The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-21
THE LIQUOR PLATFORM
SALOON KEEPERS ADOPT A LONG
SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS.
Believe Whisky Tax Too High-AduI-
teratiOns and Counterfeits De-
nOunced-NVant Laws Repealed.

tant to the association, as in the adoption
of resolutions the trade is placed squarely
before the public in the light it desires to.
be viewed The resolutions speak in no I'M
certain terms of the opinion in which liquor
dealers generally hold concerning the pee
pie who are opposed to the traffic calling
them bigoted fanatics ard other uncompli-
mentary names.
There was no session Of the association
until nearly noon, when the members con-
vened as a committee of the whole and re-
ceived reports from state associations. Re
porters and others not members of the Ma
tional Association were excluded, and there
was hesitation on the part of those who
heard the reports to discuss them after
wards. Secretary Halle said there was
nothing in them of general interest It is
said that the report from Nebraska was
especially satisfactory, for the saloon men
in that State have won many victories
over the opposition during the last four
years. 1t is believed that this report will
have big influence in sending the next
convention to Omaha. The Omaha delega-
ton has made a strong bid for the conven-
tion and offers the transmississippi expo
sition as an attraction. Minneap polls is
practically the only competitor. and it is
believed that this city is defeated and that
the convention next year will be held in
Omaha.
The report of the Indiana Association was
also of interest to the National Association
though it was not one which recorded any
great victories. The Nicholson law and the
Moore law came in for their share of con-
demnation In these reports, especially that
of Indiana, it is said that the political side
OF the National Association became appar-
ent, as they were practically bids in which
support is offered to the political party
which will agree to cooperate with the
liquor element Secretary Callen, of the In
diana Association, when asked what the
report contained, declared that he had not
seen it. There are many things in it, how
ever, which the newspapers would like to
have but they will not get them
While the members of the association
were waiting for the committee on re-
vision of the constitution and on resolu-
tions to prepare their reports, there was
recess lasting until nearly o'clock. The
members not on the committees spent the
time about the hotel In Room 16 tho whole
sale whisky, beer and cigar men had
plenty of goods in their respective lines,
and men were there to see that the visitors
did not get dry" While this hour was
Poor made call at the rooms and found
everybody ready to contribute to their
purses. Forty or fifty men were in the rooms
where the sessions are being held, and each
gave the women a dollar. The sisters re-
tired smiling and grateful
Only two changes were made in the con-
stitution and bylaws. One provides for the
appointment of a sergeant-at-arms at each
session of the national convention, and the
other makes a Slight change in the pay
ment of the expenses of members of the
executive committee 1t is now provided
that the expenses of but one member for
each State shall be paid by the National
Association.
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
P H. Nolen. the national organizer, read
the main report of The committee on resolu-
TONS The resolutions were adopted as fol-
lows:
The representatives of the retail trade
OF the United States in wines. LIQUOR and
beer, in convention assembled at Indian
apolis, Ind, avow these plain truths, gath
cred from history, observation and expert
ence, to the successful REPUTATION of which
they challenge the enemies of their bust
ness:
THAT stimulating and Intoxicating bev-
erageS are among the beneficent gifts of
the Supreme Ruler of the universe 10 man
for his use, enjoyment and benefit.
That such beverages are as nat
ural and useful alimentary provisions as
are bread or meat, and when not taken di-
rectly by the mouth are evolved by the
ordinary processes of nature from the solid
food that is eaten and are taken up by the
system for its nourishment and repair.
That all codes of moral ethics recog-
right, proper and even necessary, their
abuse only being condemned, precisely as
the excessive use of solid food and the
other gifts of nature is condemned.
DeVpra
has formed an important and honora-
bic feature of the commerce of the world
earliest dates of recorded history.
That it has been reserved for the
Pharisaical reformers and Puritanical the
orists OF the latter half or the present, fast
ending century to make warfare upon this
time-honored calling and seek its suppress
sion
'That such efforts have resulted not
merely in absolute failure, but, in the
language of some of our ablest writer's aud
most eminent educators, have had 'un-
loolted-for effects on public respect for
courts, judicial procedure, oaths and law
in general and for the officers Of the law.
legislators and public servants The result
has BEEN on the same eminent authority
the development of "a whole generation Of
habitual lawbreakers, schooled in evasion
through fluctuations of policy, delays, per
Juries, negligence and other miscarriages
of justice, officers of the law double-faced
and mercenary, legislators timid and insin-
cere. candidates for office hypocritcal and
trucking and officeholderS unfaithful to
pledges and to reasonable public eXpecta-
ton. In fine we are told on the same
high authority, that all legislation intended
to put restrictions on the liquor traffic, eX-
cept, perhaps the simple tax, is more or
less liable TO these objections, but the pro-
hibitory legislation is the worst of all in
these respects.
Experience in all ages has demon
strated that legislation which is not
supported by public sentiment is sure to
prove impotent and absolutely harmful to
public morals. The greatest of Hebrew
sand years ago and ii has never been dis
regarded without producing grievous
wrong. In view of these indisputabe facts
we, as taXpaying and lawloVing citizens of
the Republic, seeking its welfare and good
repute in which we have a common inter
the best, demand that all laws which aim
to harass restrict and restrain the legiti
mate traffic in wines, liquors and beer be
rescinded and, the more clearly to define
our position before the public, be it
Resolved, That we are, and always have
been, quite ready and willing to pay our
just share OF taxation for the support of
the government and the preservation OF
peace, order and quiet in the law, though
protesting most earnestly against the I'M
equal, unfair and unjust burden of taxa
ton now put upon
Resolved, That we protest against be-
ing treated in any other or different man
ner under the law than are the members
and commerce.
Resolved, That we are not in any sense
advocates of or apOlOgistS for the excessive
use OF the beverages in which we deal. On
the contrary, we denoince drunkenness as
both vice and a crime and demand that
il be dealt with as such and severely pun
ished.
Resolved, That we are opposed to dives