The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-17

A large mtGtlug Of good citizens from the
town aud many from the country, promptly
met, and unanimously called An
INDIGNATION MEETING
to DO held at
THE RINK, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST llTH
at 2P. ", for the purpose Of expressing
their Indignation NJ the lawIesi act Of u
revolutionary Council. All lovers Of law
and orderare inVited TO attend
1t was reported early In the day that an
attempt would be made to break up the
meeting, and while lawleEsueBs has been
allowed to 90 practically unchecked for
many day In Weston aud Lewis county,
few indsed thought anyone could have
the audaCiIy to attempt such proceeding
TIE INDIGNATION MEETING.
At 2 O'Clock the Weston baud headed
the procession from the public square,
and marched to the rink. The building
was soon two.thirds filled,
The meeting was called to order by A. P.
White, q prominent Democrat OF the
county, and X, g. Simpson, Esq q young
Republican, Catholic aud lawyer Of ability,
stated in terso and iorcibe terms that the
meeting had been called 10 denouuce the
revolutionary act OF the Council oil Weston,
Tor its defiant stand in defense Of lawless.
ness in revoking the Mayors power 10
suppress the illegal saloons Of the town.
General j, A. ]. Lightburn, one Of the
most prominent Citizsns OF the county,
and strongly urged as the Republic can.
didate for State Senator from this district,
was called to the chair by unanimous
vote. Prof. g. q. Lawson, ex.County
Superintendent, q Democrat, George q.
Cole. ESQ., young Republican attorney,
and D. w. Grandon, one ofthe ex.editors
Of the Weston World, and a Prohibitionist,
were mado secretaries. The politics and
positions OF the gentlemen who composed
the officers oi the meeting are given to
show that the affair was not gotten up by
body OF "cranks," who had any party or
faction to favor. But, In fact, 1t was an
uprising Of the people, Democrats, Repub.
licans, Prohibitionists, GrcenbaCkers, and
Catholics and Protestants, from among the
most solid aud substantial people OF the
county and town.
1t might be well Just here to state that
but a short time before something like 700
whisky indictments had been stolen by o
man or men who had q key to ct the
clerks door and walked III and knew
where to find them and helped himself TO
what he wanted. Later the court house
was fred and destroyed-the object being
to get away with the records and indict-
ments, at a loss of thousands Of dollars to
the county. Despite these outrages the
officers acted like wooden men, and 1t was
a month or more before It leaked out that
the indictments had been stolen, and then
a long time alter that before q reward was
offered 30 with the burning Of the court
house, reward was not offered Tor some
time, and II any practical effort was made
by the officers 10 apprehend the Culprits
1t was kept exceedingly quiet from the
general public. These facts, coupled with
many other things that might he namad,
aroused feeling Of distrust among the
masses Of the people, irrespective OF party,
towards some Of their officers. Then
when the council made such an unmanly
attempt to turn the town over into the
hands OF the very men, who, II not direct.
ly, were indirectly tho cause OF the exist.
Ing condition OF affairs, tho people rose in
their might, and the immense crowd was
tho result OF but one days notice.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
A Committee on Resolutions, composed
OF Israel Simmons, one oil the wealthiest
men in the county, II. ]. Simpson, 7. NJ.
Barnes, ]. G. Jackson and Rev. NJ. l..
Barnett, was appointed and soon an.
nolncod the following:
WHEREAS, Public Office Is public
trust" and whereas, public officers who
advise and enact laws in violation o. the
honest and Intelligent will Of the people,
misuse that trust and forfeit their right
to public confidence; and whereas, the
support OF an enlightened public opinion
10 the atrongest prop 10 the arm OF duu.
ful officer; therefore bo II
ReSOivsd, BY the people oil Weston and
Lewis county In mass meeting assembled,
First-That we most profoundly regret
the sad and Horrowiul accidents from In.
temperance In our midst within the last
few months and express our sympathy
for the victims thereof and for their un.
fortunate families.
second-That we demand OF our public
men, both civil and official, q more de.
Cided stand In favor of suppresslnR the
liquor traffic, which 10 destroying our fair.
est youths and is bringing shame and sor-
row to our best families.
Ihird-That q debt of gratitude is due
from the public to Mayor W. W. Brannon
and W. 3. Smith and AedgwiCk Pritchard,
the special police by being appointed ior
the best and efficient enforcement OF the
law against the liquor traffic.
Fourth--That the action Of the council.
men Of Weston, by which they abrogated
the ordinance allowing an illegal seller oi
ll1uor to he fined $lQ0, and failed thirty
days In default Of payment thereof, and
by which they declared the punIShnpnt
for such oEense 10 be simply 81 with no
imprisonment TO enforce the same, and by
which they reduced the Limitation OF pro.
SsCuton 10 thirty days (all Of which was
done over the velo Of Mayor BraAnon) be
condemned as revolutionary In lis phafAc.
tor and immoral and lawless In ita ten
denCy.
Fihh-That we pledge ourselves To the
hearty support Of any aud oil officers In
their efforts 10 suppress the liquor traffic.
On motion these resolutions were tnRti,
inously adopted, without debate, with q
tremendous "aye" that shook the build.
Ing.
Tbe following resolution was also hand.
ed 10 the Secretaries, read and adopted, by
q unanimous vote, amid deAlenlng ap;
WHERKAs, +. o. Gaylord, NJ. O. Casey,
j, u, Finster and o. =. Hale, Council linen