West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-04-28
Charleston s Joy !!

KANAWHA COUNTY REDEEM.
ED FROM THE SALOON
CURSE.
A Shout Goes Up, as Judge Carr
PrOclaims
mo license shall be Granted IN Kan
a,0ha County,"
And all the Good People say
AMEN AND AMEN i!
DEAR FREEMAN:
You have already received the
news of our victory in Charleston
and Kanawha county. The seed
sown from time to time has not
failed to bear fruit in this COM
munity. For several years, petit
lions have been coming in from
the country and smaller towns and
license has been refused in all but
two or three of the ten districts of
this county. In this city tie feel
ing against the traffic has been
growing rapidly in the last two or
three years. A few weeks ago the
Salvation Army began it's work
here, and for three weeks union
services had been in progress under
the leadership OF Rev. Samuel G.
Bettes, a strong Prohibitionist, who
has wonderfully stirred the city in
the direction of practical religion.
1t was thought by many that the
time had come to strike. Last Sun
day week, three men at one of the
churches appointed time and
place for a meeting of consultation
and agreed to invite some others
they might see to meet with them.
That meeting was held the next
day, just one week before the Coun-
ty Court was to meet, to grant Ii
censes, and four days before the
City Council were to grant permits,
1t was decided to circulate petit
tions, and the necessary committees
were appointed. On Tuesday the
names began to 60 down, the work
being set fully in motion at the af-
ternoon Gospel meeting, in the
Kanawha Presbyterian Church.
By Thursday evening over one
thousand names had been secured
in the city of Charleston, to take
before the Council. The battle be-
gan before that body on Thursday
night, and on Friday night result
ed in favor of the saloon keepers by
nine to one-A. D. McCorkle en-
dearing himself to the good people
of the city by voting a firm and
hearty "No." But we hadn't ex-
pected much of the Council, and
went on with our preparations for
the County Court on Monday. Pc
titions had been put in circulation
SO far as possible throughout the
county. The day came bright and
beautiful. Over three thousand
signatures had been obtained. At
half past eight o'clock the w. c. T.
U. with many ladies not yet mem
bers, met at Mrs Stanley's and held
a prayer meeting, after which they
marched down to the Court House,
where they were provided with
comfortable seats. But the Court
did not convene until about twelve
o'clock, one member, Mr.. Shelton,
not arriving till that time. Now
the Court House was full of peo-
pie and the conflict began. Six
hours were granted for the discus
sion. Messrs. Kennedy, Martin,
McWhorter and S. G. Burdette, our
Commemorative attorney, stood for
the people, while Messrs. James
Brown, Samuel Littlepage, Mollo-
han and knight stood for the saloon
keepers, The case was submitted
to the Court about half past five
o'clock, and a little before six,
Judge Carr announced that no L.
ce1ase shall be granted for the coming
gear. The Temperance people had
been cautioned against too much
exultation in case the matter was
decided in their favor. But they
could not restrain themselves from
vigorous shout of triumph.
surely it was a day long to be
remembered by the good people of