Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-09
Do THEY SELL on sunday
FEDERATION OF CkURCHEs,
WHICH HAS MADE AN
IN sESTIGATION,
ANsWERS AFFIRMATIvELY
Communication Addressed to the
Mayor Reciting Certain Facts Re-
lattve to Violation Of Sunday
Closing Law-Dees Not state who
Made the Visits.

0A0Rk~4 ~ 0-
slot machine agitation and to have
taken UP the evil Of Sunday selling.
The clergymen furnished the Register
last night with a copy Of a communion
taon addressed to the Mayor, which
states, among other things. that an in
v~estigation was made which revealed
the fact that saloons were selling in
open violation of the law, and that
Genes of disorder were being enacted
in the bar rooms. The communication
follows:
To the Honorable Mayor of the City
Of Wheeling, Ohio County, State Of
West Virginia:
AS represe ntatives of the Federation
of Churches we would call your atten-
ton to the violation, by the saloons of
the city, of section 20, city ordinance on
"Ordinaries and Coffee Houses" Said
! section reads as follows:
IF any person licensed to keep an
| ordinary or coffee house within the city,
shall suffer the same to be kept open
ON the Sabbath day for the purpose OF
selling, or shall sell, give away or per-
NIT tt be drank at such place on said
day, any liquor for the sale of which
license Is required by the ordinances of
this city, he or she, for every such Of
Tense, shall forfeit and pay to the city
a fine of twenty dollars and the costs OF
prosecution; and when said offense
shall be committed by any person in
the service or employment OF any keep
er Of an ordinary or coffee house, or
upon the premises or a-ppurtenarces
thereto, occupied by him or her, said
keeper shall be subject to the penalty
hereinafter imposed"
Now it is an undeniable fact that the
saloons OF this city, with few excep-
tions, are violating this ordinance. BY
means of side or back entrances, they
are open and selling every Sabbath. In
some sections of the city they are even
emboldened, by the inactivity OF the au>
thorities, to keep open front doors.
Scores of men may he seen visiting
these saloons every Sabbath The
police are fully aware of the situation.
They stand and see men go in and out,
and yet fail to report or arrest the vio-
lators. We are not surmising or speak
ing from mere hearsay.
The Federation of Churches has made
careful investigation of the facts in the
case. Visits were made as follows:
Sabbath, January 21st, 1900, to fourteen
saloons between Twelfth street and the
creek; Sabbath, January 2Sth, to seven
teen saloons south of the creek: Sab
bath, February 4th, to nineteen saloons
north of Twelfth street.
These visits were made between the
hours Of 9 a. N. and IL p. m. on the
dates specified. The following are the
facts ascertained: Entrance could be-
had to any of them by means of side or
back doors; anywhere from three men
in one place, to two or three dozen In
| other pfaeeS, were found; barkeepers
were standing behind the bars selling
beer n other liquors; men were drink
ing; some were drunk and wanting to
fight; the greatest confusion and dis
order, 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 go
ing on.
These facts fully prove the charge we
make, that saloons are open in this city
for selling on the Sabbath day. We
protest against such violation of law.
Especially do we protest against the
police protection which these violators
evidently receive at present, and we
come to you sir, as the chief executive
of the city, for redress in this matter.
The ordinance In relation to the Mayor
of the city of Wheeling provides, THAT
the Mayor of the city shall be its chief
executive officer, and shall take care
that its public peace is preserved, and
Shall enforce obedience to all the mu-
nicipal laws and regulations"
We ask, therefore, for the enforce
ment of the municipal laws, and the
closing of these and all other saloons
on the Sabbath day. The law Is clearly
on our side; your own official dignity
is challenged, and no question Of adj
ditional revenue is involved in our cor
tentfon.
Not only do we ask that the saloons
be closed, but, with all due respect TO
Your Honor, we claim the right to de-
mand it.
BY order of the Federation OF
Churches.
Signed by David A. Cunningham, J.
L. Sooy, Jacob Birmingham, Archibald
Moore, C. E. Clark, Samuel Sohwarm,
James H. Littell, Martin w. Buck, c. NJ.
Oliphant. r. R. Bigger, VIM. j.. Hark-
ness, John c. Lynch, C. II. Molony,
C. B. Graham, Joseph Speers, w. A.
Hartman, Gregory Bleakley and j. w.
Waters.