Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-04-04
A MunlainaL MIDDLE.

Inc SnepHeTustOWH COuHcIl MUM
was crowded from one end to the
other last Monday evening at the
meeting of the Town Council by citi-
zens of the community who were at
tracted byrumorso Of unusual proceed
ings. After the regular business of
the Council had been disposed of the
unusual business was revealed when
a paper was read. signed by Joseph
l.. Cookus, L. w. Poffinberger and
John r. Ray, who contested the seats
of NJ. b. Baker. d. s. Rentch and w.
p. Licklider, the three recently elected
members of the Town Council.
In order that our readers may fully
understand the situation, we will
start at the beginning OF this ques
ton. The regular corporation cleo
ton was held on the 10th of March,
the issue being between two tickets,
one supported by those who favored
the lie. nsing of saloons and the other
by the temperance people and those
who desired the saloons to be closed.
A delegation of citizens had preVl-
ously petitioned the Council to ap-
point separate day to vote on the
question of license or no license, but
that petition having been ignored,
the fight was made between a tenn
perance and license ticket. At the
election, which was held in regular
form, the temperance ticket was
elected by an average majority OF II
votes.
Those who were interested in the
continuance of the liquor saloons
were not satisfied with the result.
There was no disputing the fairness
of the vote, nor denial that the will
of the people had been expressed.
Technical objections We're therefore
resorted to. 1t was at first attempted
to upset the result by the charge that
the ballots were not correctly printed.
This fell through. Then an old law
was hunted up by which it appeared
that members of the Council must be
freeholders, and il was claimed that
Messrs. Baker, Rentch and Licklider
were ineligible on those grounds.
On this last point Messrs. Cookus,
Poffenbeger and Ray made their con.
. hn
day night they We're represented by
council that had been provided-Ho
VIM. II. Travers, Of Charlestown. Mr..
Travers made "A statement, i'll which
he admitted that no legal notice had
been served by the contestants, and
in view of that fact nothing could be
done until such notices were ac-
knowledged or regularly made. After
Mr.. Travers had finished, Mr.. u. Nj.
Beltzhoover, corporation attorney,
was called upon for an expression OF
opinion on certain points, which he
gave. At that point motion was
made that the Council adjourn SINE
die which was carried, and the old
body thus expressed its opinion that
it did not desire to decide the contest.
We certainly hope that the matter
NAV be allowed TO rest here, and thai
no further steps will be taken. The
agitation Of the subject will only ell
gender hard feeling and bitterness
and bring discord into our peaceabie
community. The voice of the people
was expressed decidedly in one of the
fairest elections ever held here. The
contestants themselves do not charge
that single illegal vote was east.
They cannot but acknow edge that
they were beaten fairly and honestly,
that the issue of license or no license
was decided by an expression of the
people. The gentlemen whose seats
are contested are foremost III the
ranks of the good citizens of the town.
They are i'll every way worthy OF the
positions to which they were elected
and the only question as to their
eligibility is trifling technicality.
The sentiment of this community is
strongly against the proceedings al
luded to, and if the will of the voters
is set aside, and the desires of the
citizens disregarded, there will un-
doubtedly be some strong expression
of public disapprobation. For the
general good of our town and the
continuance of friendly feeling among
our people, we trust that this matter
may end. Selfish considerations and
personal prejudices should not be al