try liquor shops at Karla and Lonavla with the purpose of preventing customers from entering the shops." The Magistrate wanted to save " persons lawfully resorting" to the liquor-shops from annoyance. On or about April 17th, instructions were issued to the Poona Police to suppress the movement.
On April 23rd, a huge meeting of about 12,000 persons was held, under the Presidency of Dr. Bhandarkar to protest against the high-handedness of the District Magistrate and to devise means of continuing the work thus interrupted. A deputation consisting of Dr. Bhandarkar, Mr. Tilak, the Rev. Mr. MacNickel and others was appointed to meet the Governor who received members of the Deputation (In the mean-while Mr. Tilak was arrested on June 24th, 1908) on July 6th, 1908. After expressing his general sympathy with the Temperance Movement, His Excellency Sir George Clarke (Now Lord Sydenham) explained the Government's policy with regard to the sale of liquor, took exception to certain statements made by the members of the Deputation and concluded by saying that though the rules made by the Association were unexceptionable, still it was impossible owing to the difference in individual temperaments to expect uniform and consistent observance of them. He reminded the deputation, how, even at Poona, the rules failed to keep order and how therefore, their universal application was fraught with evil consequences. He concluded " Picketing is an interference with liberty which in Poona, certainly would have the appearance of class legislation, that it would in many places inevitably lead to breaches of peace and to police prosecutions which we all wish to
