The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-02-01
WEST VIRGINIA PROHlBl.
TON AMENDMENT LEAGUE.
Mr.. Dave d. Johnson Resigns the
Craftsmanship and Gives His
Reasons Therefor.

At called meeting of the Cen
trail Committee Of the West Vir-
ginia Prohibition Amendment
Leagne, at Parkersburg last
Wednesday, January 25th, Mr..
Dave D. Johnson rendered his res
ignation as Chairman of the Cen
trail and:Executive Committees, sub
hitting the following letter Civ
ing his reasons for the step taken {:
THE CHAIRMAN's LETTER.
PARKERsBURG, w. Va,
January %, 1888.
To the State Central Com mittee of the West
Virginia Prohibition Amendment League:
I hereby tender my resignation
as chairman of said Committee and
also of the Executive Committee.
So important step ought not to
be taken, I think, without good
cause, and l deem it proper, there
fore, to state my reasons for 80 do
ing.
The object and purpose for which
the League was organized, cannot
be carried out successfully unless
the committee, and especially its
chairman can have accorded to
them the fullest confidence and
support of the friends of the
Amendment, generally, through.
out the State. When l accepted
the position I had hoped that this
support would be cordially given !;
but l have been disappointed, and
l confess you that do not think
it possible that such support is
likely to come to the committee, as
now organized.
1t was my conviction, when the
League was instituted, that the
work of organization should be
quietly but effectively inaugurated
at once, and by correspondence and
otherwise, ! undertook to get into
immediate communication with
Amendment friends throughout
the State, and to secure, if possible,
the aid and influence of prominent
citizens in behalf of the Amend
ment before any active political
party work should begin. The
response was not encouraging.
Except with a number who are
always agitating the question, and
are everywhere and at all times
outspoken tor Constitutional Prohi-
bition, the prevailing impression
seemed to be that it was too soon to
begin the campaign. 1t was pain
fully apparent, also, that there was
much distrust lest the whole move
ment, might be for partisan pur-
poses, and that an early campaign
might be so directed as to make
capital for one or the other of the
political parties.
Yielding somewhat to this senti-
ment,:1 have patiently waited until
there might seem to be moving
among the people, and readiness
to go forward, and have not there
tore attempted as much as might
otherwise have been done.
| have carefully observed the
spirit of the public press and the
sentiment of the people, so far az [
have been able to get it's express
sion, and l am forced to the conclu-
sion that, outside of those compos-
ing the political party with which
am connected, l cannot, as chair
man of the committee, reasonably
nope for any considerable follow
Ing IN carrying forward the work
of the League.
When the League was organized
1t was upon broad and liberal
platform, upon which all friends of
the Amendment were to stand,
without regard to their party affilia-
lions. And it was distinctly I'M
derstood and agreed that standing
together on this platform no ques-
lions were to be asked as to what
political party the members of the
League belonged. But there has
oeen persistent determination,
not m fha sc r