The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-04-18

BY vote of 81 to Il the Cham
Der Of Commerce went on record at
its special meeting yesterday as being
opposed TO the resolution introduced
in the Florida legislature TO submit
the question OF constitutional
amendment for prohibition to the
voters Of the state Many members
opposed the introduction Of the reso-
luton and action on the part of the
chamber on the ground that it is a
political question. and as such cannot
be handled by the body. whose con-
SttutiOn bars matters political.
The meeting was called by the
president upon request CT five mem
bers, and was largely attended. As
soon as the president stated the OBJ
iect of the meeting B. S. Williams
introduced q resolution declaring that
the question is a political one and
therefore is prohibited under the con-
StitUtiOn Of the body. and that the
chamber take no action whatsoever
which would tend to line up the body
for or against any of the questions.
This was seconded by W. B. Ferriss
J. NJ. MUldOn introduced a substi-
tutG, which was seconded by VIM H
Knowles, and which finally passed by
vote of 81 TO Il after a motion to
table had been voted down by - to
20.
Several other resolutions to furnish
the legislature with a statement of
the vote and TO furnish the names of
those voting for and against the
measure were voted low,
The Resolution.
The resolution as il passed, is as
follows:
Whereas, it is the object of this
Chamber of Commerce to promote
the business interests of the city of
Pensacola, and its desire is to pre-
vent unrest and agitation among the
people which is prejUdiciaI to their
| material welfare. and
| Whereas. it is the sense of this
| body that the business of the city
AID indeed of the whole state, would
] oe seriously hurt by the holding of an
! election involving the issue of state
wide prohibition in Florida, and,
| Whereas, it is the sense of this
| body that Article XIX of the constitu-
| ton of the state guaranteeing local
| option in regard TO licensing or pro-
hibiting the sale of Intoxicating
/ liquors is fair, sensible and demo-
cratic, securing for every community
/ the right to decide for itself whether
the sale of said commodities shall be
| licensed or forbidden within its
{ boundaries, and,
! Whereas, the holding of an election
for the purpose of substituting pro-
| hibitiOn for local option would inevi-
tably not only needlessly fOment dis
cord, excitement and passion among
the people generally, but certainly
| would bring into political prominence
! the negro element of the state and
| give to 1t an importance full of dan
ger now and hereafter:
! Now, therefore, be it resolved.
That an attempt to abolish the
| local option provisions of the consti-
| tuition of Florida. and to substitute
| therefor a constitutional prohibition
| of the sale of liquors is unnecessary,
unwise and dangerous:
That this action is not intended as
an expression of opinion in regard to
the merits of the liquor question now
| agltatlng the people but is concurred
in by members of this body on both
sides of that question:
That copies of these preambIes
and resolutions be sent to the senator
and representatives of this county i'm
the legislature now in session at Tai
lahaSsec, with the request that they
present the same TO the senate and
house OF representatives and that
they are urged TO use all legitimate
means TO defeat the joint resolution
now under consideration, the object
or which Is 10 deny local option. as
now wisely provided. and to preci0-
tate upon the people of the state an
election fraught with the banefuI ac-
COMMITMENTS and CONSEQUENCES men