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® t » f * £ "£ 3 TAz ;flf'tho people of the Province . surate intication of the state of wale| tario for legislative netion along | lic opinion upon the issue of rom ' lines indicated in the petition that has | $ 3 tion. - P been.so generously signed. And if the 3 The contact of our committee with Government had not already decidea } 8 f different parts of the Province en-- upon its policy we would be called € bl a upon to serutinize and weigh careful-- # &n | Ables us to speak with unqualified ap-- ly the pétitions that you have Pre-- $ t proval of the valuable work that has Sented "to us and to crondider upon' i - been done by the present License {nem * % Commis jion. We believe that they 3 have materially assisted in the im-- Views on the Petition. I poriant work of femperance reforni, While saying this I frankiy admit Congratulates Government. 1 do not know that petitions are the $ 5 best way to get the sense of public The committee are delighted to opinion, perhaps not a,ltngetherpa, re-- H learn by the Speech from the Thronel able .Way to. get public opinion on and by the remarks of the Premieri sny'sdvject. Give me the organiza-- in the House that the Governmen},' tion that you have, the organizing recognizing the growth .Of. temper-- . awbility, the geniality, the persuasive | | ance.sentlment a_.nd con\*lt;tmn in thef' eloquence of Mr. George \\';wburton! Province--a senurrtllent' w:n("l? thedwi'arl Capplause}, and I think J could get ;x; :las fierve}? 't,o zdre?mgd ntc e:fi%rfi?t tl?e proetty substantial petition on almost en an npom ie s any conceivable subject you may sug-l ' question of prohibition to the peo-- gest.: A sreal many people. find it | 2 ple. As this action of the 'Gmern-l Sugier to sign a potition . than. Te« ment has anticipated the presentation fuse to sign it and so the We:ight ofi f of this petition, and as the measurei x petlition' depenuds largely up'ogn the | proposed by the Gmernmgpt is in circumstances in which it was sign-' § h'a_rmony with our alternative w | ed and the men who presented it. / % $ sition, we are in the happy position However that may be these pelitions] nf being able to copgratu.lgte the and the demonstration that we saw Government upon t~he1r. decision, a.m: to--day certainly are a very strong in-- | | to pledge them our earnest fupPPOn I dication of the feeling of the people : during ie progress. of, (he | Hill of the Province generally, and would, > through the House. We will also ex-- as 1 say, reduire consideration at our ert ourselves to the utmost to secure hands, particularly had weé hot Als h * a favorable vote when the bill is be-- | ready 'ma.de up our .mind on the ques-- | : fore the people. L | tion. Evidently from what is said in | hn iai en en anaans ns Pasuel | the petition and what has been said | | lating the Government upon having! by Mr. Clement, the number of sig--| # | so shaped their proposals as to make | natures that s'o,u have obtained is | p.OSS'h"e the support of the ,ODPOS.'..l marvellous, and passes, I believe, the ; ion, 'so that. when the it in wavs| highest anticipation of your organi-- | ' submitisauto Athe eople [L Sill RAVs zation when you started on this cam-- | the backing of the leaders of both ot" paign (Hear héar) . our great political parties, f s * l % | People Desire Further Action. Want No Changes in Bill | R The Government have come to We assume with perfect confidence| the conclusion that a large pro-- that the Government will insist thilt; portion of our people desire, and dquring the passage _ of _ the bill; desire very earnestiy, further leg-- through the HMHouse no changes will islative action on this question at be made that in any manner what--| um present time (applause), and ever would interfere with -- the frt-e' thé opinion and judgment | r expression of the popular will, butz the Governnichnt. lins co'meAto is l 5 that in thi':{ as in aflmnst s;ll other | endorsed and'emphasized by the ' matters under our form of govern-- o n o ovel s f ment. the will of the majority may petitions you have presented to ' 3 Aetermine the issue. As this is one '(I'lfiiy contaiked.. 1-- nave no rdoubt, f d nine cnndl.tmns' 1 ";m mjntlotn. 'tvn a great deal of information and as--| ventiire to--call your allention to it sistance on this subject. The Govern-- Agrecable to second Vote. ment has opportunities of sounding s blic opinion, getiing information as ( There e Oe other aspect of the Fc;lthe fepeling ofg the people, that are matter of which we venture to speak.' fidt open to the,general puble and, h It is that our first petition is for the durinp the last iWelve months,"." aver | + adoption of prohibition by the Gov-- sinoce gI have been Prime Minister of * ernment without a referendum. If n' thig Province. and before; so far a,sl | seems desirable to the Government, this is conce.rped. the Government] j after .ha\'mg" considered the whole had been makihg a careful study, not! A situation, to enapt a temporary mea-- only of the trend of public opinion| site of pronibition usiii the and Af but of everything else that related to| t the war and to provide for the spb-. this 'suhjectfi-so closely identified with| % mission of the question to the people| the welfate and prosperity | of this | after the war, such a measure would' éréat Province of Ontario.. But we 4 be in complete harmony with the; Rave had, during--recent months par-- ¥ wishes of your petitioners. | ticularly, special means of obtainingg . f Expediency and Ethics Agree. information and.s_pecial means of as-- j 3 sisting us in arriving at a conclusion. In renewing -- our expressions Qf We have had lately local option con-l good--will, permit us to say that it is tests in almost every section of the| 0 rarely that expediency and ethics; Province, from Port Arthur on the! unite as they do in this issue at the, north. Magara on 'the south, SArnia! A % % present time. lt is a sound principle, in thé wos? and Bowmanville in the 4 of government tha; the State should| cast. . We ilave had some Scott act always safeguard the moral and or .Canada temperance _ act cam-| @ economic welfare of its people, and| paigné. We have also had a Com-- j with such a body of public sentiment! mission, to which you have so kindly 3 behind you as this petition repre--| vreferred, which has vigited every, 3 4 sents you are assured of invaluable} section of the Province of Ontario ¥° moral support. The people leave the] ind studied this question and come( f matter in your hands, and we thankl n contact with public opinion -- on| s you for your kindly reception. this subject, and I appreciate the re-' N* Signed on behalf of the Citizensi ference you have made to the good hok Committee of One Hundred. work of that Commission. (Ap-- & § 5. P. CLEMENT, K.C., pinuse.) s Chairman. on | JAMES HALES, . License Board + | Vice--Chairman. | f G. A. WARBURTON, Has Paved the Way, * Chairman Executive Committee. | | 8 NEWTON WYLIE, | The idea . of the Commissioni! *4 "; F General Secretary. {the objects that the 'Governmen » : L3 R '\had in mind when it was ap--| t Premier Hearst |\ pointed were derided by many peo--) : $ ple a year ago, but I think _ every} j a Makes Frank Reply gentleman who hbhas considered the| t ¢~ question will admit, as you admit 'fll & 11 Premier HMHearst, in an admirably-- your address, that forward steps can' 5 i. delivered speech, said: 1 desire, in be taken to--day that could not have 3 § the first place, to thank you for your been taken but for the creation and A | kindliy references to myself, I as-- the work of thar; Commission. (Ap-- . & | sure rou that I appreciate your good plause.) The question is one \trhat | wishes very much indeed. I am glad requires consideration _from e ;!ZI é to say that 1 am practically back to standpoint. The man "hho thousvho i my normal state of health and vigor. lessly signs a petition, t.e man C (applause), and I trust I will be casts his vote because it is more con j fETL j P % venient to sign a petition than vote in j able physically to give whatever sery joul av * pecause of, the in«! ' f ice it is possible for me to give to té'll gfig:sc"t:;t vgu¥'round him, whether| my country and to my Empire at this tl;J he Church influence or other--| ,_ time. Those immense petitions that w,";,i and cares nothing of the suc--, i e on U Ho Ne ons . vayi. cess of that measure, is not doing his omcs o i oc l ihe bart dui as a clleen is not fair to thel . : dence, of a strong feeling on the part TY » *