The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-02-01

compact and to construe it to mean
an aats-prohibition party alliance
instead of a "non.partisaa" League.
I had hoped that a little time
and discussion would dispel this
unjust pretension and that the
mon. partisan" or all party charac-
ter of the alliance would come to
DO 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 no.
body has questioned their right to
do 30. But the moment a confer
ence of Prohibitionists is held,
looking to better organization and
nomination of candidates, a storm
is raised all over the State, and
newspapers are individuals-pro.
fessed friends of the Amendment
denounce the party in un measured
terms, and charge its leaders with
bad faith and with breaking the
agreement entered into at the
Amendment Conference. By one
of the most prominent politicians
in the State-a member of your
Executive Committees staunch
advocate of the Amendment, the
gentleman by whose hand the pro-
posed Amendment was drafted
the party is denounced through the
public press, and with vituperation
and abuse its leaders are charac.
terized as misguided, ambitious
self-seekers, disappointed politici-
ans, and as allies of the whisky
sellers, saloon keepers and all other
supporters of the liquor traffic"
At a public meeting--the largest
demonstration in behalf of the
Amendment yet held in the State
the orator of the occasion could
not refrain from casting reflections
upon the Prohibition party in such
a way as to call forth the approval
of leading journals, one of which
notably commends the meeting as
in the line of model non parti.
san, anti-third party campaign"
With few honorable exceptions
the newspapers of the State, from
which we had hoped for a hearty
support, have been filled with like
denunciations. Is it surprising,
then, that this committee, with a
Probibitionist as it's chairman,
should receive only half-hearted
support? Are the people likely to
rally to our standard when all these
agencies are at work to discredit
the standard bearer.
In the little that has been at
tenn pied in the line of this League
work l challenge any one to show
wherein l have displayed any par
tisanship whatever?
If to be Prohibitionist disquali-
fes me for this leadership, then l
am disqualified. l have my politi-
cal convictions and party princi-
Piles, which l did not in anywise
surrender when 1 accepted this po-
sition, and will not now surrender.
Certain then that neither myself
nor any other Prohikitionist as
chairman of this com mittee, can
rally to it's support the advocates
of the Amendment generally
throughout the State, who are thus
affected by this criticism and abuse.
I must insist on being relieved.
1 beg to assure you that nothing
shall be abated Of my interest in
the Amendment, or in my efforts
for its ratification. l am ready and
willing for any work in it's behalf,
and only decline the leadership of
the League because some one else
may be able to bring to it's support
the confidence and and co operation
that l am certain I cannot bring.
The best energies of the party to
which / belong will be given to the
Amendment, and l confidently
bespeak for every Prohibitionist in
the State hearty support and ear
nest cooperation with any and all
advocates of the Amendment
of whatever party, in any local
work or effort for its ratification.
"Let us have peace and go for