Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-02
5000 BOOSTERS
OF LOCAL OPTION
INVADE TRENTON
Great Crowds Demand
Passage of Bill at
State Capitol
GIVEN WARM WELCOME
Throngs March to Sunday Tab
ernacle and Hold Stirring
Demonstration

TRENTON, Feb. 2.-Trenton's populacc
and Inhabitants of scores OF New Jersey
communities today Witnessed in this city
the most spectacular local option demon
stration in the history of the state More
than 5000 men marched to the strains
OF eight bands from the Clinton street
station of the Pennsylvania Railroad and
the Warren street station Of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Railway to the
Billy Sunday tabernacle, at Greenwood
avenue and Chambers street, where a
mass-meetlng was held. From the taber-
nacle the supporters of the Gaunt bill
marched to the Capitol, on West State
street where they were addressed In the
Assembly chamber by members of the
Legislature and other prominent persons
About 1000 women we're taken TO the
Capitol in trolley cars.
The object of the demonstration was to
Impress upon the New Jersey Legislature
the reasons for the passage of the local
option bill, which has been bone of con.
tention In the Legislature of this state for
many years.
Five trainloads OF people came from
Atlantic City, Camden. Red Bank, Jersey
City and other points at $3.50 and 1880
o'clock this morning and were escorted
to their places in line by the I'd Regiment
and Winklers Bands. Of this city. The
Rev. DIR. Henry Slough, who is conduct
charge of the delegation from that re-
sort.
The Rev Dr. Henry Collin Minton,
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
of this city. and chairman of the Billy"
Sunday Campaign Committee, called the
meeting to order at the tabernacle. He
introduced the Rev. James X. Shields,
superintendent of the New Jersey Anti
saloon League. who presided at the ses-
sion. Doctor Slough made the opening
prayer, and then followed addresses by
Senator Harold b. Wells, of Burlington
County; Senator Charles O'Connor Hen
messy, of Bergen County; Assemblyman
John B. Kates, of Camden County: As
semblyman William NJ. Runyon, of Union
County: John II. Ward, president of the
Bergen County Local option League, Of
Ridgewood; Fillmore Condit. of Essex
Falls, and Nolan r. Best, of Montclat'
Shortly after noon, when the eXer-
cises at the tabernacle had been con-
cluded. a procession of the various dele
cations was formed and the march to
the State House was begun With bands
playing Onward, Christian Soldiers and
"Come All Ye Christians" and other
hymns with the marchers singing to the
accompaniment and with banners and
pennants for local option flying, the
thousands in line made their descent
upon the State Capitol to make their de-
mands for a saloonless State upon the
Representatives of the Legislature who
had gathered at the State House to re-
ceive them.
Arriving in front of the Capitol, which
was decorated with flags and bunting,
resolutions which had been adopted at
the mass-meeting were presented to
Senator w. F. Gaunt, of Gloucester
County, the father of the New Jersey
Anti-Saloon Leagues local option bill.
as the representative of the Senate, and
TO Assemblyman Oliver j. West, also of
Gloucester County. representing the
House. The resolutions were presented |
by G.. Roland Munroe, of Newark.