from The Webster Times, 30 Sep 1892(Volume XXXIV # 31),

Local prohibitionists are worked up over the fact that last week Wednesday their flag was, by order of the selectmen, taken down from the townhouse. For ten years the prohibitionist flag has been hung from the hall to a high pole across the street, the board of selectmen at that time in office giving Mr. I. T. Johnson, a prominent member of the prohibitionist party of this town, the permission to hang the prohibitionist flag from the town hall to a pole on the opposite side of the street.

At the time their were some who thought that was hardly the proper place for a party flag to hang, but as no decided objection was made the flag was hung there whenever mr. johnson thought proper to display it. Early last week Mr. Johnson hung the flag bearing the names of Bidwell and Canfield from the old stand. Charles B. Sherman, chairman of the Selectmen, informed Mr. Jhnson that the flag must be removed, and asked him to find another place to hang his colors. Mr. johnson said that if it depended on him to remove it, the flag would stay their forever. He thought that ten years precedent had so firmly fixed things that the prohibition flag could stay, and he flatly refused to move it.

Wednesday morning the prohibitionists saw their flag flapping against the pole opposite the town hall. Mr. Sherman had ordered the janitor to throw the flag away from the town hall, and for a few days it lay dragging on the ground. Since then some one has moved it around the post where it still remains. Mr. Johnson drew up a petition to the selectmen. He says Mr. Sherman took action without consulting the other Selectmen. Mr. Sherman and W. H. Thurston of the board of Selectmen say that a majority of the board decided that no political flag should swing from the hall. Mr. Johnson has already about 50 signitures to his petition.

There have been threats of arrest against the chairman of the selectmen, to which, however, he does not appear to give any attention. Public opinion as to the rights of the case are divided and further developments are awaited, but it looks now as if the selectmen meant to stand by what they have begun, and the prohibition flag will have to find another place to swing.