The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-08-18
The Grafton Eagles EvOlu.
tons,
Now You See 1t and Nov You Don't,

Nov You See 1t and Nop You Don't.
In the Eagle of August 9th, we
noticed the following, which would
certainly not indicate that the ed
itor was glowing with satisfaction
over the result of the Petersburg
Conference:
"The Conference of Republicans
was held at Parkersburg, last
week, and amounted to-nothing,
SO far as any practical good to the
party is concerned. We are not
sure, however, but that it has been
of some benefit, as the question of a
conference has been agitated more
or less for the past four years, and
the agitation would have been con-
tinued had not one been held. Now
that it is over its advocates can be-
hold their work, and estimate what
it is worth, and how much good
has been accomplished to the par
ty. The most that we hope for is
that it will result in no harm, and
that hereafter the Republicans of
the State will content themselves
with the work of the regular or
ganization, and that the condition
and needs of the party be ascer-
tanned through the regular chan
nels and not published to the enc
my.
After thus expressing his dissat-
isfaction, we are surprised to see
that he is still further dissatisfied
because the Freeman joins in his
dissatisfaction with the results of
the Conference. From an editorial
in the Eagle of August 18th, too
long for US to reproduce in full,
(somebody hold the editor of the
State JournaD we make the follow
ing extracts:
"The West Virginia Freeman,
and Ike johnson, its editor, are not
satisfied, with the action of the
Republican Conference" held in
Parkersburg, the 28th ult. The
resolution, expressing the Sense"
of the Conference, "that an amend
ment to the State Constitution pro-
hibiting the manufacture and sale
of Intoxicating liquors should be
submitted by the next Legislature
to be voted u pom by the people" is
not sufficient, not radical enough.
GAS an individual Prohibitionist,
it is not yet evident to us, just
what the Republicans are in favor
of doing with the Saloons" says
Editor johnson. From this, the
Republicans can evidently learn,
that it is not SO much the question
of the submission of a prohibition
amendment as it is that the Repub-
lican party will in advance endorse
Prohibition, and become the tail of
the Prohibition party.
The first thing that attracts our
attention in this quotation, is the
unfair garbling of the resolution,
by leaving out the now famous
modifying clause, "as individual
Republicans"
This mis-statement is unfair to
the Conference, and to the Eagles
readers, and in the interest Of JUS
tice, demands correction. Here is
splendid chance for the editor Of
the State Journal to do some mis-
sionary work. In the interests of
honest journalism, garbling must
be suppressed.
The Eagle is mistaken in suppos-
ing that, in case the Republicans
turn Prohibitionists, we would as
sign them to such an inconsequen-
tial position as the "tail" of the
party. They would be gladly well
coined to just as high position as
their earnestness and sincerity in
the cause might merit, But, after all,
wouldn't it be better to wag as the
tail of the Prohibition Party than
as the tail of the saloon gang?
The Eagle further says:
uTha conclusion is irresistible