The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-17
Precinct Committeeman Unit
Is Method Adopted At
Today's Meeting.
NICHOLSON PRESIDES
Prominent Friend to Appoint
Nominating Committee in
Near Future.
To organize temperance workers on

10 organize temperance Woi hci o oA
political party lines even to the pre-
cinct committeeman unit is the meth
od which will be used by the anti
saloon people in Wayne county. Fifty
prominent anti-saloon workers of the
county met today at the First Presby-
terian church and decided TO adopt
this plan of organization.
Timothy Nicholson, who presided at
the meeting, was authorized to appoint
a committee OF five, of which he was
to be a member and chairman, which
would act as a nominating committee
The nominating committee will slate
AN executive committee of seven mem
bers, and the latter committee with a
committee from each of the precincts
will constitute the Wayne county cen
trail committee. With this method OF
procedure the leaders Of the temper
ance movement expect 10 complete a
thorough organization, The nominal
ing committee will be announced at
a later date.
Wayne county is only one of the
ninety-two counties to start a move
ment for a thorough organization
Lines are being laid for a fight to place
a statewide prohibition clause in the
platform of the proposed new Indiana
constitution. The voters of the state
will be given an opportunity to decide
whether or not a constitutional CON
vention will be called at the next cleo
tion in November, 1914. Should the
constitutional convention be called
which is expected by the temperance
forces, then a strong effort to include
the statewide clause will be made.
Wants Strong Organization.
According to the rules governing the
selection of delegates to the state con.
stitutional convention, they will not
be selected by political parties. but by
petition from citizens, and in turn
voted upon by the people. With this
order of affairs the temperance forces
expect TO make headway in the fight
for the elimination of the liquor traf-
f1c. To make the proper selection of
favorable citizens to act as delegates
who will be interested in the temper
ance work will take a close and strong
organization, speakers at today's meet
ing declared.
The Rev. Madison Swadener, DID,
OF Indianapolis, associate state super.
1ntendent Of the Anti-Saloon League
who is engaged in organizing county
units in the state preparatory to the
constitutional fght, spoke regarding
the work.
In the selection of delegates to the
constitutional convention, shall the
brewery interests dominate?" he ask
ed. "If they do, then temperance pro-
gress in Indiana will be delayed fifty
years or more The last stand for
temperance within the next few years
lies in the fight for delegates to the
convention. If the temperance forces
secure the controlling vote of the con
vention, then nothing short of a state
wide clause will be placed in the re-
vised state constitution.
Brewers Lose Ground.
"The brewers and distiIlers are put
ting up strong fight 70 get control
of the delegates, and will be laying
lines from now until the fall of the
gavel, starting the machinery working
One brewer told me that although the
liquor interests We're putting up bold
front, they were playing a rosing game
every day.
The conservation congress, which
met few months ago in lndianapo
lis, did a great work for the temper
ance interests. The deviating of the
program from discussion of resources
to that of human life, gave the reading
public an insight to the effect of liquor
on human life.
"A committee of one hundred anti
saloon workers. appointed at the Co
1umbus convention. will so before both
houses of congress December 10 and
present the proposed amendment
which is a temperance measure Pres
ident Wilson. Secretary of State Bryan
all government heads Will be visited
and their sentiment secured. A future
session of the United States Congress
will be the standing grounds for the
temperance cause.
Plan Another Meeting.
Elections within the last two years
have proved the fact that the liquor in
terests are losing their hold on the po
1itical regimes. Now is the time for
the temperance forces to step in anG
wrest what power the liquor men holG
away from them. For the last QUAR-
ter OF century the brewers and dis
tillers have made candidates. framed
policies and passed laws. but witt
their being shorn of political prestige
they may be oyerthrown and the polit
fcal control will be restored to the
people of the nation"
This mornings meeting was attend
ed by business men. farmers, minis
ters and professional men, and includ
ed hve women. Another similar meet
ing will be held in the near future.