Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-02-20


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By the action of eleven member OF
the State Senate, the 100000 voters
in West Virginia have been prevent.
cd from expressing their opinion upon
the most important public question
that has ever been proposed for their
consideration. When the bill to sub
NIT to the vote of the people prohi.
bition amendment, that had passed
the House of Delegates by such a
large majority, came up in the Senate
last Friday, it was defeated, there be-
ing l9 votes in its favor and IL
against 1.-THE measure Just lacking
one vote of the necessary two'thirds
majority.
Senator William Campbell, Of JEFF
srson county, voted for the amend.
msnt, stating that while he favored
high license rather than prohibition,
yet he could do no less than vote to
permit the people to express their SEN
timents-a Democratic principle that
entities him to the respect of his con-
stituentJ.
Senator Gray Silver, of Martins
burg, the other Senator from this dis
trict, voted against the msasure-and
his vote killed the dearest aspiration
of more than half million people in
this State-wives, mothers, fathers,
brothers, sisters. sons and daughters.
No one, of course, should find fault
with Senator Silver's personal views
upon this great question. Whether
he tavors local option, prohibition or
free whiskey lie his own affair, and if
he choose. to ally himself with the
liquor interests in preference to the
sslf-sacrifcing and d voted thousands
who are for sobristy and temperance it
is a matter that be has a perfect right
to decide for himself.
But we most earnestly protest that
as a public servant. trusted by the
voters in that he has been chosen to
represent them in the Legislature, he
was absolutely in honor bound to give
them the right to vote upon this ques-
tion and upon every question that he
knows they wish to vote upon. Lay
ing aside entirely the merits of the
prohibition amendment, we declare
that he has been untaithtul to his con.
stituents in denying them their abso-
lutte rights. In substance he tells
them that they haven't sense enough
to vote upon great moral question.
He has stihed their voice, and, we
verify believe, has decided question
adversely to the wishes Of a large ma
jority of our people. The condemna-
ton of his action is severe and wide
spread, for many who would not vote
for the amendment at the polls utter
ly repudiate an action that deprives
the people Of the right to express their
opinion. The REGISTER last week, in
foreshadowing Senator Silver's vote,
stated that he would live to regret il
if he voted against the measure. Now
that he has deliberately allied himself
with the whiskey interests and denied
the people the right to vote, we wish
to emphasize that prophecy.
These are the names of the State
Senators who voted against the bill
submitting the prohibition amend
merit TO the vote of the people:
B. F. Bailey, Of Grafton.
E. s. Baker, of Bramwsll.
g. W. Oossin, of Gunvills.
Thomas Gsrtlan, of Parkersburg.
Robert Hsslstt, of Wheeling.
W. s. johnson. of Hilltop.
Alex. McVeigh Miller, of Anderson,
E. W. McKown. of Spencer.
Gray Silver, of Martinsburg.
81. s. White, of Matewan.
w w Uhvfa of Walob