The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-10-22
Purpose Is 10 Form Statewide
Movement to War On Thirst
Parlors

Minneapolis, October 16.-Pians
were made today i'm Minneapolis for
the formation i'm Minnesota OF a state
wide citizens league which shall
have as its object statewide prchibi-
ton.
At meeting at the Y. w. c. A.. of
party. the Minneapolis Citizens
league, the w. G.. r. u. and other
organizations interested I'm the tenn
perance cause, IL was the unanimous
opinion OF the speakers that solid
support should be given the move to
unite temperance factions in a state
wide citizens committee and seek
statewide prohibition either by statu-
tory or constitutional means or by
both.
The Minnesota Antisaloon league
was not represented and II is ex-
pected that the league will oppose
the organization OF q statewide citi-
zens' committee on the ground that
the Antisaloon league Is statewide
non PARTISAN on-sectarian organi-
zation which should receive the sup
port OF ali temperance factions. It's di-
rectof,s already have gone on record;
as favoriagiy statewide prohibition.
either by statutory provision or 'ton
stitutienali amendment, and officers of
the ileagues said today that tlfis action
SHOULD bring teithet league the support
oGfail tefhpeTance factions ,7I92D.
q The meeting was called by George
tIsi!Isyells, chairiaan or tho state pro-.
hibition committee "a IT. was attended
by, about thirty men and women rep
resentmg many organizations and in :
Guiding t.. EE'Lobeck OF Alexandra,
former prohibition candidate for gov !
ernOr. h'r-"- '-,t. az "tn. gt'f 81
!" John Diamond OF the Citizens
league and prominent In the Henne-
pin county option fight was chosen
chairman. He declared that all tenn
perance factions should unite in a
statewide fight for prohibition legis-
A. lation, whether statutory or consti-
tutional. and that the meeting should
adjourn without delay to give citizens
interested In the unity project an
opportunity to begin organization.
Mr.. Diamond spoke of the resoiu-
ton adopted by the Minneapolis Re-
tail Liquor Dealers association ask-
ing the support of all organizations
to enforce the liquor laws. II am not
In favor OF cooperating with the
liquor Dealers" he said. Il believe
they have always broken the laws
and always will"
[ Rev. Stanley B. Roberts declared
that the greatest difficulty In the
way OF statewide prohibition Is d-
vision in the ranks of the citizens
who would abolish the saloon. We
must have unity" he said. Mr.
Roberts favored the. plan for organ
izing a statewide citizens committee
for statutory and constitutional pro-
hibition.
DR.. George ID. Haggard. a leader in
the prohibition party, favored ad-
journing to wait the action "of the
citizenship Of the state" He said he
believed members of the party would
unite In the move to launch non
political campaign to make Mime
sofa dry. a.~. .... 49,.
The plan for organizing a statewide
committee to embrace all organiza-
tons was favored by George II. Sell
over, who was prominent I'm the
management of the Hennepin county
option fight.
That the Antisaloon league does
not look with favor on the plan for
the new organization was indicated
today by George b. Stafford. state
superintendent OF the league.
The 'Antisaloon league has one
object. the elimination OF the saloon"
he said. THE league is statewide,
non political. pon-sectarian. II has
men of ell political parties on its
board of directors. The league led
the fight for the county option law
and has led the county option fights.
With these things In mind I natural
y hook with some suspicion, on any
move for organizing another state
wide organization"