Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-31
tADGHL|N LICENSE BILL
/ PASSED By The HOUSE.
SPEECHES FAVORABLE TO THE
MEASURE BY MEMBERS FROM
OHIO COUNTY,
AFD JACKSON. OF KANAWHA.
DELEGATE BRANNON THE ONLY
SPEAKER WHO OPPOSED 1.-THE
VOTE ON II BILL.


The Laughlin bill to-day passed the
House, after a spirited debate, between
Laughlin, Smith, Mccoy, Reynolds and
jackson in it's favor and Brannon
against it.
Laughlin took the floor at the con
clusion of the reading of the bill and
delivered a speech which seemed to
have been carefully prepared. in which
he directed attntion to the contrast be-
tween the kind of people who were ad-
yocating the measure and those who
opposed it.
He pictured a terrible state of deprav-
ity in the city in consequence of the
fake hotels, told of the money lost TO
the State by reason of the business
done under short licenses, and declared
that the relief sought could not be Sc
cured through the means now at hand.
He pictured the difference between
Sunday in Pittsburg under the Brooks
law and in Wheeling under the pres
ent license system, and asked that the
workingmen of this city be given the
same opportunity TO spend that day
in quiet and free from temptation that
their neighbors have.
He called upon the members in the
name of mothers, sisters, and of God
to support the measure.
Mr.. Brannon said he had
Doubted the Conatf.utionality
of the measure in the first, but his mis-
oirr;nor LoI Loan o1Ioyrj -, tho o.0
ment of counsel and he had agreed to
the favorable committee report. But
he had thought over the matter seri-
onsly since that time, and could not
see his wa clear to support it.
The bill he declared put the issuing
OF licenses entirely in the hands OF the
Circuit Court, and no matter what the
people migEG have said Or might de-
sire, if the court did not wish to grant
licenses it would not do SO. Therefore,
the proposed law would take from the
people of Chic county that ancient and
precious right of local self-government,
because it put it in the power of the
people of other counties in the circuit
to say whether Ohio county should
have license Or not. Brooke, Hancock
and Marshall counties might have Ii
censes themselves, under the county
court system, and yet make a point of
helping to elect judges for the circuit
who Would Refuse tiie Same Priv
ilege
to Ohio county. In addition to this it
would have a tendency TO drag the
judiciary from the high position it now
occupied down into the mire and filth
of the lowest kind of politics, making
the views OF tie candidates for the
judiciary,on the question Of license the
controlling issue, instead of their legal
ability and moral fitness.
He did MOI believe the people of
Ohio county neaied the advice or con-
sent of the citizens Of other counties
in the matter Of controlling its af-
airs; but Though they were as Writ
uous as true, as able to run their own
business as any other people any
where. He disliked to oppose what
seemed to be a local measure, but the
law proposed to be enacted was a gen
eral one, and what he said for Ohio
county vas as true with reference 10
other counties in which this bill
might at some future time be adopt
ed.
Mr.. Smith, OG Ohio County. Said
the bill was demanded by the good
people of Wheeling, and that its op-
p~onents were found among the saloon
element whose names were found up
on the petitions presented here
against it.
He drew a fearful picture of the
crimes committed at the fake hotels
saying the details we're not such as
could be mentioned in a promiscuous
audience, but he could not refrain
from mentioning the case of one
young girl who had, during the last
ninety days, been debauched in one Of
these lens of inequity. 1t was to save
the young girls from such things and
to lift the saloon business up and
make it respectabie that this bill was
sought to be passed.
The people of Ohmio county were
not afraid of being imposed upon by
their neighbors Of Brooke. Hancock
and Marshall. Their two Circuit judges
were now Brooks ana Hancock men,
and they had all confidence in them.
Mr.. McColloch and Mr.. Steck follow
ed in statements OF their position, both
fayoring the bill. Mr.. McColloch said
tbe better class of the saloon men were
for it's passage.
Mr.. Jackson spoke strongly for the
hill. He said the Brooks law had been
found
TO work well in Pennsylvania.
and that in tue last thirteen years
while it had been il operation the ju-
diciarv of that State had lost none of
h higher character achieved by it n
+be hundred years before. A Judge of
sbe circuit Court could not. he said de-
cline TO issue licenses under the pro-
risions of the DILL after the
naonle of the county mad decided they
.nnanted licenses. He could only see
that thew were issued to the proper
aarsons He thought also that when
county sent to the House "a strong
Sdaoation like the one representing
s,s,;a county here now, theii wishes in
! matter of this KING should have great
weight with membeIf.
VIZ r REYNOLDS said he had at first
heen oppressed Win misgivtngs about
ihe constitutionalityl OF th9 measure,
kut after hearing IL matfr argued
Cith reference TO tnsf poi4tIand look
s. It some authoritfs onite subject,
Is convinced It 1as an Ight-
~ - rnAmheu{ fromf bio coun-