The Dominion Alliance 
 
 For the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic. 
 
 • ^ - - II IHI M=s SB , - .^ .^ 
 
 HON. A. VIDAL. J. J. MACLAREN. J. H. CaRSON, F. S. SPENCE. W. H. ORR. 
 
 PRcaiDCNT. CMAinMAH or ciccuTivc. RccoKDiNa ace'T. eoRHiapoNDiNo acc-v. Tat«ai 
 
 All eemmunieatlons should b« •ddKassad to th* Cofnaapendlng SoecataKy 
 
 Ontario Branch : omce :~86 Kine Street East, Toronto. 
 
 W. H. HOWLAND. FncaiocMT. 
 R. J. FLEMING, Ti«(«auRCM. 
 
 January 14th, i8gj. 
 Dkar Sib: — 
 
 Enclosed ploaso t'liul a form of petition to be presente<l to tlie Loc.il Legislftti re, asking for the taking of a vote of 
 the electors of Ontario on the (juestion of total proliibition. 
 
 At a meeting of llie Ontario lirnnch of the Dominion Alliance in September last, after a thorough discussion it was 
 decided that this was the wisest course to pursue in the interests of the temperance cause. To ascertain the viowri of a still 
 larger number of our friends, circulars were sent to representative temperance workers and doriiymcn all over the province, 
 asking their opinion as to the wisdom of the pro{>osal. 1 148 replies expressing opinions W(!re received, and of these 1042 
 believed that it was the best course to adopt. Our Executive Committee ther<ifore decided to appeal without delay to the 
 Assembly for legislation providing for the taking of a vote. 
 
 Among the reasons that have let! prohibitionists to decide upon this course of action are the following : 
 
 1. Tli«t the recent decision of the Court o( Appeal in tliis Province makes it clear tliat our I'rovincal LeBiH'-iitiires have more extensivfl 
 powers in relation to the licjiior tratfiu than was formerly siip)>o!ie(l, and it is very <ic8ir»ble tiiat tliey sli'Milil l>u fully infurmei) ok tu the 
 condition of piililio o]iinion in relation to » question tliat they will doubtless be called U|)on to deal vtilh. Tliu Leuislalr.ro aouUI bo 
 practically compelled to rccogni/.e :in expresi^on of public sentiment and take sncli action as woiilil bring the law into Imrmony with the 
 people's wishes. 
 
 2. That if such a vote wer taken it would secure an expression of opinion fico from entanglement with political considerations and 
 prejudices, which at present prevent direct exprctaion at elections of public sentiment on the tiniprrancc question. 
 
 •1. That the vote would show exactly where the stiength of temperance sentiment in our Province lies. We would learn from it in 
 what localities work is most needed, where local option by-laws should bo submitted, and geiienilly we would obtain an intelligent and 
 valuable view of the condition of temperance sentiment in our Province at large, and also in each hxalily. 
 
 5 That tiic taking; of such a vote woulil bring the temperance question home to the electors, would secure a great deal of discussion out 
 of which we feel certain t|tcre wokUI come education and progress that would bo very boneKcial to uiir cause in the community. 
 
 As you are aware, a similar vote taken not long ago in the Province of Manitoba resulted in a niajority of ntore than 
 two to one in favor of prohibition. Our friends in that province arc jubilant over the result. Their liiuuls have been 
 strengthened. They are inspired witli new contidenee and dciternjinaticm. They have a position of power such as they 
 never before occupied. It is confidently believctl that a siniilar result would follow u vote in this province and that it 
 would clear the way for speedy and effective legislation. 
 
 It is proposed that the I^egislature should Ije petitioned by Church and other repro.sentative organizations, for the 
 taking of such a vote. Will you kindly bring the matter before some meeting of your congregation or Church r.'pre-enta 
 tives and if the petition is adopted liave it signed by the proper Officers, or by the Chairman and Secretary of the meeting 
 approving it. You will then plea.se return it in the enclosed envelope and it will be duly laid before the Legislature through 
 the proper person, when that Body Convenes in this City next month. 
 
 Your Municipal and County Councils have also been asked to petition the Legislature for the taking of this vote. 
 It is earnestly reijuested that you will make special cITorts to hav<( these Councils do so. Deputations might wait upon the 
 Councils, and Councillors might be personally seen and urged to support it. 
 
 Hoping to hear from you very soon and again re(|uesting your earnest cooperation in this very important matter 
 
 we remain, 
 
 On behalf of the Executive Committee, 
 
 Yours Sincerely, 
 F. S. SPENCE, J. J. MACLAREN, 
 
 Hecretary. Chairman. 
 
Petition for a Plebiscite. 
 
 To The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. 
 
 Your petitioners respectfully call the attention of your honorable 
 body to the following facts : 
 
 1. That notwithstanding the restrictive legislation at present in operation, 
 intemperance with its attendant evils still exists in our province to an alarming 
 extent, is a constant source o( misery, pauperism and crime, and a persistent 
 hindrance and menace to the moral and material well-being of our people. 
 
 2. That your petitioners believe that the only right and effective legislative 
 method of dealing with this evil, is by the speedy enactment and thorough enforce- 
 ment of total prohibition. 
 
 3. That not only do your petitioners believe that such legislation would be 
 right in principle and very beneficial in operation, but tint it is also desired and 
 would be approved by a large majority of the electors of this province. 
 
 4. Your petitioners further believe that it is very desirable that there should 
 be an opportunity given for a clear expression of this strong public opinion, unin- 
 fluenced by partisan or other considerations, so that the legislative body dealing 
 with the question may be fully aware of the attitude of the electors towards it. 
 
 5. Your petitioners therefore pray your honorabl.' body to make provision 
 for the immediate taking of a direct vote of the electors of Ontario, in such form 
 as will show what number of such electors would approve of a law prohibiting the 
 importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating licjuors into and in the said pro- 
 vince, and what proportion of the electors would be opposed to such legislation. 
 
 And your petitioners will ever pray. 
 
 On behalf of tlie !! _ 
 
 of ;