prolonged cheering)
When the Mayor arose to speak he was
again greeted with handclapping and
Il bid you welcome, gentlemen, to our
city. Personally, | am proud that COM
mittee of your association called on me to
be present with you. l am here not for
political purposes 1 don't care a snap
of my finger whether l go out of office
tomorrow. (Cheers.) 1t has been said of
me that 1 love personal liberty. That is
true. / am proud, to welcome you to Jer-
sey City, the first city of New Jersey.
Jersey City is the natural landing place of
travellers, who then scream out All out
for New York Gaughter) 1 am glad
you honor us with your presence because
you will leave us some money Qaughter.l
And who spends more than you 90!
Board of Aldermen has in its
wisdom seen fit to place an embargo
upon the liquor business. Personally.
want to have as many $3.50 as possible,
xryith nf
/ want to say that your business is a
perfectly legitimate business. Now why
should l, who conducted furniture
business, be exempt from tax and you
be taxed and looked down upon because
you are in the liquor business? Why,
man who is in the liquor business is just
I'VE receive from you people $3.50 for
every license, and what do we do with
It? We pave streets and build d. schools;
we be? We would have to raise bonds.
(Cheers)
Now, another thing, you people don't
advertize and scatter handbills. If a man
comes into your place and takes too many
drinks and gets drunk that's none of your
fault. You didn't invite him. AS to the
Sunday question, you will see that the
men don't patronize the churches very
much. It's the women. and can't see
why Coney Island should flourish at the
expense of Jersey City" (Cheers)
The Mayor then Travelled into the water
question and instanced the miracle at the
marriage of Cana. That Divine authority
ought to be remembered and this opinion
tickled the liquor dealers, who applauded
to the echo.
President Koehler then addressed the
convention on the aims of the League and
during the course of his speech said
The League has now 43 associations,
an increase of five over last year. Some
of these associations, especially where
there was no trouble lately and every
thing went smooth, need stirring up by
awakening and inducing sense OF duty,
and showing them the benefits OF organ
ization. In some of the cases the officers
are not in their proper positions, having
the honor but not the ability or pro-
gresSive spirit.
Perth Amboy and Camden. Negotiations
are pending and efforts made to establish
associations in Boonton, Montclair, Ho-
patcong.
All this takes up a great deal of time
and means loss of business and risk of
those endeavoring the task BESIDES II
is always quite some expense TO the
League and the money received for per
capita tax must often be spent IN the
reorganizing because the local officers
are not up to date in the performance OF
1 have personally made during the last
year forty different trips to visit organnlz-
ations and to organize, new ones Our
has been with me at a good MANY of
these trips. Mr.. lCrotty has worked hard
and energetically. He succeeded IN
strengthening the Central Organization
of Hudson County, which embraces in
its folds the different locals of. North
Hudson. Efforts to create Central bodies
in Essex and Passaic counties have SO
far proved unsuccessful.
After the Presidents speech, report
from the Legislative Committee was pre-
sented in which the bill known as the
200 feet bill was condemned and
Gov, DAILY was recorded as one
of two who voted against it. At
this moment the Governor entered the
room, and was received with great ap-
plause Up to the time of 1.-THE News %
goin to press he is pushing his Guberna-
torial boom along.