The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

9 m "ryp es ® i $ mmmnmema en +C ROR o t regard !! ! c'fi'w Vflfltt'lc &d.lr')lr?l:g'é.tthi:n of the license law at Tuesday'a Massey Hall conve!ltiano The Liberal leader was more satisfac-- tory. He informed the callers that the Opposition members, carrying _ oul their pre--election pledge, had already taken the matter into consideration, and that they expected to have their temperance policy ready for present-- ation to the people, through the Leg-- islature, before the end of the present session, a statement that Mr. Gibson, la "good Tory'--as he described him-- self--approved of heartily. ' Sentiment Strongly Temperance. The call upon the Government was 'a short one, Mr..Gibson, Rev. Father Minehan, Mr. W. E. Raney, K.C., and Mr. Ben. F. Spence being the only | speakers. The first three discussed \ the general aspects of --the question, while Mr. Spence gave the Ministers a few statistics. He showed that a clear majority of Ontario municipali-- ties either had no license or had voted for the abolition of the bar. Sentiment in the Province had shown itself in favor of temperance meas-- ures. Hon. Mr. Hanna asked Mr. Spence whether an Opposition member had had as part of his platform in the re-- cent campaign the abolition of the bar, of treating, and of selling in clubs. Mr. Spence replied that he could not name one, but he was con-- fident there were a number. The Provincial Secretary replied to the criticisms that liquor was sold freely on the lake boats. He -- said that no liquor was sold on the ferries: or the Niagara boats. The stcamers | on which it was sold plied between| , International points, and were outside the control of the Province. He stat-- ed positively that the administration ! of the license law in the border towns, about which complaint was made at the convention on Tuesday, had never been bettor. | Called Upon Liberal Leader. * | The temperance men presented much the same arguments to the Lib eral leader. Mr. Gibson reminded Mr. | Rowell of Sir Oliver Mowat's pledge, which had never been redeemed, and declared that the Liberal party could never hope to recover the confidence of the people unless it redeemed that | pledge. He said the Liberal party | | was face to face with a golden op-- portunity. Mr. Rowell, in reply, referred to the position he had taken at Massey Hall, and at the meetings before the 'e-l.:-otinn. when he had declared that ' the Liberals would formulate a tem-- ; perance policy and bring it before tha people. In the policy upon which the Lib-- eral party appealed to the electors of this Provincao in the month of November last the following state-- ment appears with reference to the evils of the liquor traffic:-- '"'The evils of intemperance consti-- itute a grave social peril. During the ensuing Parliamentary term we will consider the best form of legislation to deal effectively with these evils, and the electors will have an oppor-- | tunity of passing upon our proposals | at the following general election." Carrying Out a Promise. '"Pursuant to this promise," said Mr. Rowell, in conclusion, "we have already entered upon the investiga-- tion and consideration of this. most important matter. We are glad to re-- ceive the resolutions you have sub-- mitted, and are pleased to hear the statements and representations -- you have made. These will be carefully | and sympathetically considered by us. It is our intention to cortinue this investigation and consideration, and I confidently expect we will be in a position to make a definite announce-- ment of our policy during the present session of the Legislature." "Good," commented Mr. Gibson, as the deputation left, _ "That's quite | satisfactory." omm mmmmmmeurnes