The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-09
MAY VOTE WET OR DRY.
Each Ward to Decide Whether Liquor
Shall Be Sold Within Its Boundaries.
WHAT THE MEASURE PROVIDES
Synder and Pollock Failed to Vote at All
and Metzgar Supported the BIZ
with His Vote Lively Debate
Before the Bill Was
Passed.
Special to News-Democrat.

was
Passed.
Special to News Democrat.
Columbus, Feb. THE Clark local op-
ton bill, which passed the house this
afternoon by vote of SO to 40, created
the most lively interest by large odds
of any measure which has been before
the 74th general assembly. 1t had been
made a special order for 10:3O a. m, and
the debate opened with an hour and a
half speech by the author Of the bill,
Mr.. Clark of Columbus, and closed at
8 p. m. rather peremptorily by a moving
of the previous question by Mr.. Mid
dleswart of Marietta.
The lobby, the galleries and the floor
of the house were all crowded during
the debate, and there was intense inter
est while the vote was being taken.
There were just three votes to spare
over a majority.
The senate held but brief session
and adjourned in a body over to the
house, where the senators were inter-
ested spectators until the vote was an
nounced. But the most interesting fea-
ture of the audience was the spectacle
presented by the ladies' gallery, which
was densely crowded, many of the lady
occupants being members Of visiting
delegation who had come to lobby for
the bill. Handkerchiefs fluttered and
much of the applause which followed the
announcement of the vote came from
the ladies' gallery.
The active friends of the bill profess
to have canvassed the senate and claim
there Is a majority in sight for the
measure in that branch of the general
assembly.
Mr.. Metzgar voted for the Clark bill,
while Messrs. Snyder and Pollock de-
clined to vote.
The Clark bill is a very lengthy doc
ument-not so long, it is true, as the
new municipal code, or the Gear coun-
ty salaries bill, but so ample in it's YER
biage as to elicit some criticism on that
score, not only from it's opposers, but
from it's friends as well. It's main pro-
visions are, as briefly stated as may be,
as follows:
i, Section one provides that whenever
one-fourth of the qualified electors of
any municipal corporation shall petit
tion the council for the privilege of de-
| termining by ballot whether the sale
of Intoxicating liquors as a beverage
shall be prohibited, the council shall or
der a special election for the purpose to
be held withing twenty to thirty days;
} that the result of such election shall be
entered upon the records of the council
: and in all trials for the violation of the
act this original entry or a certified
copy of the same, If it show that the
result of the election was against the
sale of liquors as a beverage, will be
prima facie evidence that the selling
furnishing or giving away of liquors
was unlawful.
Section two extends the provisions OF
section one to wards as well as corpora
7 tionsG
2 Section three furnishes the form OF
ballot, provides the manner Of holding
the election, and makes it the duty OF
the mayor to enforce the provisions
of the act.
Section four construes the phrase
Intoxicating liquors" and eXcepts the
sale by regular druggists for medical
pharmaceutical, scientific or sacramen'
q tai purposes.
= Section five specifies that "a building
or place where persons resort for the
q purpose of drinking, or obtaining intoX
!, icating liquors, or a building or place
= generally reputed in the neighborhoot
where the same is located to be such
Q is hereby declared to be a place of public
! resort in contemplation of this act.
Section six provides for the refundinl
;, of any assessment or tax which dealeI
= may have subjected to for any uneXpir
- ed time of such tax or assessment a
. the period when local option may be
. come effective.
Section seven is an amplifcation o
section one.
Section eight provides that the none!
collected from fines under the act shal
}. be paid into the municipal treasury, anC
o be applied to such fund or funds as tn
!, council may direct.
Section nine provides for a re-submis
sion of the question to an election, II
I the manner hereinbefore provided, a
any time after two years have expiret
from the former election, in case loca
option shall fail to carry at the first sub
mission. And so the question may b
= resubmitted every two years until tn
t friends of the measure attain their end
/. or are satisfied that it cannot be accom-
70 complished
T. Violation of the provisions of this ac
; is made Tnsdemeanor punishable wit
- a fine of not less than $50 nor more tina
5000 for the first offense, and not les
than 500 nor more than $500 for eac
d subsequent offense; or Imprisonment
q from five to sixty days.
e The act. If it becomes law, will pro
It vide that If the question of local optic
,r be submitted to vote and carry, the Gel
! titled statement of that fact on the rec
:, ords of the council will be sufficient
= make it operative without any ord
- nance or resolution by council.
rt The Buckeye Press association OF OH
lie will hold it's sixth midwinter meetin
ID at the Great Southern Hotel this city
,e on Friday, February l6. Editor w.
Dutton, of the Salineville Banner, is