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 presenteosal. 1 148 replies expressing opinions W(!re received, and of these 1042 believed that it was the best course to adopt. Our Executive Committee thero!ie(l, and it is very 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 ;