Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-03-30
THE ORDINANCE.
The Towns Voters Much Interested
in the Question,
Arguments For and Against
The Law.

About six years age a law was made
by the Council of this place, whereby it
became illegal to keep a place where in
toxicants are sold, and it was further
made the duty of the Town Marshal to
see that the law is enforced. During all
these years not a single violation of the
ordinance has been brought to the notice
of the Mayor either by the Marshal or
any one else. During most of the time
the law has been daily broken, and dur
ing the past year and a, half it has been
possible to procure at three or four
places liquors of any kind and in any
quantity, the only condition being that
sneaking show of secrecy be made. 1t
has been an open secret, known to all
who were about and awake, that while
semblauce of quiet was kept up, any one
might buy beer or whisky. A few citi
Zens thinking that these places might just
as we'll be made to pay the Dow tax and
enrich the towns treasury, have nomi-
mated ticket for Council, misnamed
Taxpayers Ticket" and consisting of
men pledged to repeal the ordinance.
Anot ther ticket nominated outside of par
ty lines, is pledged to maintain the ordi
nance.
Those who favor the return of the sa-
looms occupy an awkward and illogical po
sition. They say that then the present
speakeasies and drug stores would cease
their traffic. These places are running
wide open and illegally now; why should
they change when the ordinance is re-
pealed? They say that we are just as
badly off now as we could possibly be.
They forget that four or five open sa-
looms would simply be added to our pres
ent places; that these saloons would be
attractively furnished, brilliantly lighted
at nights, equipped with card tables,
dice, pool and billiard appliances, and
the other devices for fatally seducing
a young man. Then it would be possible
to legally and comfortably obtain any
sort of drink. Now it is possible only
to unlawfully and with sacrifice of
comfort and manliness, slip into one of
these dark corners, and furtiyely drink
some of the ungarnished drinks. Old
boozers are well enough served now, but
the young would then have at hand all the
enticing first steps of the path down to the
drinkers ruin. We have not now any
of those easy ways of starting the down
ward path. Many of our youth know
nothing of the interior of saloon. The
dark holes where liquors are now sold
are pointed out as shameful and disgrace
fui. The keepers of these places have
continually over their heads the menace
of the law, like sword of Damocles.
The affidavit of courageous cit Z,n,
the election of a Marshal who will do his
duty, would at any time plunge them
into a dozen suits at law. And that cit
izen and Marshal are bound to come.
1t would be fatal error to vote to
legalize saloons in this place. Every in
terest of the town cries out against it. A
saloon next door to you would lower the
value OF your property. Saloons in tow n
would gather money that now goes for
bread and clothing. Let us put no more
hindrance in the way of decent liveli-
hood and a decent manhood. The de-
census Aoerni is steep and slippery
enough. Let US not gild the edge of the
pit. The town cannot afford it financial
ly nor morally.
The ordinance has never been worked.
1t ought to be given chance. 1t is six
years old, and it is high time that it do
something. 1t is not self-acting. 1t
needs man to start it, The Mayor can
not do it. Those people who censure the
Mayor for not enforcing the ordinance
are wide of the mark. The Mayor is not
obliged, in fact has no right, to stir up
litigation to be tried before himself 1t
is the Marshal's duty Let the Marshal
do his duty or get out of Office. There are
several men who are ready to take the
Office and to do what it requires. If the
ordinance were enforced as similar ordi-
nances have been enforced in Barnes
vile and other places, the revenue to the
town would be several times the amount
of Dow tax which might be collected.