Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-02-25
TO TIE PUBLIC.


AS almost every fertile brain is fabricating
story of its own respecting difficulty that
has arisen between the Burgess and Town
CouAcil and the Washingtonian Society, the
following statement of facts may serve to en-
tighten some who are evidently kept in igno-
rance as TO the true state Of the case:
Shortly after the organization of that soci-
ETY., took the responsibility of giving the
members the Town Hall for the purpose Of
holding their business and other meetings, at
% cents per night; but soon finding that there
was much carelcsSness used in burning gas,
notified the officers that the gas bills, as rem
dered by the company, would have to be paid,
instead of the % cents per night. This ar
rangement continued without interruption
and with every indication that the society
would prosper and be productive of good,
until towards the close of January, when one
of the speakers introduced one of our citizens
into his harangue by name in dishonorabIe
terms, one too who is and always has been a
decided advocate of Temperance Many in
flueRtial and leading citizens called my atten
tion to this violation of propriety, and others
spoke ~ the Council in strong terms of con-
demnation of such procedure. The Council
met shortly after, and during discussion OF
the matter, in which stated to them the con
ditions on which the Washingtonians occupied
the hall, it was unanimously determined that
on repetition of such unbecoming conduct,
| should notify the society that tho arrange
ment under which they occupied it was ter.
minated. Of this the members of the society
cannot plead ignorance. The succeeding
meeting was conducted with the appreciation
of all present, but on the aext one the same
speaker who had before violated that common
| courtesy due to all, INDUCED in his practice
OF naming one not now connected with the
sale of liquor, and pointedly referring to an
other. 1t is perhaps no mere than Justice to
the Temperance Society to say that there was
| but one person who thus trespassed on private
! life. The Burgess and Council not regarding
the Town Hall as place where men should,
under the guise of temperance, spit out their
| spleen, determined that as neither the officers
nor the meeting saw proper to call him to
| order, TO put that association ON the same
| footing as others who desire to rent the hall.
| Of this | gave notice to one of the secretaries
in person.
The gas bill for January, at the time of
| writing this, still remains partly unpaid. The
metre, on its third face, having marked about
| 5000 feet, which would leave 1000 for this
month, | called Mr.. Grey's attention to it
| lie stated that be did not take that face as his
! guide at present, but the centre one and put
| down the register on Tuesday at 5000 feet,
| leaving GOO additional feet unpaid for-mak-
| ing the balance due by the association for gas
| 1892. During their meetings, about IS or 50
| worth Of coal has been consumed, which was
paid for out of the borough funds.
| During all these difficulties, | have repeat
edly stated that if the citizens of Lewistown
desired to hold temperance meetings the hall
was open to them on the payment of 81 for
fuel and light, but this offer did not suit some
of those who seemed determined only on hav-
| ing their own way. | am for my part willing
to bury the past, and treat with any respecta.
bic members Of the Washingtonian or any
other society, provided they will pledge them
selves as q society to frown down all attempts
to invade the sanctity of private life by drag
ging to public view the names of citizens not
now engaged in the liquor traffic but to
threats or force | will not yield. With this
brief exposition, shall leave the public either
to condemn or approve my course, and will
add that while | retain control of the hall,
shall not suffer temperance meeting to be
wantonly disturbed, neither will sanction q
course on their part calculated in my iudg
ment to engender strife and discord among
peaceable citizens, by converting war on Ii
quor into war on individuals.
GEORGE FRYSINGER,
Chief Burgess.
NoTE.-The gas bill above referred to was
paid yesterday.