The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-06-30
AN APPEAL
UNTO THE PEOPLE.
Address of the State Executive
Committee OF the Prohibit
ton Party.

hibition Executive Committee,
held at Parkersburg, June 9th, the
unanimous expression of the Com
mittee was for determined party
action with tickets in the field ev-
erywhere and for every position.
With a view of promoting this
purpose, the following address and
enunciation of principles, was au-
thorized:
One year ago the State Temper
ance Convention at Grafton, de-
clared by large majority, for sep
arate party action, organized the
party in the State and issued an
Address through its Chairman,
stating reasons for such line of
procedure. During the year, the
wisdom and necessity for strict
party course has received contin-
ued confirmation and become more
and more apparent, and while this
is true and voters are continually
declaring their allegiance, yet the
work of organization has not kept
pace and we find the party organ
lied in but few counties.
The approach of an election this
year, now makes organization i'm
perative, and we press upon Pro-
hibiJionists that the organization
of counties be completed at once.
Do not consider whether few or
many in number. Call a County
meeting, inviting all who are in fa-
vor of a straight-out party, whose
leading principle is "Down with
the Liquor Traffic" Appoint
County Executive Committee. APP
point delegates to a Congressional
Convention, which will be called
by members of the State Commit
tee residing in the respective dis
tricts and to be held not later than
August 10Th. Appoint delegates
to Senatorial Convention, which
will be called by the Chairman of
the respective counties, and ar
range for holding a Convention to
nominate for the House of Dele
gales and County Commissioner.
This work is demanded in behalf
of Prohibition, a principle worthy
of labor, and when thus organized,
the party will at once gather to
itself strength. Men are numerous
in every county who desire new
political home, and only want an
indication of earnest purpose, an
exhibition of business and deter
mination, pledge that we have
come to stay, and they will hail
the new organization with their
influence and support.
NO PARTYIsM.
Political parties having no pur-
pose other than power and spoils,
do not determine issues in States
of small majorities on which their
voters are divided. Whether the
liquor interest is stronger in the
Democratic or Republican parties
is immaterial, since these parties
contain the whole liquor element
of the land, and neither party hes
itates to conciliate this element !;
hence in referring to the struggle
of six years past, for submission of
Prohibitory Amendment, the re-
suit obtained is no other than may
be expected for the future. These
parties will not permit the people
of this State nor any other State,
where majorities are small, to vote
upon such an amendment. Place
and power being the desideratum,
they cannot afford it. Pledges
from their candidates are followed
by stronger pledges to the dictates
of party. Shall our right to vote
out the liquor traffic still be kept
in allegiance, while we appear as
humble petitioners to rum-ridden
bodies? We have the right of suf-
frage. We have a party opposed
to the traffic. Let US utilize the
means and stand as men who have
God-given as we'll as constitutional
rights, rather than as mendicants
before the rum-owned and rum
controlled organizations known as
the Republican and Democratic
parties.
The liquor traffic must have been