West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-06-25
Fourth Annual Repo. TT OF the
State Temperance Ext 'cutlve
Committee.
To- the State, Temperance Come. n to
Pdrkersburg, W. Va, June 1tN, Il
49, 1bll 1884, aaft 81

The State Temperance Execu
tive Committee of West Virginia
begs leave to gu bmit the following
report:
For the fifth time are the repre-.
sentatives of the cause Of Temper.
ance and Prohibition in West Va.
met together in convention to con-
slider the important issues involved
in the struggle for legal prohibi-
ton. That the people are deeply
interested in this question is mani
fest by this large gathering, That
the noble women Of the State are
awake to the necessity of protect
ing their homes against the evils
of the Liquor Traffic, is evidenced
by the lively interest shown, not
only in their annual convention,
but by their grand uprising thro'-
out the State. That the outlook
for the future is most encouraging,
every indication fully testifes.
And in all these things there is
cause for congratulation.
On the 18th day of December,
1880, the first State Convention
of this character, held in West
Virginia, convened in this house.
That meeting, hastily called and
with little previous consultation,
and with meagre notice, brought
together nearly one hundred pro-
hibitionists, representing about
one-half the counties of the State.
Perhaps in no other State, have
prohibitionists ever exhibited
more unanimity of mind and pur-
pose than was shown by that con-
vention. Without a dissenting
voice, we declared our purpose to
strike at once for constitutional
prohibition, and plans were inaug-
urated for the purpose of bringing
the matter before the Legislature,
and to secure the submission of
prohibitory amendment to vote
Of the people.
Be 1T said to the credit of West
prohibitionists that they
have adhered strictly to that poll
cy, and have not been turned aside
by "High License" or any other
of the friends of the liq-
uor traffic.
We may not stop now 10 emu
the varied events THAI have
tramspired, nor the different phas-
es that this question has assumed
during the three and one-half
years that have interviewed. Suffice
it to say, they have been years of
agitation, and develop
ment Of public sentiment. Prohi-
bition' has been making rapid
strides of progress throughout Che
land and in our own Mountain
State a decided advance has been
made all along the line. Enthusi-
asm has settled down into deep
conviction, and fixed principles
have supplanted mere sentiment.
Everywhere the inquiry is in the
hearts Of the people, "Why should
the liquor traffic be tolerated? And
many are the dull and sleepy con-
sciences that are at last awakening
to consideration Of this terrible
evil.
We believe the Temperance peo-
pie, regardless of their party affiai-
atoms, are more determined than
ever, that their right to, be heard
at the ballot box on this question
should not be denied them.
In the Legislature. of 1881, at IDS
first session., when the members
had heard but little of this agita-
ton among their constituents, the
proposed amendmesst to the consta-
tuition was defeated ian the Senate,
by indefinitely postponing the bill,
by a vote of fifteen to nine-only
nine Senators favoaing the bill. A
year later, at the second session. of
the same Legislature, the same
measure was barely defeated in the
House of Delegates, by voas- of
forty-one TO MISUNDERSTANDING
only three. votes Of the necessary
two-thirels MAJ osisy. p ,,-
After q new election, at which
fourteen Senators were chosen, and
an entias new House, in the Legis-
1ature 0f 1854. the ame9dmen