Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-15

IN favor OF a mandatory provision, and
although be Was not by any means .
total abssaiuer. should he. havo his way
he would wipe thu whols traffic out oil
! existence, but this. he claimed. every
one present knew was impracticable.
lie said that the people Of the State
J either desired or din not desire a local
option law enforced, and II a ma jority
OF the people desired local option they
J could readily obtain 1t through the
General Assembly, as by tho proposed
system of representation by Senatorial
J and Representative districts the people
in these several districts could readily
elect men who would obey their wiabes
in tho matter, lie opposed any local
option law which should he confined to
any less territorial division than q
county. and argued against the sub
mission of the question to the voisrs
Of a hundred sor voting district. Mr..
bradford stated in closing that he
favored tho substitute offered by DR..
Carlisle.
MIR. Spruance claimed that the ques-
tion OF local option was not by any
means the greatest question that could
or bad come before the convention. He
said he diu not propose TO shirk any
responsibility. but That his constituents
supposed he would exercise his hest
judgment upon all questions. which he
intended TO do on this and all others
that might be presented. lie asked the
temperance people not to rank him on
the side. of iptemperapce, because he
differed with than SIS to the means, but
he believed the question should be met
through tho Legislature. Mr.. Spruance
stated that he was opposed to both the
majority report and tho substitute
offered by Mr.. Gilcbrist, and declared
that he was liz favor OF the proposition
of the gentleman from South Murder
kill tDr. Carlislr. He stated that
should the convention accept this sub
stitute it would bio going as far as any
reasonable temperance man could ask.
Mr.. Hartman followed, and after de-
claring that he had never in bis life
tasted drop Of Intoxicating liquor.
and never expected to, announced that
he also was in favor of the substitute
presented by the gentleman from South
M urderkilI. f
Mr.. CLARK made an earnest argument
in behalf OF local option as provided
for 10 the majority report. and he WAS
followed by MIR. Johnson, who said
that while his election was in nowise
l ubp W fito NOtth VI iniiutUEb Vi EuDBb
engaged In the liquor sraific. he did not
favor the majority report. He believed
the substitute would be better SO far as
the interests OF majority of the
people were concerned.
DIR. Cooper said that were he at the
other end OF the building his course
would be very different upon the quss-
tion at issue, though he believed that
neither the Legislature nor any other
power could :nstil morals into the
people. In concluding he said that his
vote would be cast for the substitute
MIR. Burris in bis remarks spoke OF
the vast power welded by tbs saloon
influence in politics He spoke OF the
operation of local option in Maryland,
during which he referred to the
'proneness OF the people Of Kent and
Cecil counties to play draw poker and
drink rye whissy.n Continuing he
said that it was practically impossible
to make legally right that which Is
morally wrong. Mr.. Burris also stated
that he realized that no law which
could be framed on this or any other
subject could be more effective than
public sentiment, but the attitude oil
the public regarding local option could
only be obtained by a practical test.
This matter, he said. should be taken
out Ut politics by constitutional pro-
vision, and with this end in view he
had signed the report of the com
mittee. He realized that tho majority
report was not acceptable to majority
of the members CT the convention, and
for that reason would accept the sub
stitute offered by Mr.. Gilchrist. which
provides for submission every four
years. @
After few remarks by Capt. Dasey,
who said he would have more to say
before vote was reached, the con.
yention adjourned until.
Dover, April IA. The Constitutional
Convention was in session yesterday
morning for two hours aud forty
minutes, the time being consumed in
the discussion OF the local option
clause.
| DR.. Carisls opened in favor Of his
amendment allowing tho matter to rest
entirely with tho General Assembly.
Mr.. Smithers followed in opposition.
Mr.. Horsey favored the idea Of
taking the first vote In 1898, but he
did not believe in taking a vote every
four years. 4
Mr.. Gilchrist offered to accept the
amendment of Mr.. Horssy, and asked
for unanimous CONSENT, to which Mr.
Donahoe objected.
Mr.. Sapp said he favored tine idea
advanced by Mr.. Horsey Had / my
own way he said, 81 would make
the provisions in the Constitution so
rigid that it would be impossible TO
conduct the business In Delaware; in
fact, would legislate the liquor traffic
into hell If such thing were possible. 2
Mr.. Hearne believed that Dr. Car
isles substitute for the majority re-
port was the best that had been offered
The vote taken ON Mr.. Gichrist's
substitute report, to talso a vote by
districts on the Tuesday next after the
FIRST Monday in November, 1898, and
every four years thereafter, resulted as
follows:
Yea-Mesers. Burria, CLARK, Gil.
christ, Horsay. Murray, Orr, Sapp,
Smithers. Wright--e.
Nay-Messrs. Bradford. Biggs. Car
Isle, Lavender, Coooh, Cooper. Dasey,
Donahoe. Ellegood, Evans, Harmon,
Ilearne. Herring, johnson, Martin,
Pratt, Salisbury, Spruance--lS.
Ahsent--Messrs. Moore, Richards,
Cannon.
! Mr.. Gilchrist offered the following
amendment to that OF Or. Carlisle
Whenever a majority of all the
members elected to ench house of tho
General Assembly by the qualified
electors in any district named in sac