Smyrna times., 1903-02-11
LOCAL OPTION PETITIONS
NOW BEFORE LEGISLATURE
INTERESTING OCCASION BEFORE THE DEL
AWARE LEGISLATURE ON THURSDAY.
Rev. v S. Collins, President of State Alliance
Presented Petition Containing $4,000 Names
Address OfW.O. tiOffecker aud Others.

A large number from Smyrna Joined
others from all parts of the State on
Thursday last, in attendance upon the
temperance meeting at Dover when
formal presentation of the petitions
was made to the Legislature. Smvr-
mas part i'll this meeting was notable
from the fact that Rev. Vaughan S.
Collins was president of the State
Alliance and prominent addresses
were made by ex Congressman Wal
ter o. HOtfecker and Mrs. Lewis NJ.
Price. Legislative routine was sus-
pended in order that the Delaware
State Temperance Alliance might be
given hearing on the subject of sub
mitting to the electors the question of
license or no license of the liquor
traffic in Delaware. The members of
the alliance and hundreds of their
friends thronged the hall Of the
House of Representa- tives, in which
the meeting was held. Speaker An
thOny presided. Those who went from
Smyrna were: Rev. Vaughan S. Col
Inns, Mr.. and Mrs. L. NJ. Price, Mr..
and Mrs. George NJ. Stevenson, Mrs.
John l.. Truax, Mrs. Edward Porter,
Mrs. John p. Burdette, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. o. Hoffecker, Mrs. John A. Hof-
fecker, Mrs. W. P. DOughten, Mr..
and Mrs. w. B. Grant, Mrs. Sipple,
Miss Broadway, Miss Annie W.Sutton.
Rev. Vaughan s. Collins Presented Petitions.
Rev. Vaughan S. Collins of Smyrna,
president of the alliance, presented a
petition containing the names of
1909 petitioners, praying the Legis-
lature of voting on the question of
local option according to article 13
of the Constitution. He spoke brief
ly, showing that the people are behind
this movement, as the 5000 names
had been secured with three weeks
canvass IN the bad weather of mid
winter. To show what list of names
are represented in the petition, he
called for II. b. Hitch, yice-president
for Sussex, to unroll the list of signers
for that county only, and on unrolling
1t was found to reach a distance of
about 12j feet. This is only one
petition of four of equal size from all
the districts.
Mr.. Collins introduced Hon. Walter
o. Hoffecker of Smyrna to speak as
Republican for Kent county. Mr..
HoHecker argued that this is a non
partisan movement to secure for the
temperance people of the State the
privilege of voting on this question,
and that the Legislature ought to find
it easy to rid itself Of all responsibility
IN the matter by referring it back to
the people for settlement.
Right Guaranteed By the Constitution.
Joseph E. Holland of Milford next
spoke as a Democrat for the temper
ance men of Sussex. He claimed it
was a right guaranteed TO the people
by the Constitution to vote on this as
on other questions. He made a telling
speech.
Edward I. Deakyne of New Castle
spoke for the rural New Castle dis
trlct and as Democrat. He did not
see how any fair minded legislator
could refuse to vote to grant the privi-
lege Of voting on the question, and
sad 1t is true Democracy to do so.
Rev r. H. Adams, d. d., of Will
mlngton spoke as a Republican. His
speech was brief, but to the point.
lie said all the temperance people
asked for was to be made equal before
the law to a saloon man. AS the law
now stands, a temperance man is not
tne equal of a saloon man before the
law He argued that the temperance
men are now becoming aroused by the
Unfair treatment they are receiving,
and rising tide of indignation is the
result. 1--WE only demand fair play, "
he said.
Mrs. L. N. Price Speaks For the W. c. T. U.
Mrs. Lewis NJ. Price of Smyrna
spoke for the W. G. II. U. She made
astrong plea for the men to legislate
SO as to make it easier for the mothers
70 train the little feet and the weak
leet to walk in the path of pure living.
President Collins next expressed
'he thanks of the alliance for the
courtesies extended by the President
ol the Senate and the Speaker of the
mouse of Representatives, and assur-
eu them that thousands of temperance
. people will watch the progress of this
temperance legislation with powerful
And earnest solicitude.
a INC temperance people then with
afew % their convention at the Cen
1kif Club, to attend IN the closing