Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-01-28
A PROHIBITION ROW.
THE REASONS GIVEN FOR CHAIRMAN
JOHNSON'S RESIGNATION.
Persistent Abuse and VilifcatOn from Pretended
Friends Forced Him from the leadership
Mr.. jOhnsOn's Statement Of the
Facts Of the Case.

1
Friends Forced Him from the leadership
Mr.. jOhnsOn's Statement Of the
Facts Of the Casa
SPECIAL Telegram 10 the Register.
PARKERsBURG, WA, January 2.-At
a meeting held here yesterday, Hon. David
D. johnson offered his resignation from
the Craftsmanship OF the State Central and
Executive Committees of the West Virginia
Prohibition Amendment League. Pesistent
efforts have been made by certain parties,
who claim to be friends of the amendment
to bring Mr.. johnson and his work into
discredit, presumably because he is Third
party man, and refuses to allow himself to
be run by the ultrs-Republican wing Of
the Amendmentites. In his work for tenn
perance in this State, Mr.. johnson has
held himself aloof from both the great par
ties. His belief has been that the cause Of
temperance and temperance through prohi-
bition could be best advanced by meaus Of
his third party. The amendment league
was supposed to be broad enough to take
in members of all parties. The continual
abuse which has been heaped upon him
while Chairman of the league, and the per-
sistent effort of certain persons to run the
league as Republican machine, have made
it impossible for Mr.. johnson to continue
to hold the Craftsmanship.
| A BOMB IN THE CAMP.
His resignation has created CONSERVATION
in the amendment ranks here, and is con-
strued as big victory for the anti-amend-
mentites. Several prominent prohibition
istS regard the success Of the amendment
now as extremely doubtful and those who
were most sapguine hesitate to express an
opinion. The push and vigor for the
amendment that Dave Johnson has shown
is uneqalled by any other one man in the
State, and his resignation under the cir
cumstances mentioned in his letter shows
that his efforts have not been appreciated
The league is now all at sea and doesn't
know where to look for leader.
One thing certain, the Third Party
movement will now be pushed with greater
vigor than ever. While Mr.. johnson says
he does not propose to abate one jot his ef-
forts TO secure constitutional prohibition,
he will now be free to follow the particular
line of action that has seemed best all along
Whatever may be the result, there can he
no doubt that the intolerance Of the So
called nom partisan partisans has done
much 10 injure the amendment in this
State in thus driving Mr.. johnson from the
chairmanship of the League.
Mr.. JOHNSON EXPLAINS.
Mr.. johnson telegraphs to the REGISTER
in explanation of his resignation as fol-
lows:
| PARKERsBURG, January 81.
To The Register
Persistent abuse of the Prohibition
party and its leaders discredits amend
ment league work with Prohibitionist a,
chairman. Too many protessed friends
and newspapers interpret non partisan to
mean the anti prohibition party, and they
are determined not to join the procession
except as third party funeral. Some
one not member of the Prohibition
party can better lead perhaps.
DAVE ID. JOHNSON.
LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
Following is Mr.. Johnson's letter accom-
panying his resignation, aud fully explain.
ing his motives for taking that action.
PARKERsBURG, w. VA, Jan. 25, 1888.
To the State Central Committee Of The West
| Virginid Prohibition Amendment League:
thereby tender my resignation as chair.
man of said committee, and also Of the
Executive Committee.
So important a step ought not TO be
taken, think, without good cause, and
deem it proper, therefore, to state my rea-
sons for 80 doing
The object aud purpose for which the
League was organized cannot be carried
out successfully unless the committee,
|
corded to them the fullest confidence and
support Of the friends Of the Amendment,
generally, throughout the State. When !
accepted the position had hoped that
this support would be cordially given;
but have been disappointed, and con-
fess to you that | do not think it po, ,si-
BILE that such support is likely to come to
the committee, as now organized.
1t was my conviction, when tie League
was instituted, that the work Of organiZl-
ton and agitation should be quietly but
effectively
ISAUGURATED AT ONCE;
and, by correspondence and otherwise,
undertook to get into immediate communi-
cation with Amendment friends through
out the State, aud TO secure, if possible,
the aid and influence Of prominent citi-
zens in behalf Of the Amendment before
any active political party work should be-
gin. The response was not encouraging.
Excepting a goodly number who are al
ways agitating the question, and are every
where and at all times outspoken for Con-
stitutional prohibition, the prevailing inn
preston seemed to be that ii was too soon
to begin the campaign. 1t was painfully
apparent. also, that there was much dis
trust lest the whole movement might be for
partisan purposes, and that an early cam
paigu might be 50 directed as TO make capi.
ial for one or the other Of the political
parties
Yielding somewhat to tbis sentiment, /
have patiently waited until there might
seem to be moving among the people and
readiness to 20 forward, and have, not
therefore, attempted as much as might
otherwise have been done.
! have carefully observed the spirit OF
the public press and the sentiment Of fas6e
people, 50 far as have been able to get its
expression, and am forced to the eonclu-
sion that, outside Of those composing the
political party with which l am connected,
cannot, as chairman Of the committee,
reasonably hope for any considerable fol-
lowing in carrying forward the work Of the
League.
when the League was organized 1t was