Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-04-07
COURT TO GRANT LICENSES
eclsior Har5ea llewa After Warm
Debate Monday.
BIG PETITION IS SUBMITTED
Five Hundred Voters Ask Court to
Refuse License Special Election
VIII BE Held.


VIII Be Held.
The most interesting session of tie
County oourt for long time was that
held Monday. when the question OF
granting licenses 10 the saloon men Of
Martinsbnrg came up in the regular
course of business, and was holly
fought BY the Law and Order society
of the city, backed NJ BY big petit.
tiuh signed by many Of the prominent
residents of the town and county. 1t
has been known for some time that
the prohibition element of the county
would oppose the granting of liquor
licenses at this session Of the court,
and the campaign that has been con.
Quoted through the papers and by per
sonal appeal has aroused great deal
of speculation as TO the strength the
prohibitionists would be able to mus
ter on the final showdown.
1t can be frankly stated that the
strength was somewhat of surprise
to number Of persons. as the petit.
tion presented to the court contained
the names of about 800 persons,
many OF whom are among the
most prominent business and pro.
fessional people OF the city and coun.
ty. Among the petitioners was the
Standard Lime Il Stone Co through
the president. Daniel Bskef. In nd.
dition to signing the petition, Mr..
Baker wrote letter :. DR.. +. M.
Woods. pastor of the Presbyterian
church in which he stated that he was
sorry he would be unable to attend
the meeting of the county court. In,
that he earnestly hoped that the court
would refuse to grant the licenses
Mr.. Baker also stated that the saloons
were de'riment to the employees Of
his COMPANY, because the men would
frequently spend their wages In the
saloon stead Of buying food and
clothing for their families. This
petition undoubtedly had weight with
the court. ATTORNEY w. II. Thorn M
handled the case for the petitioners.
There were present at the meeting
practically all the applicants for II.
censes. many of those identified with
the prohibition and temperance move.
ment here, and several Of the minis
ters. aud the proceedings were follow.
ed with the keenest interest by all.
DR.. Woods also made an address to
the court, setting forth in tronG
aud eloquent manner the reasons why
he elIeved the licenses should be re-
fused by the court. This closed the
case for the petitioners. and Attorney
Stuart w. Walker and Attorney II H..
Emmert took up tie case for the APP
plicants. They took the ground that
the court shonld be governed by pub.
lie sentiment in g a. ting licenses, and
that this sentiment had twice bee n
shown in this city by big majoriy
in favor OF license. TIE attaineys
also went somewhat into the prohibi.
ton quest on, and spoke of the towns
where 1t had proved a failure, and
where it had brought about condi.
tion far worse than before prohibition
became operative.
The court, at the conclusion Of the
arguments, took the case under consi-
deration and held it over until this
afternoon at 2 O'Clock. when the opin.
ION was delivered the court deciding
against the petitioners. In deciding
the question the court stated that the
members believed they should not as
sumo the responsibility OF refusing Ii
censes after the city council had ap-
proved them, and that they therefore
would grant the APP locations of the
saloon men
In speaking Of the action Of the
court. and the statement that the
matt hvii submitted to a vote
of the people of the county, one of
the most active of the prohibitionists
stated TO The World that arrangements
would be made TO hold special cleo
tion IN the city and county, when the
question of license or no license would
be put to a vote. Asked when the
election would be held, the gentleman
st tea that il would be called as soon
as they could get ready for it.