Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-21
THE "WHISKEY WAR
A CORRESPONDENT FROM WESTON NAILS
SOME PAISRH00DS
PrOpagatsd by a Political Huckster Through the
Columns Of the "lntsIigelcerT-T Alleged
Indignation Msetng-A Full YindicatOn
the Town Council Of Weston, W. Va.
To he Editor ofthe Reoiser:.


Of the Town Council Of Weston, W. Va.
To Gs Editor Of Tie Register:
WESTON, w. VA, August 20. Inas-
much as a Weston correspondent, over the
signature of "Exchequer," gave such a
distorted and untruthful account in Tues
days issue of the Inteiligeneer of the
Whisky War" in Weston, it is proper
and just, in behalf of our council, whom
'Exchequer" has traduced, aud in behalf
of truth, TO which he is n stranger that
the facts be stated as they existed and
exist. --.. a-a
''Exchequer's" identity was borne upon
every line, in his communication, and
hence the people of Weston were
not surprised at statement
prejudiced and spurious. The article from
Alpha to Omega was tangled mesh of
talsehOod. If he is Democrat il is be-
cause Democrat feeds him; if a Repubi-
can, it is because Republican feeds him;
if he is Prohibitionist, it is because of no
sincerity of motives or humanity of pur-
pose, or failure to be recognized by either
of the other parties TO which he sought ad
mission. He is tramp, always ready to
do the bidding of any party, however un-
scrupulous, and of every faction, however
venal
SO much for the GRANDON shoughling
auction. Now then,
THE FACTS
of the whole trouble may be summed up
rs follows: The Council is composed of
c. =. Hale, James Il. Finster, NJ. J. Casey
and +. &. Gaylord, of the First, Second,
Third and Fourth wards respectively.
They were all elected as open and ayowed
license men, and as such have al
ways insisted upon q license
town. "But," says Exchequer THE
Council allowed Dougherty to be jailed
without interference, rs he was running
strong opposition to Bud Dawson's sa-
loon and gambling den, which seems to
have been the favOrite." A talsehOOd
pure and unqualified.
Mr.. DOugherty was arrested tried and
fined by the Mayor before the Council had
sufficient knowledge of the facts To take
action thereon and was lodged in Jail i'm
mediately thereafter. As soon as the
Council learned that the Mayor had i'm
posed unreasonable and unprecedented
fines on Mr.. Dougherty, they indicated
h,: ;yta 20 "a ha in.t
which fact coming to the ears of the Mayor,
he at once at an early hour in the morn
ing, liberated DOugherty without money
and without price. The Council was fully
justified in protesting against the course of
the Mayor in imposing fines for the first
ottensc to such an extent in amount rs to
make them wholly impossible to be
paid, believing that if Il rea-
Sonable yet adequate fine had been i'm
posed, Dougherty would have paid out, and
that by so doing the same result would
have been attained, and save the town and
county the burden and expense OF this sup
port besides. Brannon, conscious of the
blunder he had made, and impelled by
public sentiment he could not resist, re-
leased Dougherty rs has been stated before.
Meanwhile T. G.. Dawson was arraigncd for
the same offence before the Mayor, and the
Council, be it said to their credit and wis
dom, in order TO prevent Il repetition OF
the DOugherty farce, met at once and re-
pealed the ordinance relating to the sale
of whisky in the corporation, so rs to
make it 81 fine and costs for each Otlensc.
Now, this is the sum and substance of the
whole ground work at which few,
not vast number, rs EXchequer''
stated, individuals became indig-
nant and called the meeting
to dcnouncc the council for its action.
And right here it is proper
to say that "Exchcqucr's' statement that
from 1000 to 300 people attended the
meeting is
TOO FALSE To MERIT CONTRADICTION,
rs not even the most sensational placed the
crowd over five hundred. In fact, there
were only four hundred and two people
entered the rink, as can be verified
by the statement, under
oath of one of our best citizens, who
counted as they entered the door. Rcs0lu-
tOns were passed denouncing the Council
in the heat of excitement, and voted on by
parties who were entirely ignorant of the
facts. The Council was held up 10 ignom-
inv without any defense and Brannen
laudcd to the skies by IN audience of wo-
men and children and few enthusiasts
which characterize every town. More
than half of the audience were
in sympathy with and endorsed the actions
of the Council, but took no part in meet
ing which they attended out OF curiosity.
On the principle that the vilest miscrcant
can get up recommendation by signers,
the town Council was denounced on last
Saturday. 1t was an outburst of few and
| say fanatics at that. The Council is COM
posed of good, young, active business
men of integrity and standing
and they are more popular than
before the meeting. They arc yindicated
by the best men in the county, and they
will still be the Council Of Weston, and
can be reelected. The statements of 'EX-
chcquer" in relation to the Council and
the town attorney find no comfort among
the masses, and the man who deals in such
wholesale journalistic Justification as has
"Excequer" should not he recognized by a
journal which has any regard for truth and
veracity.
ANOTHER POTENT FEATURE
of the meeting, which "Exchequer" studi-
Ously avoided, is that not twenty-five
voters residing in the corporation took any
part whatever in the meeting. and the
large crowd in the Mayors office referred
to By "Exchequer" was partly boys from
six to twelve years Of age. The large crowd
at the rink WAS composed chiefly of coun-
try people, who attended out of idle curl
osity. In short, ''Exchequer's" whole