The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-28
MR.. D. D. JOHNSON
DESIGNS TIE CHA1RMANsH1P
OF the state Prohibition Ansnamsat
Lsagus-HiS RoasUns-DId Not Receive
the Support of Friends of the Amend.
mont = The FAotionAl TIEht, etc.

? ed his resignation as its chairman in tn
following manner:
} PARKERsBuRa, W. Va, Jan. 25. 1888.
To The State Central CORmiitee Of Le Wat HrDfat
Prohibition AHtAdateR LeloTs:
thereby tender my resignation as Chair
> man OF said Committee, and also Of thI
} Executive Committee.
So important q step ought not to bl
taken, l think, without good cause, and
deem 1t proper, therefore, to state my
reasons for 60 doing
The object and purpose Tor which the
, League was organised cannot be carried
out successfully unless the committee
and especially its chairman, can have &C.
, 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 1t possible
that such support Is likely to come to the
committee, as now organized.
It was my conviction, when the League
was instituted, that the work oil organizes
ton and agitation should be quietly but
effectively inaugurated at once; and, by
correspondence and otherwise, under.
took TO get into immediate communities
ton with Amendment friends throughout
the State, and to secure, II possible, the
aid and influence OF prominent citizens in
behalf OF the Amendment before any &C.
tive political party work should begin.
The response was not encouraging. Ex.
cepting goodiy number who are always
agitatinR the question, and are every
where and st all times outspoken for Con-
stitutionRl prohibition, the prevailing i'm.
preston seemed to be that It was too soon
to begin the campaign. It was painfully
apparent, also, that there was much dis
trust lest the whole movement might be
for partisan purposes, and that an early
campaign might bs 80 directed So to make
capital for one or the other Of tne politi'
cal parties.
Yielding somewhat to this sentiment l
have patiently waited until there might
seem to be moving among the people,
and q readiness to 20 forward, and have
not therefore attempted as much "a might
other wise have been done.
1 have carefully observed the spirit Of
OF the public press and the sentiment Of
the people, so far as l have been able to
get Its expressions, and am forced to
the conclusion that, outside OF those com.
posing the political party with which l
am connected, cannot, as chairman OF
the committee, reasonably hope for any
considerable following in carrying forward
the work Of the League.
When the League was organized 1t wac
upon broad and liberal platform, upon
which all friends OF the amendment were
to stand, without regard to their party
affiliations. And it was distinctly under.
stood and agreed that standing together on
this platform no questions were to be
Raked as to what political party tho mem.
bers OF the League belonged. But there
hos been persistent determination, not
on tho part Of the enemies Of the amend
ment alone, but by many friends, to mis-
interpret this compact and to construe 1t
to mean an Gnti.prohiJiliOn party alliance
instead OF "non.partisan" League.
l had hoped that little time aud dis.
cuHsiou would dispel the unjust pretention
and that the "non-pRrtissn" or Glt.pGrty
character OF the alliance would come to be
understood and accepted.
We have seen the managers OF the
Democratic party and Of the Republican
party preparing for better organization,
for holding their State conventions, and
nomination OF candidates; and nobody has
questioned their right to do so. But the
moment a conference OF prohibittonists ia
held, looking to better organization and
nomination Of candidates storm is raised
all over the State, and newspapers and in
diyiduals-proiessed friends Of the amend
ment-denounce the party in unmessured
Il ~l ohnHRn tta tna1aHa NTH haA
faith and with breaking the agreement
entered into at tho amendment confer
ence. By one Of the moat prominent poll
tiCians OF the State-a member OF your
Executive Committee ataunch advo-
cate OF the amendment, the gentleman
by whose hand the proposed amend
ment was drafted-the party is de-
nounced through the public press,
and with vituperation and abuse
Its leaders are characterized as misguided,
ambitious self.seekers, disappointed poll
ticians and as allies OF the "Whiaky sellers,
saloon keepers, and all other supporters OF
the LIQUOR traffic" At a public meet
Iing-the largest demonstration in behalf
OF the Amendment yet held In the State
1.-THE orator OF the occasion could not re-
frain from casting reflections upon the
Prohibition party in such way as to call
forth the approval Of leading journals, one
oil which notably commends the meeting
On in the line Of q model "non.partisan,
anti.third party campaign" With lew
honorable exceptions the newspapers OF
the State, from which We had hoped for q
hearty support, have been flled with like
Recommendations. Isit surprising, then, that
this committee, with Prohtbitlonist as
its chairman, should receive only half.
hearted support? Are the people likely
to rally to our standard when all these
agencies arc at work TO discredit the stand
ard bearerP
In the little that has bsen attempted in
the line Of this League work challenge
anyone to show wherein l have displayed
any partisanship whatever.
II to be Prohibitioniat disqnali6es me
for this leadership, then am disqualified.
have my political convictions and party
principles, which / did not In anywise
surrender when accepted this position,
and will not now surrender.
Certain, ,then, ,thatneither myself nor any
other Prohibltionist as chairman Of this
COMMITTEE, can rally to its support the
advocates OF the Amendment generally
lbuIOuRuuut bup obhtoI WIZ Lo tuuh bu6CG-
ed BY this continuous criticism and abuse,
insist on being relieved.
beg to RsSure you that nothing shall
be abated OF my interest in the Amend.
ment, or In my efforts for its ratification.
l am ready and willing for any work in
its behalf, and only decline the leadership
OF the LeaRue because some one else maJ
be able to bring to its support the cont1'
dence and cooperation that am certain
! cannot bring. The best energies Of the
party TO which l belong will be given Ia
the Amendment, and / can confidently
bespeak for every Prohibitionist In the
/ State Q hearty support and earnest co
! operation With any and all adyocatea o.
the Amendment Of whatever party, ir
any local work or effort for its ratification
"Let rs have peace" and 90 torWRrC
= TO victory,