New-York tribune., 1919-03-17
Urges Forming City Militia
With Police as Nucleus
to Resist Prohibition
Wants Aldermen to Act
Placards Call on Citizens
to Unite Against Union
Till Convention Meets

City to enlist in his train. Mr.. White
IN placards which he is distributing
throughout the city urges New York
ers to resist the coming dry spell by
armed force if necessary and proposes
the forming of a pro-alcohol militia,
with the Police Department as its
nucleus.
BE 1T therefore decreed," reads the
placard, which is in the form of 'sug-
gested resolution for the. Board of
Aldermen" "that the New York police
force be the nucleus of volunteer
municipal militia to protect
our city until United States consti-
tutional convention can be called to de-
eide the fundamental issues involved"
White spoke before Local So, Union
of Brewery Workers, yesterday morn
ing, and said last night that they unan-
imously adopted the following reso-
luton, addressed TO the Board of
Aldermen:
"The social customs Of New York
City, including what we shall eat and
what we shall drink, are for New York
City alone to decide.
Much at Stake
"On this prohibition issue the Jobs of
10000 workers in our city, property
values to the extent of $5O,o0O,O00 and
the social habits of perhaps rs per cent
of the voting population are at stake.
BY consenting to the notification of
the Fifteenth Amendment at the hands
of lawmaking bodies in the South
Washington has established the prece-
dent that it will not coerce a COM
munity that is bent on self -determina-
tion. Therefore, we, members of Local
No. 50, Union of Brewery Workers, in
meetin.. assembled, request the New
York Board of Aldermen to set public
hearing on the question, Shall prohibi-
ton shackle our city? A nation-w wide
demonstration is being planned for
April 10, anniversary of the firing of
the first gun in the American Revolu-
tion of 1776. 1t would coincide with
that wider demonstration if the hear
ing before your honorable body could
be set as near as could be to that date.
"Whereas, Bouck White is the head
Of citizens committee having this
matter in charge; therefore,
Resolved, That we commend him to
the open floor Of the other unions in
New York City, to the end that this re-
quest to the Board of Aldermen may be
urged by the labor unions of greater
New York"
Resolution for Board
Ten thousand printed copies Of the
petition to the Board Of Aldermen will
be distributed for signatures at once
and other labor unions will be asked
to take action, White announced. On
the back of the printed petition, is the
following "suggested resolution" for
the Board of Aldermen's guidance:
"The social customs Of New York
City, including what we shall eat and
what we shall drink, are for New York
City alone to decide. An amendment
has been added to the United States
Constitution, prohibiting alcoholic
cordance with the history and spirit Of
said Constitution, we Judge that the
application of this law to each CITY
lodges in the law-making body of that
city.
"Therefore we, the New York Board
Of Aldermen, decree that, on and after
July /, 1919, no alcoholic liquor shall
be sold in our city except on signed
statement that the same is for hygeinic
or medical use. Nor shall any such
liquors be made or transported within
our city limits, except for such
hygienic or medical use.
ga ro1;%;oo1 corvor,x;o- -
places a construction on above men
toned amendment diverse from the
construction we have here applied. 1t
threatens to invade our city and assert
its viewpoint by force of arms. Be it,
therefore, decreed that the New York
police force be the nucleus of a volun-
teer municipal militia under regula-
tions to be hereafter drawn up) to pro-
tect our city until United States Con-
stitutional Convention can be called to
decide the fundamental issues in
volved."
District Attorney Notified
The substance of the placards and
circulars was reported to District At
torney F. G. Caffey. He said no opin-
of an action and that "the matter
hadn't come officially to the notice OF
his Office"
~ know that some of the literature
this office is sending out seems sedi-
tious," White said last night, "but it
really isn't. The Constitution grants
the right of social revolution through
constitutional convention and it
grants the right of local militia.
eve havn't had constitutional con-
vention in 1870 years and we need one
to educate the people. At the meeting
/ addressed this morning, great deal
of interest was evinced in our right
to bear arms. That clause was put
in the Constitution to protect the
smaller units of the country from pos
sible tyranny at Washington. Many
of the men present this morning had
never heard of it.
"Rhode Island, the thirteenth state
to enter the Union, held out until the
arms bearing clause was inserted. Now
Rhode Island is taking steps to nullify
the prohibition amendment"
Nv ~ ~