The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-13
The MorninE Session.

The morning meeting was opened with
service Of prayer and song led by Rev.
W. G. Rihsldafer. Rev. J. Gibson CAN'T
discussed the "Relation Of the Constitu-
tionRl Amendment to Personal Liberty"
Mr.. CAN'T gave the purport Of the
proposed amendment and defined per-
sonsl liberty in the truest sense as that
given by the general constitution and the
word Of God. He held that prohibition Ia
consistent with the former and g prime
factor in the promotion Of the latter, and
charged the liquor business with viola.
ton OF the constitutional principles. This
movement should not be spologetic, but
aggressive, 90 that 1t may suffer at the
most but q temporary defeat, while for
the opposed evil, sooner or later there
shall be death without q resurrec-
tion. He uphold the equity and
efficiency Of "sumptuary laws" ar
Ruing that even in reference to
the liquor business, such laws are the bur-
den OF the Old and New Testaments, and
that In legal principle there Is no differ
euce between the Constitutional amend
ment and those modified restrictive laws
which have already been pRssed. He
quoted the decision OF the SupEeme Court
In the Kansas cases, and the written
opinion OF the moot eminent jurists in
America and Europe, to show the constitu.
tionality Of the Prohibition amendment.
He denied that this movement was class,
or seCtarian or party movement, or
against any class or party. Party
should be ignored In dealing with this
question; it ia ot necessity politi.
cal and moral movement against a
business which in several States and
hundreds OF counties, in a thousand
towns and by the highest tribunal
OF our country, has been pronounced Q
nuisance that should be suppressed. The
hue and cry OF "personal liberty" being
threatened by prohibition is the poorest
OF subteriuge. He defined sarcasticRlly
peraonal liberty as they desire 1t and
charged upon this business the Biu, Rla-
very and slaughter Of life, liberty, justice
and tho hsppiness Of citizens; that by
money, by threats, by coercion and boy
cotting 1t would answer and triumph over
every argument, law, justice, soberness
and the common Hense OF the people.
The evil effects cry aloud for retribution.
Mr.. Gantt's remArks were received with
frequent applause.
Mrs. Jennie McClurkin, State Organizer
OF the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, spoke on "Womsn's Work for the
Amendment" Mrs. McOlurkin is lady
OF progressing appearance who speaks
fluently and well. She considered woman
in relation to what Is supposed to be her
propeT sphere and made strong argu-
ment, supported by Bible quotations, in
favor Of the participation OF women in
public discussions. "What can women do
for the amendment" she asked. Woman
can work for it, pray for it, speak for It,
do everything but vote for it,
and the speaker could see no
good reaoon why she could
not do that But in the organized form
of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, woman has shown that she has
great power for good. This organization
has dome much in West Virginia and is
hoping and trying to do more. She urged
women to 20 to work in earnest, to en-
deayor to get the men TO organize amend
ment clubs, to distribute literature, to
hold meetings up to the very last moment,
to pray and work on election day, to be at
the polls, and to try on voters the persuaa-
i've power Of sandwiches. Mrs. MCClur-
kin was listened to with the closest atten-
ton and frequently spplauded.
Hon. g. ". Atkinson followed in q
short address on the same subject, endors.
ing the remarks Of the preceding speaker,
paying handsome tribute to the W. O.
I. u. and urging the men to emulate the
excellent example OF the good women Of
the State. He aaid there was no party
politicsin this movement and, 80 far as he
was concerned, there should not be. Mr..
Atkinson took up very little time, but he
spoke to the point, as he always does, and
what he said was we'll received.
Presiding Elder E. s. Jones, o GENTLE
man OF fne presence, discussed at length
"The press as factor In temperance
work" Hepaid his respects to the secular
press Of the country and particularly to
the press Of Wheeling. Mr.. Jones was
earnest and inaccurate.
At this meeting two committees were
appointed, as follows: On Organization
Rev. &. Z. Jones, Hon. g. W. Atkinson,
Rev. ]. G. CAN'T, Rev. +. F. Randolph
Rev. A. L. Jordan.
On Financs-Hon. G.. W. Atkinson,
William Hastings, Esq, ]. NJ. oloustonr
Esq.