Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-06-17
Committee's Report.

We are more than ever convinced that
the use of ardent spirits as beverage, Is
blighting in its effects upon, and danger
GUS and ruinous 10 the morals OF society,
and destructive of the mutual interests OF
the people. We therefore declare anew,
our faith in prohibition as the best, safest,
and indeed, the only method OF suppress
ing the evil of intemperance.
We recognize the right of petition as un:
deriving our Republican institutions, and
among the dearest of all the rights OF the
people, We, therefore, demand, in the
name OF the %, 900 voters Of West Virginia,
whose names were signed to the several
petitions presented 70 the Legislature OF
our State at its regular and called sessions
within the last two years, and in the name
of thousands of other people OF West Ilr-
ginia, that the sacred right OF petition
Be recognized by the law makers
of our State; and we hereby publicly de.
clare that while we do not ask any political
party, as such, to assume any responslblll-
ty further than the reference OF an amend
ment to the Constitution OF the State look
ing to prohibition, to vote OF the people,
we feel it to be our duty as friends OF tem-
perance and ideal citizenship, to support
only such men for the Legislature as
will pledge themselves to vote for the SUD-
mission OF said constitutional amendment
to a vote of the people for ratlhcatlon or
rejection.
To this end we earnestly request every
Temperance man, of every political party
in West Virginia, TO attend the primary
conventions of his party, and see
in our State is fairly represented
in all the respective conventions held for the
nomination of candidates for the Legisla-
ture at the coming fall elections.
We respectfully, but earnestly request
all good citizens of West Virginia, who are
lovers of sobriety, good morals, order and
law, without reference to former political
Affiliations, to Join with US in carrying for
ward to an early consumation
the object above set forth.
Your committee points with pride to the
healthy and, indeed, rapid growth Of senti.
ment in favor of temperance legislation in
this and other sister States, and halls the
day as not far distant when the cause OF
nearly all the sorrows and miseries of the
people of our thrifty young State will be
etfectually and forever suppressed. May
God speed the day.
Considerable discussion occurred over the
motion to strike out the words ''the only
method Prof. Purington maintaining that
prohibition was not only not the only, but
was not tno most eHectuai means .
DR.. Weaver said that we had tried
preaching, praying, moral suasion, licsns-
ing and everything else, and now he wanted
% try prohibition.
Judge Ferguson preferred prohibition.
As he formerly took his whisky straight, he
now favored the resolution straight. He
believed in total and absolute prohibition.
In was useless to fight the liquor traffic so
long as it was licensed and legalized. He
didn't believe in selling the privilege of
making drunkards. You could Just as we'll
regulate thunder and lightning as regulate
the LIQUOR traffic. He believes in radical
measures. and wanted the preachers to take
the stump and the ladies to give the good
work their active aid and support He was
for pure and undulterated prohibition.
You could not suppress crime entirely by
legislation, but that was no reason why all
laws for its Punishment should be repealed
He believed they could carry the next Leg
stature. Neither Of The political paI,iss