Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-06-29
A DDITIONAL LOCAL
THE TEMPERANCE CONVENTION

THE TEMPERANCE CONVENTION
A Successful Opening Last Evening :
Speeches Mads and Committees Ap
pointed
The State Temperance Convention as
sembled last night at the Fourth Stree
n. L. Church. About one hundred del
eeates, besides those from Ohio county
were present, representing about one
half the counties OF the State.
Dave ID. Johnson, Chairman of tn,
State Executive Committee, called tn,
convention to order, and after singing
Rev. W. 7. Walker, of Huntington, LED
in prayer.
On motion, Rev. G. P. Mssden wa,
made temporary chairman, and I. H
Johnson temporary secretary. Mr.
Masden accepted the chair in a few
pointed remarks and then introduced
Hon. E. q. Cracraft, who addressed the
convention.
Mr.. Cracraft prefaced his address with
. flowing picture oil the cause OF tenn.
perance. He referred to the general
uprisingof the people against the LIQUOR
traffic. Old politicians are turning their
attention to mending their crooked
ways; old tricksters giving heed to
patching up their own souls; even law.
yers are reforming and forsaking their
tricks. Now is the first time lawyers
and the clergy have stood upon the
same platform. He referred to the
action OF the Legislature, when at its
last session it argued itself into omni.
potence, and muzzled the peo
pie, 30 he said. "What the peo.
pie Of West Virginia want Is a
lair and square vote on the question OF
prohibition. II, as they claim, our op-
ponents think they can snow us under
at the polls, why are they afraid OF us?
Let US have vote and we'll carry near.
ly every county in the State. The best
heart, the best brains and the
best conscience OF the people
are with us, and he's liar who says to
the contrary. But that is not the
speech | intended to make; that's an
offshoot, and il any OF the shots have
struck home, may the Lord heal the
wounds handsomely"
The speaker here proceeded with an
address OF cordial welcome, and a logi.
cal argument in favor OF prohibition,
closing with an enthusiastic appeal for
unity, courage and determined work
that elected the warmest applause.
Rev. j. w. Carter. OF Parkersburg,
responded to the address of Mr.. Cracraft
in most effective and happy speech OF
twenty minutes, bringing down the
house frequently by his incisiye thrusts
at those who advise and lay down the
policy OF this convention. He insisted
that the liquor men were even more
firm believers in moral suasion than the
temperance people.
"What they fear is prohibition. No
rogue ever felt the halter drawn but that
he was converted TO the beauties of
moral suasion.
They tell us prohibition is losing
ground. Let the ten counties OF West
Virginia that have lately joined the thir.
ty prohibition counties OF the State, an
swer this falsehood. Such cries are but
the rampant cant OF assertion substitute
ed for the pure fold OF truth.
The arguments they use against pro.
hibition are equally as good against the
ten commandments, and the revenue
a,sG%sentsn s,,snss tnJ may avYiOsRoRs Rs oRs sRDgPriaeyJR
mandments, for the benefit OF the
church, the treasury OF the Lord might
be filled to overflowing.
But if prohibition is failure, why
do they oppose it,. For surely it is
more whisky they want They insist
upon it that the prohibition gun is an
old played out fusee, sight rusted, bar
rel twisted, ock.shattered and wet pow.
der-loaded, but whenever it is turned
upon them, they t!smble with vol.
canoes of anguish and are convulsed
with co 'thquske iof terror 9 The speaker
closed with assurances tnat when the
battle OF ballots does come. the victory
will be certain, and one universal shout
win 90 up from every valley and hill
TOP in yerification OF the truth OF our
motto, "Mountani Semper Liberi."
On motion the following committees
were appointed: =.
Credentials and Basis Of Represen.
tation-P. B. Reynolds, Of Kanawha; }.
B. Reed, OF Tyler; V. NJ. Hill, OF Sum-
merS. ~ ,,,.,,
Permanent Organizstion-P. G. Wild.
ING, OF Wood; J. A. Moffatt, OF Ohio; X.
X. Sadler, of Raleigh. -
Resolutions-W.P. p. Walker, OF Csbell;
n. C. Prickett, of Jackson, and ID. II.
Dix, OF Ohio.
Time and Place OF Next Convention
e. Harper, of Taylor +. ). Tatft, oil
Barbour, and G. W. Taggart, OF Wood.
The report OF the State Executive
Committee was read by the chairman,
Dan D. johnson. We cannot give the
report in full, but it noted satisiac-
tory progress in the rise OF the
temperance and prohibition sentiment
in the State. Eleven counties have
adopted the antilicense system since
the lst of May last Only thirteen coun-
ties ont of the ftty-four in the State now
grant license. The report recommended
thorough organization and vigorous
prosecution OF the cause OF prohibition.
The different features Of the report were
referred 10 four several committees,
which will report to-day.
A permanent organization will be ell,
fected this morning, and the reports oi
the committees will occupy the atten'
ton of the convention to- day.
A mass meeting will be held tonight,
when Hon. c. T. Caldwell, OF Parkers-
burg. and others will speak. The meet
inc will be at the church, a. washing
l.. nwad