The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-13
WESTON mad
At BLAND
In Making Amendments TO the Peo-
pies Proposed New Charter
for That Town.
Delegation Goes to Charleston to
Protest Against Amendments and
Seek Passage of Charter Bill.

! seek Passage oil Chartef Bill.
Two years ago last January :
meeting of the voters of Weston was
called by a published notice for the
purpose of framing a charter, as the
old one was valueless and had for
years Handicapped that growing place.
The citizens assembled and appoint
ed committee composed of DR.. NJ.
S. Holt, who is now mayor. and two
of his predecessors. DIR. ]. L. Ward
en- and Frank whelan, who had each
served three years, with ex-senator
George G. Cole and E. A. Brannon
(son Of supreme judge Henry Bran
non) as committee to drafe a
charter, which they did and the
same was submitted to vote Of
the people at an election held for
that purpose. which resulted In an
overwhelming majority of votes be-
ing cast in favor of the charter. In
fact the only objection that was
offered to its adoption was the word
shall" which, made 1t imperative
on the county court TO grant a II
cense In the event the voters of the
town gave majority in favor of 1t.
The legislation being well under
way and flood of petitions signed
by quite a number of people not
citizens of the town Directing to the
word Shall" and as being for the
word may" in lieu thereof, which
resulted in the failure to pass 1t.
All the people recognizing the alb
solute necessity of having a new
charter and not desiring any further
friction or delay the majority by
petitions of three-fourths, or IS per
cent, consented that the word
''shall' should be erased, which was
in fact the only objection offered,
and. the word may" inserted in lieu
thereof. And to the surprise of every
citizen in Weston they received a
notice last Wednesday afternoon
that Delegate Bland had introduced
the charter with various amendments
one of which caused almost, If not
quite, unanimous dissatisfaction, linn
iting the town to only one saloon to
every one thousand inhabitants. Pro-
hibitionists, ministers, and all the
editors of their papers sent in pro-
tests by petition and letter. Thurs
day night following Delegate BANDS
letter to the Weston Record making
known his changes of the peoples
charter, being regular meeting
might of the town council, and all
being present, committee was ap-
pointed consisting of the following
named gentlemen: DR.. S. NJ. Holt,
Mayor, Frank Whelan, ex-mayor; H.
F. Rymer, editor of the Record, lin
dependency, R. A. Hall, editor of the
Independent, Republican,, David E.
Harris, merchant. ]. c. Roane, a
lumber merchant. and ]. w. Foster,
a prominent attorney, who are now
in Charleston not only in behalf Of
the town council but at least nineteen
twentieths of the voters. Not one
name has so far been made public
who is citizen of Weston and asks
for the changes that have at this late
day been made by Delegate Bland.
The petition signed by over 800
voters out of a capilation of 534
prays that the legislature pass the
charter as it is presented by the COM
mittee who brings with the ma copy
of the charter as adopted by the
people. At least 5000 people liv-
ing in contiguous suburbs Of Weston
are anxious for its passage SO that
they can come under corporate con-
troll who would by a decided ma
jority object to be brought within
the limits Of the corporation of Wes-
ton under the old obsolete charter
that was granted by the legislature
or assembly OF Virginia in the
forties, which prohibits the payment
of any salary for any town official.
The town is liable to be thrown In
chaos any day by injunction, The
committees carries with them the
unique old charter that was made
for the government of village.
CARD OF THANKS.