The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-07-18

Rt'. pSo. II. hASpic" arc VIC SucSeo
of Major W. C. McGrew, of this
place.
Now Fight the Devil With Fire.
To the Editor OF the New DOMINION:
The action of the Town Council in or
dering a second election on the question
of license is an insult to the voters of
this community.
Even ii it could be made to appear
that majority of the voters had chang
ed their minds (Which has not been
shown there is no honorable man who
does not feel that he was bound by the
fair and conclusive expression of the
people at the ballot box last March.
1t is a travesty on municipal govern
ment or any other kind of government
known to the American people, that af-
ter question is admitted to have been
settled for a specific time by fair and
open contest under the prescribed and
legal method, that the defeated party
should have second trial We might
as we'll say that after Mayor has been
duly elected for year and it could be
shown by petition that majority of the
voters were sorry they elected him, it
would be proper to order another cleo
ton before his term expired.
Yet this is the proceeding to which the
voters of this town are compelled to sub
NIT.
1t serves only to show to what desper-
ate and dishonorable devices the advo-
Gates of the whisky ring will resort.
Ii they had succeeded in opening the
saloons by the vote of last February
what hue and cry would have been
raised If it had been attempted to close
them before the year was out Does
anybody suppose that this town council
would have entertained such PROPOSE
ton on any considerations whatever?
Nevertheless when only little more
than three months ago, 146 voters out
of an aggregate of 233, formally declared
at the polls that no license should be
granted for one year, three members OF
the town council undertake TO nullify
that decisive expression of the popular
will, and deliberately repudiate that
compact with the people by their official
votes. Then when they had felt some
what OF the public Indignation they seek
to screen themselves by asking the peo-
pie to ratify their breach of faith.
We opine that they have presumed
too far on the gullibility of the people oil
this town.
We opine that the three members OF
Council who have thus undertaken to
set aside the will of LAG voters OF this
town, will have to carry that response
bility without any help from the people.
They will carry it too, through very
much longer period than they will APP
nracioto II will no varv hoavtr hafora
theyare rid of it.
There can be no possible justification
of their conduct There is no more rea-
son why the dram-shops should be open
ed now than there was when the people
shut them up last February There is
much less reason. The fact has been
demonstrated that the town is far better
off without them. Instead of drunken
ness and debauchery; instead of fight
ing and noise and disorder; instead OF
the disgraceful spectacle of men crawl
ing out of these dram shops on theil
hands and knees and wallowing in the
filth of the streets, menace to life and
property, we have had in these three
months comparative quiet, decency and
been empty; and our women can &c
fear of insult or molestation.
No man who is not absolutely blind
and Indifferent to the moral and bust
ness reputation and welfare of the town
has failed to be convinced of the inn
the dram shops.
Nor can the propriety of reopenine
these shops be predicated on any other
| hof
to business, because they worse thar
would go into legitimate lines OF trade
The business OF the dry-goods man, the
grocer, the butcher and other merchants
| is depleted to the extent to which the
earnings of the dram-drinker go into the
| saloons, and most often these merchants
have to carry the bad debts which are
contracted because the saloons have
robbed these victims of the means t.
pay.
They are an enemy to the good name
and reputation of the town they are al
enemy to law and order; they are al
enemy to the safety OF life and property
they are an enemy to the thrifty tax
payer who must contribute to the ex
pense of supporting their victims in jai
they create; they are an enemy to oul
growing young men by continually put
ting temptation in their way; they ar,
even an enemy to the victims of appe
tite by making it harder for them to re
sist; they are an enemy to the public in
stitution from which very large par
OF the support OF this community is de
rived they are the worst enemy to man
/ of flrh n, &c nd
to all others they are an enemy to al
and every other element upon which tn,
prosperity of a people depends.
Will the three members of Council
who regard this matter of reopening tn,
dram-shops so urgent and essential
please rise and put forth one single, sub
stantial reason why it should be done
They will not even dare to attempt
reason, lest they make themselves ridic
ulous.
1t only devolves on the citizens of thi
community who have regard not only
for the public veal, but respect for tn,
integrity of public compact made a
the ballot box, as well as for the homo
and character Of their municipal govern
ment, to go to the polls again to vot
this iniquity to death.
1t may be very humiliating to be thu
drawn into another contest OF this char
acter, but it is necessary to fight tn
devil with fire. CITIZEN.
Tourists and Travellers to Mantle,
and the mountains are advised, tina
from Chicago over the Great Rocl
Island Route through Sleepers ant
through Chair Cars are run daily t.
Colorado Springs.
Take this, as it is the cool northern
route, and the only direct one iron
Chicago to Colorads Springs, ant
avoid delays at Denver or Pueblo.
E. ST.. JOHN, JNo. SEBASTIAN,
Gen'l Man Gen'l Tiki. n Pass.
/ Agent
lTIyyvT MN nTNnilr HITn