Connecticut western news., 1883-11-14

Considering that it is place of few families and always has had liquor trade, it shows well, better than most places that have greater advantages. Almost every family is represented in the society. It is called the Pioneer temperance society of Clayton. We have dropped all party and sectional feeling and go for the true temperance principle and have had no misunder- standing among the members thus far. I hope to live to see all political par ties drop the rum interest and when the advocates for license want to see what ] prohibition does to keep the morals of the inhabitants in good healthy con- dition, they can take Clayton for an example and we can all testify to tue l fact that we want no more rum holes. Order prevails among us, but it was the reverse when license was the order of the day Public opinion shows us plainly that rum holes are not wanted by any but the thirsty and depraved and they are so much in the minority that ! they should not De allowed to keep the curse of drunkenness among lis any longer.
 The press and pulpit both teach the people and when both take hold of the question temperance will triumph. Why should the press hold back now from lending its influence to promote the great universal reform that temperance will make for us? The greatest good for the greatest number is a great thing to carry out and how suitable 1t would be for all parties to unite ill doing the people great and good service. The way we have carried out our political programs in times past on the temper ance question has not given the question fair trial one legislature seems to delight in undoing the works of another right or wrong. We started last year in a way that would have closed the rum hcles and we ought not to have had any alteration of the laws until we saw how it was going to operate and fair trial was given 1t. Whether it was envy or thirst that brought the alteration about. it was disgrace to the lawmak CTS and damage to the temperance cause, besides doing mean action and making great loss to the prosecuting agent. Every individual he prosecuted caused on outlay of money to some one, besides the time expended, to the amount of $2O on the average. No re- form can be reached by such conduct as this, but reform is the desired point the taxpayers wish to reach. Lawyers may overreach or overcharge, but the princi- pie should not be damaged or fooled with.
 We have a great work before us and our Clayton doctrine is that we the tax payers and all that desire good morals in the society we live in want no rum holes and there is no good excuse for having them The churches of Connec- ticut have taken up the cause and it is time they did so far as the case stands at this day. I do not see how good Christian can advocate the liquor traffic
 Most of the hotels have no public bar as they used to have. The style of travel is such that travellers find liquor a nuisance and put up at a temperance hotel in preference to any other, and now at this day the question is really this: Shall we have or not have rum holes? Who dare take their stuff for sickness? What is it good for?
 The society at Clayton is Q small one and we are trying to hold our own. We have had the help of different speakers and most generally have speakers out of the society at our meetings. There is but one family ln the village of Clayton that wants liquor sold there. That speaks we'll for Clayton and we can possibly keep the young folks with us. We will work with courage whether the laws help us or not and shall keep up our meetings and shall feel 1ike the good old Methodist at prayer meeting when he said Git was good to be there" Respectfully yours,
 WILLIAM SARDAM, Secretary.
 Canaan Valley, Oct 29, 1883.