West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-03
The Register
AS a Constitutional Expounder.

MAN right and the RegaSter aOro1ag,
we quote in full the tete-a-tete lead
ing to these present remarks. We
clip from the last number of the
FREEMAN as follows:
WHAT SAITH THE REGISTER?
"West Virginia will now proceed
to get herself excited on prohibit
ton. Washington Post
Not bit of it. The proposition
in West Virginia is simply to put
prohibition in the Constitution. 1t
is there now-needing only the
action of the Legislature to en-
force 1t. There can be no objec-
ton to putting it there "two times"
unless as matter Of good sense
and propriety. Mob dy will take
special pains to oppose it. No
body will get excited The major
ity of our people are, we think, in
favor of prohibition, but "agin its
enforcement."- Wheeling Register.
Then, as there can be no objec-
ton to putting a good thing, that
a majority of our people are in ia
vor Of, into the Constitution, what
saith the Register? Will it favor
graceful yielding to the well-ma
tured judgment of the people as to
the "good sense" and propriety of
putting it there two times" by
urging the submission Of the pro-
posed amendment Fireman. Dec.
20.
And here is the Registers reply:
The West Virginia FREEMAN in
quires whether we will not favor
putting a second prohibitory clause
in the CONSTITUTIONS The FREE
MAN processes to be in ia vor of prac-
teal prohibition. No constitu-
tional provision can be made prac
tical until supplemented by statu-
tory penalties and other legal ma
chinery. All that is lacking to
make the present. prohibitory
clause of the Constitution practi
cal is this supplemental legisla-
ton. Any other constitutional
amendment that can properly be
made will be lacking in this re-
spect. Now, if the FREEMAN will
give us an intelligent reason why,
if it is in favor of practical prohi-
bition, it does not 60 directly to the
Legislature this winter, and ask for
it, instead of evad;ng the direct
course by going around Robin
Hoods barn to get a second consti-
tutional amendment of the same
import, we will be better able, per-
haps, to answer it's inquiry.-Reg-
lister. Dec. %.
Please read in connection and
note the Registers unfairness, tend
ing to mislead.
1t will be observed that we in no
sense admitted the Registers false
premise that "prohibition" is now
in the Constitution, nor did we de-
ny it; for the plain reason that all
our readers and every intelligent
school boy in the State knew bet
ter.
We simply met the Register on
its own false ground ; and upon its
own admission that, "There can be
no objection to putting it there
two times unless as a matter of
good sense" &c, asked wheth-
er it would accept the judgment of
the people as to the good sense"
&c, by urging the submission of
the Amendment.
Of course, the Register didn't an
swer the inquiry. The Register
never answers direct questions in a
direct manner where the liquor
question is in anywise involved.
1t chooses rather to mislead by
saying arbitrarily, "The FREEMAN
inquiries whether we will favor put
ting a second prohibitory clause in
the Constitution" (our italics.)
| 1t will be seen that the FREE
MAN made no such inquiry. In
deed, it was especially careful in