Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1904-05-06
LOCAL OPTION
IN WISE COUNTY
Business This Year IS Der
cent Better than Last.
Coeburn, Va. Nav 2


Editor &. V. News:-You having re-
Gently requested me TO write an article
Tor tho News. stating the effect morally
socially, financially, religiously and
politically, produced by local option in
our town OF Coebum and surrounding
country L now with pleasure comply
with your request, and thank you for
the opportunity.
Last May, the voters OF our Mapis-
teral District carried local option bv n
good majority, and ii is needless 90 saw
that all our better citizens were. and
are yet friends TO the measure. Yet
the opposition was quite strong. and
was led 10y those, as Is always the case.
who have for years been violating tho
law by the sale Of liquor, and those I'm
sympathy with them, To which may be
added most OF the foreign element who
take but little interest and care less
Tor our laws and government.
This opposition IL still among us.
anu they have lost no opportunity TO
deieat the object OF local option, and TO
annoy as much as possible the temper
ance element. both by violating the
law and giving aid 10 those who do 80,
But this opposition, by the enforce
ment OF the law by Judge Slxeen "a
growing beautifully less.
Some OF the offenders are now doing
time In jail and on the chain gang. and
Others Will shortly follow suit unless all
signs fail. Notwithstanding the efforts
of the lawlcss element tc destroy It's
results, there Is no doubt but that
local option has been beneficial TO our
community In every respect.
Before local option went into effect
there was IA steam distillery running
between Coeburn and Bondtown and
several beer houses wore i'm full blnst
IN Bondtown, and as result. the stuff
was 80 plentiful and convenient 10 get.
That drinking and drunkenness were
rampant. Local option closed these
dens OF pollution and vice. and we are
not now annoyed with the dnilv
spectacle OF drunkenness, neither IL
night made hideous with drunken wells
and bacchanalian revelry,
Forty thousand dollars were snont
annually for whiskey and beer at these
places. This money is now used for
iegiumate purposes including the
necessaries Of life for the heretofore
neglected wives and children, and as
Il consequence, trade In Coeburn and
Bondtown was ut least twenty five per
cent better last year than the year be-
fore.
After we had gotten rid OF the dis
tliiery and beer houses a brewing com.
pany undertook 10 deliver beer to cus-
toners In our vicinity, but IL WAS
brought to time, and was more than
willing to return to the place whence IL
came.
Then this monstrosity called social
clubs was thrust upon us, but that was
throttled by Judge Mathews, and now
sleeps the sleep that knows no wax
ing.
So, you see we have had a tough
time OF it. but the cause OF local option
still survives, and Is here to stay.
The cause OF temperance has ad-
vanced step by step, gaining new
strength and courage at each on
slaught, and 1t Is more than probable
that Wise county will never have an
other licensed saloon. SO mote it be,
we are now grading q site between
Coeburn and Bondtown for a five
thousand dollar district school build
Ing, and by September 1st. expect to
have a first-class graded school In full
operation. Had it not have been for
local option, this would not be.
Good citizens will shortly begin TO
locate among us to give their children
the advantages OF our high school, and
as this class comes in, temperance
grows stronger.
Believing whatever helps a commu-
nifty morally, socially, financially and
educationally, also helps it religiously
and politically, the foregoing Is sub
mitted as an answer to your enquiry,
Let me congratulate the Clinch Val
ley News on It's firm stand for temper
once and good morals.
No ad for tho sale OF liquor pollutes
its columns.
A good conscience, a clear paper
and stand for the right In morals. +,
worth far more than any sum Of money
for the insertion OF a liquor ad.
III our local papers would all do
likewise, it would be much better.
Yours fraternally,
c. - KITGORE