West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-04-30
The People Outraged.
How Wood Co,tnty's Servants tra
their Constituents!

duty to write up the actions ofm
county Commissioners, but d
worst must come.
The good people of Walker Da
trict, deciding to make an effort
free themselves from the legalizg
saloon curse, spent much valuab.
time in canvassing the commup
ty and securing names to pet
tions against the granting Of H.
censes in the district.
Although many were not
reached, our petition was signed bv
221 voters. Added to this, we had
petitions signed by over 300 voters
along the line of Richie and Wood
counties, in the vicinity of the "a.
looms, from which we sought to be
relieved, And added to these We
secured 1877 names OF men. not
voters, and women, in the.vicinity
of Volcano Junction, and finally
the petition and earnest protest Of
the Honorable Commissioners Of
Richie county, against the grant
ing of saloon licenses on the Dor.
ders of their peaceful county
where the liquor traffic is not toll
Grated. Here were the names of
nearly 700 earnest petitioners,
praying relief against an intoler.
able curse in their midst.
And yet all this has been for
nothing-all these prayers were
lost on the dull ears Of the Com.
missioners No, not all for moth.
ing-for the people will not stand
such wrong and a0iU qe5be heard.
They will see to it that men are
elected to office who will hear and
respect their prayers.
HOW ~ WAS DONE.
Knowing the treachery of the
whisky ring, we sent two Of our
committee to Parkersburg the eve,
mag before the question Of license
should come before the Court.
These gentlemen, secured the prom
Use from member Of the Court
that they would grant no license in
Walker District TIL the petition
ers had an opportunity to be
heard.
Now, mark this. AS soon as the
train halted at the outer depot, the
applicants for licenses, fearing the
army of petitioners on the train,
slipped from the cars, and hurry.
ing 30 the Court House, succeeded
in getting one license granted be-
fore our committee could reach the
Court and protest, This trick BE-
ing successful, they had plain sal
ing, as they only had to argue to
the SQUIRT that having already
granted one license in Walker
District, they could not discrimin-
ate.
However, the fght was made in
the afternoon, our committee Sc
curing Hons. W. & Cole, J. W
Vandervort and Barna Powell to
present the petitions and protests
of our 700 people. But of what
avaiLf' What are prayers or argu-
ment to men already pledged tc
the liquor traffic?
Two witnesses for she saloonlst'
testide that man. could be IN
der the influence of aiquor and ye:
be a 1sober and temperate man.
But what wonder?: Men often
talk. while under the influence OF
liquor, as they would not at othe'
| times.
After the argument, the Court
held their opinion till next morn
ing when licenses We're granted 70
all applicants, regardless OF Cos
Home and protesting humanity
This is a severe calamity inf1lc'
ed apon our people by men vh0
ha6athe power to, protect us iron
this great curse and aid in lit
inaup the morals of the commun'
itH In the interests of those whom
they serve, ahe Commissioners
chose to turn over the lives ana
property of the-good people of Wa%k
e1 District, inbo, the hands OF 'ns
Eear-keepers.
4, LET THE FACTS BE KNOWN.
I We do hope the facts in this su ~
rageous case will be indelAo4
written upon the minds and hears
of the Independent voters Oh ouI