Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-29
BEAVER CAN'T HELP IT.
The w. C. T. U. DepIere Drunkenness In
Johnstown md Score Some of the Mill.
i farH-Au Annsal In the Gaxernar

The w. C. T. q. DepIere Drunkenness In
Johnstown and Score Some of the Mill
tary-An Appeal TO the Governor.
Mrs. Frances L. Swift, President; Mrs.
Joseph D. Weeks, Recording Secretary;
Mrs. Ellen M. Watson, Corresponding
Secretary, and Mrs. w. 81. Woods, Treas
urer OF the W. c. T. o., have written to
Governor Beaver, setting forth that they
had established headquarters in Johnstown
in June to minister to the physical and
spiritual needs of the workingmen, and
duriag i've weeks were panied to notice the
grievous results of the reopening of the
liquor traffic, contrasted with the condition
of affairs when the saloons were closed.
These ladies represent that as soon as the
saloons were opened the men began spend
ing their money at the bars, fought, and
neglected their families, some of the Johns
town workmen spending their money and al
lowing their families to subsist on pro-
visions furnished by the commisaries.
Ladies represented that all their losses were
insignificant compared with their husbands
drunkenness. Burgesses of the various
boroughs declared that inebriety was pre-
venting necessary work. General Hastings
johnson to stop the sale of liquor and he
had recommended them to apply to
the military, but they deemed it
useless as the military were among
the more frequent patrons of the saloons.
The ladies claim that the State and all who
contributed to the relief of the stricken city
have a right to interfere and ask that "as
Governor of Pennsylvania you exercise your
supreme authority in returning the license
fees to the liquor dealers of Johnstown and
closing the saloons"
To the request Governor Beaver replies as
follows:
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNsYLvANIA,l
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
HARRISBURG, August 20. 1889.
Mrs. Ellen NJ. Watson, Corresponding Secretary
sos Smithfeld street, Pittsburg:
MY DEAR MADAM-Your letter of the 10Th
inst. with its accompanying petition has been
received. have been greatly exercised by the
reports which have come to me in regard to the
effect of opening the saloons at Johnstown.
The statements contained in the petition are
undoubtedly well founded. As Executive of
the Commonwealth / have no authority to
direct the saloons to be closed. If the necessity
existed for 1t and martial law were declared,
under present circumstances there could
be no Justification for the declaration
of martial law, and when the civil
authority is in. force we must rely upon the
law to carry out its own provisions. The only
power, SO far as know. which can limit the in
huence OF the saloons by closing them, is the
power WHICH grants tu6 lCeOSeS. 1uls, as YOU
know, Is vested in the court of Cambria county.
Judge johnson, as 1t has been reported to me,
was willing to revoke the licenses temporarily.
or for the balance of the term, provided the
burgesses of the several municipalities would
unite in asking him to do so. Captain HamiI-
ton, who Is in charge of the State work in
Johnstown, secured meeting of the burgesses
ald requested them to make such an appeal to
the Ju 1ge on the ground that the saloons inter-
fered with the work which he was doing by de-
moralizlng the men who were employed The
burgesses declined to make this request, and
the result is the saloons are still open.
know not what can do in the premises to
secure favorable action upon this subject
will lay your communication before our Flood
Commission at its next meeting. We are in
terested, of course. in the money which has
been given for charitable purposes going to the
right place and for the right purposes We are
satisfied, however, that in the present state of
things much of it fails of its legitimate purpose
by reason of the opening of the saloons. The
influence of the commission, however, would
be purely that of moral suasion, and have lit
tie hope of securing good results from such in
fuence. Very cordially yours.
JAMES A. BEAVER.