Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-05-04

VI JllS part VI Nue CITY al . oS'SiiASN
this thing and ready to sign a protest.
In speaking to Mr.. Burrows on this
subject l asked him whether 1t was
necessary for them to sell beer to help
meet the expenses of the club. He
said it was, and now l am willing, as
poor as am, TO head a subscription list
to help the club if they will not sell
beer on the grounds. Don't misunder-
stand me as saying that l am in any
way opposed to base ball, because l ami
not, but l want TO see the game con-
Quoted without such demOralizing in
huences being present.
I'VE should do all we can to have
this thing stopped through the proper
recourse to law, and if it is impossible
TO stop the sale of liquor that way we
should stay away from the game our
selves, keep our friends away, and do
all in our power to make the ball games
a failure"
The next speaker was Rev. Dr. Brit
tingham, of St Lukes Episcopal
Church, also Of the Island He said he
did not care to make a speech, as he
considered it would be superfluous
after what the preceding speaker had
said, but that he wished to enter his
humble protest against the thing. He
spoke of paper calling the residents
over there "kickers," and he wished TO
be classed as one of those kickers. Il
am opposed" said he, ito either the
fair grounds or the ball park being
licensed, and l am ready to assist in
any fair way to stop this thing"
4 of CT
Baptist Church, next spoke of the
matter in a pronounced temper
ance sense, generalizing on that sub
ject at considerable length. He said
the city now had the best set of officials
it had had for many years, and he
thought that were a protest made they
would do all in their power to assist tlYn
people. In closing he said: 1T is for
you people, the residents of the Island,
to say whether this thing shall con-
tinue or not. For myself, l will say
that l am bitterly opposed to it,"
Rev. Wilbur f. Crafts, superintend-
ent of the Bureau for the Sabbath OBJ
servance, of Washington, D. c., was
the principal speaker of the evening,
but seemed to be rather disappointing
to the audience, as his address savOred
more of the temperance lecture than
protest against the license at the ball
park. Among other things, he said:
What are you going to do about this
thing? | have been suggested as the
one to- offer a remedy for the evil, but {
think the pastor of this church men
toned good scheme to you. The
easiest and best way to do, if a re-
course to law will not help matters, is
TO boycott the ball games and do all
you can to make them a failure. Do
not understand me TO mean that I am
opposed to ball games. On the contrary,
l am in favor of them, in fact, in favor
of all kinds of outdoor athletics, but
] think they should be free from such
demoralizing influences. l believe in
keeping Americas great game respect
able. Inever knew of a saloon or beer
garden that was conducted without
having violated the laws, and in such
a case all l think will be necessary
for you to do will be to go before the
proper officials and make complaint,
when the disgraceful practice will be
stopped by the license being revoked.
There is no doubt but this granting
of a license to the ball park is a fore
runner of Sunday ball games, but
should such be the case l have no
doubt the law would be enforced to the
full letter, and the Sunday games nip
ped in the bud. From what l have
been told, you now have the best set q
city officials for many years and they
will do all they can to assist you in
maintaining the dignity of your beau
tiful Island If they should not do so,
all that will be necessary will be to
call on the State or county officials. 1
hope you will wage this battle of right
against wrong to the bitter end if it
takes you a year, and l also hope you
will make the fight so strong that there
will be no intoXicants sold at either the
ball park or the fair grounds"
Rev Dr. Riker, of the Fourth Street
NJ. E. Church, was the last speaker, and
he said that he heartily endorsed every
thing that had been said; that he
wished to express his profound indig-
nation at the way the license had been
granted by the City Council Hoped
the people would follow the inctruc-
tions of those speakers who preceded
him and make the fight so strong that
to sell beer on the Island would be an
impOssibility.
AT the close of DR.. Riker's talk, DR..
Crafts again got up and spoke a few
words, after which he asked that a
collection be taken up to assist the
bureau which he represented to wage
their war against the destruction OF
the Sabbath.