Rothrock.] OOO [Nov. 19, 



what he would attempt for the temperance cause, and what he 

 thought he could accomplish. This called for a reply from Mr. 

 Price of the same date (October 3lst, 1853), in which he favored 

 the passage of a bill to submit the question of prohibition to a 

 vote of the people of the Commonwealth, and from the result to 

 ascertain what legislation public opinion would sanction and sup- 

 port. He saw clearly enough that this was not what the ex- 

 treme temperance people desired; but at the same time he 

 recognized the folly of attempting to enforce a law which the 

 people would not endorse. These are his words: "By taking 

 care to be preceded by an authentic expression of public opinion 

 we will act safely for a good cause, and more effectually promote 

 the good of our fellow-citizens." " While you and your clerical 

 brethren invoke the strong arm of the law and await its enact- 

 ment, there is no occasion to cease your efforts to do good in 

 the cause. You have in hand the work of persuasion, and con- 

 viction must still go on as the necessary preparative measure." 

 " We have all our lives to do good, and we can do nothing better 

 than to be always doing it; and what we leave unfinished, we 

 will enjoin upon our children to finish." "I shall be prepared 

 to go for that which shall be most effective to suppress intemper- 

 ance, that the people can be persuaded and convinced to sustain." 



Under date of January 30th, 1854, Mr. Rood wrote to Messrs. 

 Trice and Patterson, asking them to support the bill, "To pro- 

 hibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks as a com- 

 mon beverage, and the sale of alcohol and ardent spirits, except 

 to authorized agents for medicinal, mechanical and artistic pur- 

 poses." It was desired that this should go into effect on March 

 1st, 1855, and be followed by an enactment authorizing a vote 

 on its repeal by the people on the second Tuesda3 r in September. 



On February 8th, 1854, the Prohibitory Liquor Bill was in 

 order at Harrisburg. When the eighth section, authorizing a 

 warrant of search in case of a complaint of a violation of the 

 law, was read, a motion was made to postpone. Mr. Price 



