Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-31
LAUGRL|A LIQUOR BILL.
| STUBBORN FIGHT FOR AND
AGAINST THE MEASURE IN
THE LEGISLATURE.
THE COUNTER PETITIONS
Have Been Forwarded to Charleston.
Bill Has Already Passed the House,
and Opposition Will BE Concen-
trated Against it's Passage in the
Senate-COuncilmen Oppose the
Measure.

No measure now under considera-
ton by the West Virginia Legislature,
is attracting more attention in Wheel
ing than the Laughlin liquor bill. 1t
has been so thoroughly discussed, that
everybody is familiar with its pro-
visions, and in a great degree with
the arguments which have been adj
vanced for and against its passage.
When it was learned yesterday that
the bin had gone through the House,
the friends Of the measure were jub-
liant, while those who opposed the
bill confidently asserted hat the result
was not unexpected, and that the bill
will strike its Waterloo in the Sen
ate.
Legislators are enabled to judge Of
the deep interest felt in the bill in
Wheeling, by the number of signat-
ures to the petitions for and against
the measure, which have been for
warded from this city. The anti
petition has been sent to Charleston,
and no further effort is being made to
get signers. 1t is impossible to learn
the exact number Of signatures re-
ceived, but a reputable saloon keeper
told the Register last night that there
were 10000 names.
The anti-Laughlin bill petitions are
somewhat strengthened by the paper
forwarded by members of the new
city Council. Under the provisions of
the proposed law, Council will be de-
prived of the right OF granting Ii
cense, and the protest of Council
will therefore receive consideration in
all probability. 1t is understood that
the petition, or protest of members of
Council, signed by all but two or
three members of the present body, is
O in Charleston, and will be exhib-
tied to members of the State Senate.
The Rev. R. R. Bigger, of the Third
Presbyterian church, one of the COM
mittee of ministers who are energet-
ically at work in the interests of the
Laughlin liquor license bill, stated last
evening that two copies of their petit
ton, bearing thousands of signatures
OF different classes of voters Of Ohio
county," have already been sent to
the Legislature, and that at present
they are represented there by a COM
mittee OF three Wheeling ministers.
Many other lobbyists from different
sections OF the State are also at Char
lesion working in their behalf. The
Wheeling representatives are Rev.
Dr. Archibald Moore, presiding elder
of this district; the Rev. C. E. Clark,
of the Thompson NJ. E. church, and
the Rev. C. B. Graham, of the North
Street NJ. E. church, who departed
respectively Monday, Tuesday and
"Wednesday for the capital city. The
first petition having 5000 signatures,
was sent Tuesday morning, and the
second petition, signed by several
hundred voters, yesterday morning.
The Rev. Mr.. bigger received yester-
day a telegram from the Rev. MI.
Clark, conveying the information that
the bill mad passed the House and it
was thought that the Senate stood
solid for it. The message also called
attention to false reports circulated
there, and to the necessity of aid to
correct them. Mr.. Bigger expects to
receive to-day from Charleston a letter
fully explaining the situation.
1t is said that the inclement weather
of the past few days has materially
interfered with the work and that some
of those engaged in the anvass of the
city Tuesday were so fatigued that they
were unable to continue the work yes
terday. However a number of the can
vassers are still engaged and the sig
nnt1rnC will ln anpt nyrn nc fhnXv
come in. The local workers are con-
templating sending laymen instead of
ministers in the future, in case that
more lobbying is required to strength
en- lne chances OF success.
"A special telegram to the Register
from Charleston last night gave the
following members as voting against
the bill in the House Of Delegates:
Brannon, Briany, Cochran, Kenney,
lMillender, Morgan. McClintoc. Mccoy,
Mcintosh, Roberts, Smith, (of Mellow
elD, WetZel, Williams and Wilson, (of
Wayne).
Absent and not voting-Nlderson,
Aten, Carter, Chambers, Cushwa, Earst.
Davies, Fisher, (of BraXton). Hall,
Hartow, Hayes, HenshaW, Jarrett. Law,
Lilly, Lowery, LUzader, Stump Swish
er, Talbot and linn.
Opponents of the bill aiege that IN
fair methods are being used by friends
of the Laugn-.n bill in their efforts to
secure signatures. They charge that
women and girls are urged to sign and
in writing their names to use only in
itials and no titles to indicate sex.
For example. Mrs. Mary Ann Smith
would sign her name NJ. a. Smith. 1t
is also charged that the petitions have
been circulated for signers in Sunday
school rooms, and that children of ten
der years have affixed their signatures.