PLEBISCITE BULLETIN NO. 1. The Plebiscite Campaign. SUGGESTIONS FOR WORKERS. Tho Proliihitioii I^lobiscite Campaij^ii has bogun. Novor before in the history of om* countiy was a j^reatia* responsibility thrown upon lis. Every friend of what is right and true lias a ])ersonal duty in the approaching struggle, the duty of using his or her influence to make the victory as complete and therefore as efl'ec- tive as possible. The organization for this fight will, to a great extent, follow the nmnicipal divisions of t)ur Province. Each city, town, village and township will oiganize and work to a certjiin extent indepen- dently. This is good. It will give our work a deflniteness. It will make OAirh locality anxious for its own reputation and the results of its work. It will give us more definite and thorough organization than we could have if the vote wei-e taken according to electoral divisions. The j)lans laid for this contest should be as complete and as simple as possible in every muni(;ii>ality in Ontario. There are two branches of work for which special pi'ovisions niust be made : (1) perfecting of tlm voters' lists ; (2) the polling of the vote. tJhurches, W.CT.U 's, S. of T. Divisions, I.O.G.T. Lodges, R. T. of T. Councils, Young J'eople's Societies and other organi- zations, can do effective work on the general campaign lines of platform advocacy and literature circulation. For the other work mentioned there nmst be some special agency at once put into operation. Every municipality must have its prohibition club or some organrz-ation of a similar character. The organization thus formed, for th(^ purpose of making the plebiscite etfective, will be available for further ])rohibi(4»ry woik. A. prohibition club gotten up to poll the prohibition vote on Jarniary 1st next, need not di(^ when that result has be(^n attained. It may still be the nucleus of a federation of prohibitionists who will make their influence felt in every nnmicipal, provincial and national election. For this reason it is best that organization be undertaken on a well-thought-out basis. Of course, it would not be wise for any central body to insist upon any specific method of work, to which prohibiticmists would be expected to {ulhere. Uniformity as far as })racticable is, however, desirable. In view of these fa(rts the constitution for prohibition clubs pr(4>ared by the Alliance is subjoined as a guide to those who may wish to adopt it, or to take from it any feature or suggestion that I may help in their work, it will be found a useful model for organization, and is sufficiently ehistic to suit the circumstances of different localities. A clause has been Jidded to the second article to make it more suit^ible for organizations working for the polling of the proh'bition vote in the plebiscite campaign. There should be called at once in aiwh locality either a mass meeting of all interested in the temperance cause, or a meeting of representiitives from every temperance society and religious body in the municipality. Special (^are should be taken to have the co-operation of all societies and churches in this movement. The meeting may at once organize itself into a prohibition club, or appoint ca strong representative commitlee to arrange <l(!tails of the campaign and see them carried out. The name " Proliibition Club" may be changed if desired for any other that may be thought better. Special committees should be appointed without delay to look after (1) voters' lists ; (2) public meetings ; (3) literature circulation ; (4) house to house canvassing. There will be time eufuigh later on to make arrangements for getting out voters, scrutineering, etc., full instructions concerning which will be pre- pared and issued by the Ontario Branch of the Dominion Alliance. Provision should be made early in the contest for meeting the needful expenses of the; campaign, renting halls, advertising meetings, circulating tracts, etc. This may be done by collec- tions, personal subscriptions, or whatever plan is thought best. Liberality in supporting this work and careful management of needfid outlay, may greatly help our cause and largely increase our vote. The Executive Committee of the Alliance will do all possible in the way of siipplying speakers, answering questions, and advising workers. No one need hesitate to write for information. Conununications should be addressed to F. S. Spence, Secretary, 86 King Street east, Toronto. There ought not to be a moment's delay. Any friend of prohibition into whose hands this paper falls should immediately consult with other friends and have a " Call " issued for a rally of local prohibition workers. It will, of course, be better to have as many organizations as possible represented in the "Call" for such a meeting. Then let the meeting at once form its club, or appoint its committee, and commence operations. Now is the time to look after the voters' lists. Let there be no delay. "For God and home and country," WORK, NOW. Note. — It is specially requested that information of the organization of clubs, etc., with the names and addresses of the oJBflcers, be sent to the Secretary of the Alliance. These organi- zations will, of course, be entitled to send delegates to the Prohi- bition Convention to be held at Toronto in October next. ^ '/■' ' (SUGGESTED) FOR PROHIBITION CLUBS. NAME. 1. Tliia organization shall be known as the Prohibition Club. OBJECT. 2. The object of the club shall be to call forth and direct «n eulighttnied public; opinion to procure the tot-al and inunediate sup- pression of the traffic in all intoxicating liquors as beverages. METHODS. 3. With this object in view the club shall work for the adop- tion and enforcement of all available prohibitions and liniitiitions of the liquor traffic ; and the election to all legislative and execu- tive positions, of representatives who are known, avowed and trustwoithy supporters of the principles and methods of the club ; and the practical declaration through the ballot box, of the people's desire for totul prohibition. MEMBERSHIP. 4. Persons of good moral character who reside or vote in the municipality shall be eligible for membership. Persons desiring to join the club may be proposed at any regular meeting, and a two-third vote shall be necessary to elect them. ' - Candidates who have been regularly elected and paid their foes shall become members on signing the following pledge : — / ' Pledge. We, the undersigned, approve of the objects and methods of the. .1 Prohibition Club, and agree to work together in promotion of the same in accordance with the Constitution of the said Club. FEES. 5. The membership fee shall be per year, pay- able in advance. VOTING. 6. A special roll shall be kept of such members as are entitled to vote at Dominion, Provincial or Municipal elections, and in deciding whether or not the Club shall support any special can- didate for a public position, only those members shall vote who are entitled to vote at the election of Huch cjindidate. Every member of the ('hib shall be entitled to vote on any other ques- tion on which a vote is taken. OFFICERS. 7. The offlfers of this Society shall be President, Vice-Presi- dent, Secrj'taiy and Treasurer. Th(^y shall be elected yearly at the annual meeting, and shall hold office for one year, and luitil their successors are elected. COMMITTEES. S. The Executive (Committee shall consist of the olttcera named and other persons elected at the same time. This connnittee shall meet at the call of the President and Secretary. . The Votei's' Lists Committee shall be appointed at the annual meeting, consisting of not less than memb(;rs. It shall be the duty of the Committee to carefully watch the voters' lists in prepaiation for different public elections, and see that the interests of prohibitions are pi'operly guarded in the com- pilation of the same. A Committee on Candidates shall also \ye appointed at the annual meeting. The duty of this (committee shall be to lay before the CJlub from time to time, i-ecommendations relating to action at any approaching election, or to any candidate who may be nominated for any public position. A Finance Connnittee shall also be appointed to audit accounts, and generally supervise the financial affairs of the C'lub. Other standing or special connnittees may be appointed from time to time as the Club may deem necessary or advisable. MEETINGS. 9. The annual meeting of the (Uub shall be held on the first of the month of Other meet- ings shall be held at the call of the Executive Committee. membei's shall form a quorum for the trans- action of business. If at the annual meeting of the C'lub there are not present suflHclent members to form a quormn, then the next meeting at which there are present enough members to form a quormn shall be considered the annual meeting. BY-LAWS. 10. The Club may enact any by-laws or adopt any order of business deemed necessary for the carrying out of its objects or the transaction of its business. AMENDMENTS. , VjT/ / These rules shall be amended only by a two-third vote of the members present at a regularly called meeting of the Society. \ ri /:» tt