The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-09

GO AFTER
THE SALOONS.
Not only AK, But Demand That
Sunday Selling in Wheeling Shall
Come to an End
4 LIBERAL ADMINISTRATION
Is Wanted by the People Generally,
is the Reply Of the city's Chief

Not disheartened or dIsmayed by
lack Of success up to the present time
In their campaign to have the slot ma
chine done away with. the Church Fed
Grafton has started on another tack,
ana Is now after the vlolators Of the
city ordinance which provides that IL
quor shall not be sold on the Sabbath
day. Last night q committee Of the
federation waited on Mayor Andrew T.
Sweeney, and presented the following
petition. which winds up with de-
mand that the Sunday selling shall
cease:
To the Honorable Mayor Of the City q
Wheeling Ohio county, state o. west VIZ
ginia: As representatives OF the FeueS1-
ton OF Churches, We would call your AZ,
tehtlon TO the violation, By the saloons o.
the city. OF section 80. city ordinance On
''Ordlnarles and Coffee Housea. saaa
section reads as follows:
''If any person licensed TO keep an Orui.
nary or coffee house within the city shail
suffer the same TO be kept open on the
Sabbath day for the purpose Of selling, OF
shall SELL give away or permit 10 be drank
Al such place on said day, any liquor Ior
the sale OF which license Il required by the
ordinances Of this city. he or she, for
every such OfenEe, shall forfeit and pay
70 the city a fine Of twenty dollars and the
costs Of prosecution; and when SAID oItense
shall be committed by any person In the
service or employment Of any keeper OF
an ordinary or coffee house. or upon the
premises or appurtenAnces thereto. occA-
pied by him or her. said keeper shall be
subject to the penalty hereinafter Inn
Now. It Is an undeniable fact that the
saloons Of this city, with few exceptions,
are violating this ordinance BY means
OF side or back entrances, they are open
and selling every Sabbath In some sec
lions Of the city they are even emboldened,
by the Inactivity Of the authorities, to keep
open front doors Scores Of men may oe
seen visiting these saloons any Sabbath.
The police are fully aware Of the sltua-
ton. They stand and see men 80 in and
out. and yet fail TO report or arrest the
violatOrs. We are not surmislng or Gpeak-
ing from mere hearsay. The Federation
OF Churches has made careful investiga-
ton Of the facts IN the case. Visits were
made as follows: Sabbath, January y.
1900. 10 fourteen saloons between Twelfth
street and the creek: Sabbath, January 2,
10 seventeen saloons south OF the creek;
Sabbath. February !. TO nineteen saloons
north Of Twelfth street.
These visits were made between the
hours OF a. m. and II p. M, on the dates
specified. The following are the facts as
certained: entrance could be had TO any Of
them BY means Of side or back doors: any
where from three men In one place. to two
and three dozen In other places. were
found: barkeeperS were standing behind
the bars. selling beer or other liquors; men
were drinking: some were drunk and
wanting 10 tight: the greatest confusion
and disorder bordering on a general fight
were seen In one saloon; In some places
slot machines were in operation. and in
one place other forms Of gambling were
going on.
These facts fully prove the charge we
make--that saloons are open In this city
for selling on the Sabbath day We pro-
test against such violations Of law. Espe-
ctally do we protest against the polio
protection which these ViolatOrs evidently
receive at present. and we come TO you
sir. as the chlef executive OF the city, for
redress In thia matter. The ordinance IN
relation 10 the mayor Of the city OF Wheel
Ing provides That the mayor Of the city
shall be It's chief executive officer. and
shall take care tllas It's public peace Is
preserved, and shall enforce obedience to
all the municipal laws and regulations"
We ask, therefore. for the enforcement
OF the municipal laws. and the closing Of
these and all other saloons on the Sab,
bath day. The law n clearly on our side;
your own official dignity Is challenged: and
no question Of additional revenue Is In
vOlVed In our contention.
Not only do we ask that the snloOns be
clOsed, but. with all due respect TO your
honor. we claim the right to demand II.
BY order Of the Federation Of Churches.
fgipned1