The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-03-03
FROM
River TOWN
Something From East Liverpool,
ohio, on the Prohibition
b Question.
Results of the Financial crusade in a
Community Which is sober and
Decent
Which Have the Effect of General
Antaeonism Toward Professional
sobrIety.
That Which Prohibits Encourages
What 1t Would Prewnt-some
Ideas on the Crusade.

| lQeaS OF LHG NIu1A0Cs
East Liverpool. Ohio. Feb. 90.
Mr.. H. w. Lewis. Falrmont, w. Va:
Dear Sir: Yours of recent date at
hand and will to the best of my abll-
ity try to answer your requests fairly
and honestly about the conditions Of
our town since 1t has been dry.
The saloons were voted out here on
June % last. and closed up the 22d OF
July. The damage 1t has done to our
city is enormous. 1t ruined business
OF all kinds and depleted the city's
treasury. When another year rolls
around our city dads will beat their
wits ends to raise funds to conduct
the financial affairs Of the city even in
most economical way.
There has been an increase OF one
Epoliceman in the, city; we have had
1.-Two murders. with an increase of crime
in all grades. l quote from our morn
ing and evening papers this item.
which appeared about six weeks ago:
"There were II arrests made in this
city Saturday night and Sunday. which
is the greatest number ever made in
the city in the same length OF time. 1t
is record breaker. The greatest num-
Der previously made for drunkenness
was Is. made under Davidson's admin
istratlon, when Christmas Eve fell on
Saturday, four or FIVE years ago"
Suffering of all kinds has increased.
The charItably inclined are kept busy
relieving the distress among the
needy. Note well the following: The
most lamentable thing took place in.
the streets OF our city about -four
tWeeks ago. A negro appeared on the
most prominent streets and public
places in East Liverpool with white
man and woman hitched to n garbage
wagon, driving them as you would
drive yoke of oxen, using the follow
ing language: "Getap, you white
trash! no loafin, on this her load
There was a time when you white
trash made niggers tote you around.
Now, you have to tote this here mig.
ger!" And not long,haired man and
not short-haired woman raised their
voice in protest against this outrage.
I will quote from our daily papers
the result of the last grand jury:
"There were 23 indictments in the
county, two-thirds of them from East
Liverpool"
What do you think Of that for the
morals Of our dry town when we have
six towns insour county that are wet?
!Refetftha % the condition of the real
isestat nl9fket in our city, It is away
,belbs, AZ IN the latter part Of Decem'
Der i had canvas made of the city to
satisfy 4myse1f as to the number OF
empty store rooms at that time, To
my great surprise found there were
III empty rooms. some Of which are as
fine business rooms as you can md In:
the State, and are considered the fihs
est business locations in the city. This
condition never existed in this city be-
fore in the last ten years to my own
personal knowledge.
Up to six months ago business
rooms we're at a premium, and some OF
them brought from $50 to $3.50 per
month, II forcing this dry system on
the citizens of East LIverpooPs ND not
about these terrible conditions, in tse
name Of all that's sensible.swhat did?
Two years ago my property was
worth $4,000; to-day could not get
$4,000 for 1T.
The business men OF the city made
an effort last November to retrieve
me Of their losses by Introducing
business mems week. Now this
scheme, mind you, was headed by
some Of the most radical dry men we
had in the city. The plan was to offer
Inducements to outsiders to come from
all surrounding cities to trade here
There was a large business mems or
ganization formed and then they ap-
pointed committees to act for the DIFF
ferent departments. They first went
around among -the-tew business men
left and got their advertisements
which were to be and were printed in
two special editions Of our local pa
pers. setting forth what great bar.
gains our business men were offering
4 t oeverye purchaser who would come
to town 70 buy, To make the scheme