West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-07-04
Third Annual Report of the West
Virginia State Temperance
Executive Committee.

To the members Of the Fourth Stat
Temperance Convention held IN
Clarksburg, West Va, June Goth
i 1888.
1t is proper and becoming that
we should render to this body a
brief and concise report Of oul
stewardship during the past year.
| One year ago, in the Ravenswood
Convention, we outlined our plan
of political action for West Virginia
in the on-coming campaign.
1t was the unanimous opinion OF
the prohibitionists of our State, as
sembled in that Convention, that
it would not be wisdom to organize
a third or prohibition party for the
accomplishment of the ends at
which we aimed; but instead, to be
an independent balance of power,
a sort of reserve force in each
county, to throw our weight where
it would do the most good. We did
not deem it expedient to nominate
independent candidates for the leg
islature, but to work earnestly in
primary and county conventions,
in our respective party organiza-
tons, for the nomination of clean
men, who could be trusted on the
great issue in the legislature, and
at the polls endeavor TO elect them.
In the main we adhered to this
plan, and the results were, we then
thought-for a first efort-quite
satisfactory. A large number of
the candidates for places in both
houses pledged themselves, private
ly and publicly, to vote in favor of
submitting the amendment to the
people. 1t was quite generally be-
lieved that sufficient number of
its friends had been elected to Sc
cure the triumph of the amend
ment.
The result proved that our hopes
were delusive and the sage adage
of the wise old colored man was too
true, that: Doubtful things is very
onsartin." We learned in the cru
cial moment that the average legis-
lator is a very uncertain quantity.
1t was not expected that the
temperance question would enter
into politics outside of the compe-
tiSion for places in the Legislature,
but in the list Congressional Dis
trict it became a clearly defined is
sue and had much to do with the
election of Congressman and the
defeat of an aspirant.
For the third time the prayers of
rum-ridden people were uttered
in the ears of their lordly law
makers. The petition was court
eously presented and ably and elo-
quently argued by the friends of
| the measure in both Houses. The
logic and fact of this good cause
were answered by The other side
the champions of the foreign
saloon-keeper-with sophistry, rid
icule and insult. When it came to
a vote, the popular House-the
House.of the people--the HOUSE, com
posed of the men who came up to
represent individual counties, gave
magnificent vote in favor of the
amendment, viz SO to Is. Then
the enemy massed his forces on the
already yielding Senate. A sump-
tuous supper at the home of a
Senator, went just before the vote
in the Senate. 1t is said, as no
great secret, that wines and liquors
were bountifully dispensed on this
occasion. It is said as the test day
arrived in the Senate, the hired at
torneys of the whisky power could
be seen busily plying their trade.
and some very incautious people
don't hesitate to declare that money
was freely spent to defeat the will
and wish of the people. In the
breathless moment when the bal
lot was taken, it was demonstrated
that we lacked a few of the neces-
sary two-thirds vote, the result be-
ing Is to II in favor of the amend
ment. The prayer of the people of
great State spurned with con-
tempt, and the whine of the peo-
pies enemy eagerly heard and
swiftly greeted. For while long
er-"Right on the scaffold and
wrong on the throne" A little