The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-01-07
Foes OF Sunday Liquor Sales
Remind Three Commissioners
OF Pledges; Threaten Election
RESOLUTIONS DIRECT
ED TO COOPER, HAIR
DEN, DEMERITT, 40.
CAL OPTION PRAISED

CAL OPIION' PRAISED
Church forces, modifying here
to oppose sale of beer, wine and
liquor on Sunday, drew cheers
last night at the Fleming Street
| Methodist Church when they
threatened to force local op-
ton" election on the question il
Sunday sale is permitted.
Rev. E. S. Doherty, pastor OF
the Ley Memorial Methodist
Church, and president of the
Ministerial Association, present
ed and received unanimous ap-
prevail of three resolutions aim
ed at liquor retailing sales. The
! action was taken in conjunction
with a church service addressed
by w. D. Upshaw, former Geor-
gia Congressman and 1892 cam
didate for President on the Pro-
hibition ticket.
Doherty said the meeting pre-
sented IAN opportune moment
: for passage of the resolutions.
Some $50 persons attended.
The first of the resolutions
reminded Mayor w. w. De
merritt and City Commissioners
! Albert Cooper and Hunter Har-
den of their campaign pledges.
The second promised a local
! option" election if the bars are
opened on Sunday. A third asked
Governor Willard Caldwell TO en-
force the State Law prohibiting
liquor selling establishments
from being within 800 feet of a
school or church.
/ Other Speeches Heard
Doherty's threat to organize
for local option" election
brought cheers and loud APP
plause. Others speaking in be-
half of the resolutions were Rev.
]. c. Yelton, pastor or the First
Baptist Church; Rev. w. r.
Smith, pastor of the Poinciana
Baptist Church; Rev. J. B. Reid.
pastor of the Fleming Street
Methodist Church; Albert Carey,
! Mrs Minnie Robinson. Mrs.
Mary Thompson and william
Collingford. A
Doherty said this morning that
"it may take a long time to or
ganlze, maybe couple of
months. but we won't leave
house uncanvassed. Every pre-
clnct will be organized"
The ministerial head continu-
ed: Il personally have never
used the threat of local option
before but it has been forced up
on us. | am not sure it is the
best way to handle it. 1t does not
benefit Key West to have il
known that there is a battle be-
tween the church people and the
liquor interests here. Most of the
people who come here are church
people"
Regarding the letter sent 10
him by President Joseph Sirugo.
of the Retail Liquor Dealers AS
ISOLATION, published in yester-
days paper, Doherty said he had
no comment to make other than
it was not his policy to bring
personalities into the dispute"
RESOLUTIONS PRESENTED
The resolutions read as
follows:
"CD To Hon. Mayor w. w. De
merritt. and City Commission
ers Albert Cooper and Hunter
Harden.
Dear Sirs:
I'VE. the citizens of Key
West. who desire better gov
eminent and law enforcement.
respectfully remind you of
your campaign pledge which
reads IS follows:
" If elected will you support
and seek TO have enforced the
present laws in regard 10 Sun
day closing of places that dis
pense liquor? Please answer
Yes or No. Your answer was
yes. Therefore. we respectfully
call upon you TO make good
that pledge by voting against
the opening of such liquor dis
pensing places for the purpose
of selling intoxicating bev-
eraqes on Sunday.