Smyrna times., 1905-05-17
CITIZENS LEAGUE FORMED
At ROUSING CONVENTION
TAKES IN TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS
AND ALL IN FAVOR OF GOOD GOVERNMENT
Convention Largely Attended at Dover When
Organization Was Effected and Declara-
tlOu of Principles Was Adopted.


A Delaware Citizens League was
formed at Dover to-day, to improve
the condition of political affairs in |
Delaware, and to give the voters of the |
state the privilege of voting on the |
question of license or no license to sell
intoxicating liquors. Republicans,
Democrats and Prohibitionists made
up the large assemblage which filled
the Century Club rooms. Among the
prominent politicians of the state who
Joined with the Prohibitionists in
effecting the organization of this
League were: John P. Holland of Mil
ford, delegate to the National conven-
tion from the Democratic party of Del
aware; State Auditor George H. Dick,
Regular Republican; President George
M. SteyensOn of the Kent County
Poor Trustees, Union Republican; d.
J. Fooks of Laurel, Democrat; Former
Congressman Walter o. Hoffecker of
Smyrna, Union Republican; W. II.
Franklin of Harrington, Republican;
Garrett S. Harrington of Harrington,
Democrat.
The object of the league is to force
upon the two principal political parties
the necessity of the nomination of men
who will be favorable to local option
and the purity of elections. Should
they fail to accede to the request of the
leaguers, they will have to contend
with a separate Citizens League ticket.
The opponents to the local option in
the last Legislature were vigorously
denounced, especially in regard to the
Kent county local option bill, and
some sensational statements were made
as to the efforts that had been made to
indict for perjury those members of
the Legislature who failed to vote for
the measure, in compliance with the
constitutional requirements.
Rev. DR.. Watt PresIdes Over Convention.
The convention assembled at 1890,
President Robert Watt of the State
Temperance Alliance, presiding. The
Rev. Ralph T. Coursey of Milton, led
a song service. Mrs. j. K. Barney of
Providence, r. l., national evangelist
of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, prayed that the meeting might
not be simply a conference for the
passage of resolutions, but that deep
foundations be laid for a great work
for righteousness and for the redemp-
-AsIon of the state from the thraldom of
the saloon.
Remarking upon the objects of the
meeting, DR.. Watt declared that the
situation which confronts the righteous
people of Delaware to-day and the
members Of this convention, sis not of
our own making" He declared that
the logic of events dictate to us that
we arrive at some plan of campaign
which the conscientious voters of to-
day can stand upon, fight upon and
win upon.
Presiding Elder S. M. Morgan oil
Dover, the Rev. S. W. Lightbourne o
Middletown, T. E. Terry of Laurel, O.
W. Prettyman of New Castle, Alfred
Smith of Dover, Presiding Elder A
S. Mowbray of Wilmington; John P
Holland aud b. F. B. Woodall, botl
of Milford, were appointed committet
to draft declaration of principles fo
debate.
The Rev. George 2. Jones of Mil
ford, the Rev. Howard T. Quigg O
Georgetown. Presiding Elder w. G
Koons of Smyrna, Mrs. l.. w. Emer
son, president of the Wilmington "
@. T. u, were appointed committe
on nominations.
The Rev. G. L. Wyatt, the Rev.
Il. Nelson, the Rev. W. o. Hurst
George W. Todd and Lewis M. Pric
were appointed finance committee t
audit the accounts of President Watt
and devise financial system for tn
progress Of the conventions work.
Rev. DR.. Watt Gives a Stirring Address.
''One of the chief attorneys of tt
recent Legislature, said DIR. Watt i
his address, gave as his profession
opinion that the word shall IN IL
constitution may often be interprete
and often mean may 1 think |
ought to be chief justice of the Unite
States if he lives long enough.
81 solicited the opinion of Attornt
General Richards and Former Alto
ney General Ward whether every mer
Der of that Legislature who vot,
against the local option bill for Ke
County would not be committing pc
jury in violating their oaths. Ea
said they would. 1 asked them if
could not proceed against them {
perjury, for believe l would do G
and my country justice by putti
some of these false representatives
Jail, and was prepared to sign all t