West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-07-09
THE PUTNAM PICNIC.
A Grand Success In Spite Of the
ShOwers-Temperance Pat
riOtism and OratOry.
G"YE EDITOR" WAS THERE

["yE EDITOR" WAS THERE
Thursday, July 3rd, in company
with DR.. Warner and Prof. A. l..
Wade, of Morgantown, we circled
around through Ohio by way of
Macarthur and Gallipolis, and
thence through Point Pleasant,
where DR.. Young joined us, up the
new o. c. r. r. to Winfield, the
shady capital of the kingdom of
Putnam, the land of Greenbackers,
and where the County Commits
sioners hold special sessions for the
sole business OF granting lawless
men license to sell villainous poi
sons to bad people in protesting
communities. Doe.
The occasion of our raid was the
4th of July Temperance Picnic, ar
ranged to be held in the Court
House grove, the incest place in
the State for such gathering.
Rev. r. r. Sadler seemed to be
General-in- Chief of the Temper
ance Department and kindly as
signed US to comfortable and pleas
ant quarters where we rested Sc
curely and happily for the advance
movement on the morrow.
The Fourth came in gloomily
with drizzle and shower, but this
had no effect on the average Put
nam countian with q Picnic in
front. The people poured in, and
by 10 o'clock the town was "filled
up" and the ringing of the bell
soon had them packed in the Court
House as affectionately as sardines
huddled together in their sealed
quarters.
THE CAMPAIGN OPENS.
After a temperance song by q
large choir, Col. J. L. Mclean was
elected to preside, and on taking
the chair made just the happy,
patriotic temperance speech, need
full to give the grand occasion the
proper direction and "send Off to
insure success.
After prayer by DR., Young, and
more singing, the regular program
for the day was called and the
speakers pleasantly introduced by
the ready Chairman.
ADDRESS BY MISS IRA D. HANLEY.
First came q most beautiful gem
of a fifteen-minute grafton by Miss
Ira D. Hanley, of Winfield. The
people were delighted with both
the manner and matter of this most
fitting introduction to the work of
the day. Miss Hanley was entbu-
tiastically cheered, and we here
predict that her clear sweet voice
will be frequently heard in the fu-
ture in the cause of temperance.
SPEECH OF MR.. J. U. MYERS.
Mr.. J. U. Myers. now of Mason
city, was next introduced and pro-
ceeded to preach unto the people
the pure doctrine of Prohibition ;
and woe be to the politician or
party that stands in Mr.. Myers
way! He swings bold and fear
less lance ard timid time-servers
are liable to get hurt.
ADDRESS BY MRS. WELLS, OF INDIANA.
The afternoon was bright and
beautiful, and gathered compactly
together in the grove, the people
listened with delight to the
earnest plea by Mrs. M. L. Wells,
of Indiana. The audience seemed
to be entranced and carried away
by the speakers impassioned APP
peals for Home and the dear ones
in it.
We are sure true woman with
a pure message will never fail of a
hearing in Putnam county, since
they have heard Mrs. Wells.
DIR. WARNER sTIRs THINGS.
At the close of Mrs. Wells ad-
dress, DR.. Warner conducted a
shat collection" for the W.C.T.U.,
after which he proceeded to "stir
things in his most lively way. At |
ter the Doctor had "stirred" the in
iquitous traffic and the miserable
license system for an hour, we are
very sure the people saw many hor-