Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-05
LAUGHL|N license BILL
|SUP AGAIN IN NEN form.
THIS TIME TT Is MADE TO APPLY
DIRECTLY ONLY TO RAN
DOLPH COUNTY.
PROVIDES SPECIAL ELECTION
FOR DECIDING THE WISHES OF
OHIO COUNTY IN THE NATTER
OF IT'S APPLICATION.
to the Register.

Special to the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, February A..
The Laughlin Liquor License bill is
before the Legislature again. and this
time in such shape that there is little
doubt of it's passing.
1t has been remodeled SO to draw
to its support the Republican partisans
of both houses, though in its present
form, no Democrat is likely to give it
support.
The new measure was introduced in
the Senate this morning by Senator
Baker, and in the House by Mr.. jack
son, of Kanawha. In both houses the
bill was passed to its second reading
under a suspension Of the rules, all
the Republicans voting afirmatively.
The new bill is so changed that it can
accomplish but little that was aimed at
by the people who originally sought to
have the Pennsylvania Brooks law
fastened upon Ohio county and
wheeling.
That bill antagonized the Republi-
can and had no particular interest
for Democrats, from a political
view point. 1t merely meant the TAX
ing of the license giving power from
a Republican county court and giving
it to a Republican circuit court.
In the House, some of the Republi-
can members saw a chance to gain
possible political advantage and tack
ed on an amendment applying the
provisions of the law to Randolph
county, where the adoption OF the law
would take from a Democratic county
court the licensing power and place it
in the hands of a Republican circuit
judge.
This lined up the Democrats against
the bill, and with the aid Of the Re-
p%ublicans in the Senate who opposed
the whole scheme from principle. the
measure was killed before it had more
than gotten it's nose between the doors
of the Senate chamber.
Now, the bill proposes to fasten the
Brooks law upon the Democratic coun-
ty of Randolph only. Ohio county is
not mentioned. Wherever the word
"Ohio" formerly appeared, it is Ran
dolph" now. Another provision is
made, however-that in counties con-
tanning cities OF more than 20,000 peo-
pie, the county court shall, upon the
petition Of two-fifths or the voters,
hold a special election within thirty
de-s to decide whether the new law
shall be put in force in that county.
Ohio county is the only county in the
State having a city Of more than 20
600 people, so this provision applies
to it only and it is not likely to apply
to any other county for a good many
years.
E~masculated as it is, the Laughlin
bill will very probably pass both
houses. 1t gives the Republicans a
party advantage in Randolph, if there
Is any advantage in having license
granted by one Republican rather than
by a court of Democrats, while it con
tains nothing that alarms the liquor
interests and Others who opposed the
original Laughlin bill. No one dreams
that the Laughlin people of Ohio coun-
ty would ever be able to secure two
fifths of the voters to sign a petition
to the county court, and very few be-
lieve that a majority of Ohio county
people would vote in favor of the
Laughlin bills provisions. The pro-
vision for a special election in Ohio
county, is another feature that rem
ders its adoption less likely on ac-
count of the sexpense and the impos-
sibility Of rousing persons, disinterest-
ed except in a moral sense, to TAKE in
terest in special elections.