Evening journal., 1902-12-19
FIGHT At DOVER
ON LOCAL OPTION
Convention Came Near Split
ting Over the Prohibition
Resolutions
DEFEATED AFTER AN ARGUMENT

Meeting Finally Proceeded to Form
Temperance Alliance and to Organ
ize for the Field Work. Mrs.
Smithers Scores the Men
Dover. Dec. 19.-The Delaware State
Temperance Alliance" was formed here
yesterday at the convention of those
who favor local option The conven-
ton was an interesting and at times,
stormy one. split nearly occurring on
resolutions which II passed would have
committed the body to the prohibition
principle. A vigorous crusade through
out the State for the next election Is
to be carried out.
Rebuked by a Woman
Mrs. Kate e. smithers, OF Smyrna,
president of the Kent County w. c. H..
T., was called upon and scored the con-
vention for wasting so much valuable
time when women have business TO
transact" she said they do II in an
orderly manner We must take hold
of anu grapple with this situation and
have no commOtion-oyen have no din-
ner For what is food for the body
when human souls and Delaware
homes are at stalker
The convention then called DIR.
O'Connell, oolored, to the platform and
he made a telling speech, in the course
of which he said
Tipping among the negroes of this
country is increasing every day, not
| dwindling. You white men today, II
you want to do missionary work. take
hold of this question, wrestle with il
and down it."
Fight Against Prohibition
The biggest fight Of the convention
came up at 1.30 o'clock. when the spe
cial committee on plans came in Will
a report consisting of six resolutions
The first was the rock on which thl
convention almost stranded. 1t callel
upon the people OF this State 70 go be
! fore the Legislature and demand a pro
hibitory statute outlawing the salooi
, in Delaware
Or. Alfred smith OF Wilmington
4 championed this resolution in a vigOr
ous speech, declaring that the saloo
was a crime and must not be temper
lied with.
DR.. C. S. Baker, the Rev. Vaughan S
Collins and r. NJ. Cooper were on thei
feet at one time to fight the resolution
and oppose taking a third party atti
tude In this convention or To- amin
so high that nothing could ge struck.
Dr. Ia r. Barrett said he had inter
viewed several of the legislators-elec
and without exception they had agree
to refer this question to the peOpl,
The Rev. l.. @. Layfield said somethin
! ought to be learned by experience.
4 Maryland. where $50 voters could nc
be secured for prohibition, the whol
county could be carried for local OF
ton
Mrs. Jennie Price, OF Smyrna. d,
clared that her delegation had nc
T. come into a prohibition convention
I but into local option conveI
? ton. George M. Stevenson. Of Smyrni
o said he belonged to the Union Republ
j can party, but came here to encourae
? local option. If this was to be a prl
2 hibition convention he would retir
The first section of the resolution asl
S ing prohibition was defeated.
n The second resolution calling for Il
r cal option and the remainder OF q
q committees report was adopted
IS recommended also that a State tempe
, ance alliance be formed; that a fie
D. secretary be appointed to travel ov
" the State organizing and promoting tel
perance sentiment. and that the Legi
l. lature be urged to repeal the bOtt
" and bucket law. The convention al
o put itself on record as opposed to d
F. repeal by Congress of the canteen Law
N State Alliance Formed
l. Before adjournment the delegat
se organized the Delaware State Temp,
ance Alliance. The official roster
the new organization to prosecute {
local option campaign from Brand
wine to Baltimore hundreds stood
follows: President. Vaughan 8. c.
Inns, Smyrna; vice-presidents. Hen
+. Pickels, Wilmington; Frederi
1 Bringhurst, New Castle; Walter
| Hoffecker. Smyrna; George II. Hi
| Milford; secretary, Joel s. Gilflli
o. Newark; treasurer, Richard NJ. Coop,
CheswOld; Executive Commit
y George w. Todd. John Shape, Hen
, S. Goldey. Wilmington; George