Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-02-14
COMMUNICATED.

Mr.. EDIToR-Monday night last a
number of our innoxious citizens were
subjected to quite a new experience.
Some of US had read in the papers
that the people of Charlestown and
Martinsburg had or were about to es-
! tablish ice manufactures. to supply
the people, but especially the saloons,
with that much needed article of ice.
That evening We discovered Shep-
herdstown, unknown to the citizens,
had All ice machine in full operation,
| without cost of transportation. 1t is
of home production. We arrived ar
the Town Council with a petition, nu-
merously signed by corporation vot-
ers, many of whom were present, ask
ing the honorable Council to appoint
a day for the submission of the cues
ton of license or no license to thew
of the people, that this much vexed
question might be eliminated from
the regular corporation election, the
petitioners TO bear the cost of said
election.
Sir, it would have cooled your heat
ed brow, chilled your fevered imagi-
nation, and frozen your most fervid
hopes, TO have seen the manner in
which our petition was received by
the wise Solons of the Council. We
tarried awhile, but were glad 10 get
away, to get into another atmosphere,
and TO mingle again among those who
believe we have the Right TO Petit
ton" We are somewhat thawed out
this morning, but have not wholly re-
covered from the chill sensation we
then experienced.
We would make a suggestion for
the benefit of those engaged in the
ice cream business. 1t is not likely
now that the Potomac will be frozen
over this season. The ice crop will be
short. But the deficiency can be cas-
lily supplied, should the present Coun-
Gil be reelected (and would it not be
a good thing TO re-elect them in view
of the fact that there will be a great
demand for ice?). All that our ice
cream men will have to do will be to
put the cream and sugar and flavor
ing extract in the freezer, and have
one or more of the town councilmen
sit near for a few moments, and the
cream will be frozen.
But, Mr.. Editor, TO lay all meta
phor aside, we were denied the Dem
ocratic right of petition. Yes, sir,
our petition was not received-neither
granted, rejected or tabled Shades
of the immortal Washington and
jefferson Were ever lava biding
American citizens so treated by
town council before What think you
will the Governor say when knowl-
edge of our treatment will come to
his ears ? What will the Judge of the
court say? What will be the righteous
verdict of an outraged Public Senti-
ment
Rest assured, Mr.. Editor, the answer
will not be uncertain. The only diff
Guilty will be to find language to prop
erly characterize the spirit and man
ner in which our humble petition was
treated by our High, Wise and Infal-
lible City Fathers of the Town Coun
Gil.
And, sir, as our petition was non
partisan and non-Sectarian, all that
we asked was that we be given the
liberty, with other of our fellow
towns-people, 10 express our senti-
ment upon the important question Of
license or no license upon a day prior
to the annual election of town coun-
cilmen. | say, sir, as we were denied
this right by the Council, We intend
to present our grievance TO the greater
council of public sentiment God
willing, we intend as good citizens
and order-loving people TO fight the
saloon iniquity as long as we live, and
our children, we trust, will do the
same after our bodies are laid under
the sod. Yours,
II. G. Med.