The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-27
A Reply To Fritz
Ts4E POSITION or I7s3E WEST VI 81
GILMAN DEFINED IN THE 10
cAL OPTION coNTRo.
vERsY.

- feeAE hN'S9AsiN II tlAAAAAAA4 vi last
Ing there appeared an article under
the Honlt Item column. signed Fritz.
and written by James D. Bowman. of
that place, ip which he takes 1t upon
himself to arraIgn the West Virgin.
ian's business department on account
OF the paid articles that have APP
peared in that paper. favoring the sa-
loon interest In justice to all chm
cerned, land yet. wish 1t distinctly
understood that am not making ex-
cuses to any man for the position q
take in this controversy. would like
to make an explanation of my dealings
with this paper In speaking to the
business manager j asked Of him no
more or less than a square deal. de-
manded no more OF him that he gave
the other side This country has al.
ways teen known TO possess the Free
dom of Speech and Freedom Of Press"
1 do not discry or deny any man the
right to have his own opinions but
man who is not open to theargument Of
facts and win admit he is wrong when
his position Is proven false. then that
man is bigoted and fanatical. and what
he has to say is prejudiced. / do not
believe that any amount OF argument
OF facts can convince a professional
prohlbitionist that he is in the wrong
Tor ne admits the same ne loses his
way OF making his own bread and but
Ter Cand graiD but I do think that It
Is the inahenable right OF every Amer
lean to have his side OF tue question
reviewed before Judgment is passed.
upon him. 1t was with this In view
that thought II l would submit
the other side OF the question before
the intelligent and Interested public
OF Fairmont that they would be fair
enough to weigh well the facts before
they made one sided decision.
It is somewhat vague as to what
editorial Fritz refers to. but infer
it is the same that was signed by G.
D. Smith. 10 such is the case he will
notice that that article was also
paid advertisement.
About the policy of any newspaper,
If its columns were not omen to both
sides n question and reflect the opin-
ions Of the general public then it ia
not fulfilling It's obligations to the pub
liz and "a NOT nubIic organ. Though
ito editor may have his own personal
views ON the matter vet one man In
bis nosttion sbould not try to force his
views on any subject but should be
imnartIaI IN his work and thought to
ALI AS IN the editor Of this paper he
himself 10 nersonaIIv against the sa-
loon business Int he Is Mt least lust
enough IN he fair IN the matter and
let the nnblic make their own deci-
sion AZ IN the Toledo Rlade and its
hot editorials tbe writer made a mis-
4a,,a IN mentIoninq the mail.order
wbiskev ada for n Is a brazen fact
that where there are rank prohibition
lists in anv place there is where the
mail order ybIskev house do their
biggest business 4 peculiar incident
in reference to this point. is how one
of these houses wrote to saloon own.
er in n Rhode Island town, stated that
thew would give him 90 per cent. on
any sales made to any party whose
name he would send. More to play a
practical Joke ON these persons he Sc.
lected the names of the most radical
nrohibitiopist in the town. Judge his
surprise when in IL days he received
HIS first check Of s25 as his commits
sions on sales TO these parties AS
10 saving that n short time back that
the articles that appeared in the west
virginian were upholding local option
as substitute for prohibition. Fritz is
-E.4.l,o.. ~. ,a,,a. have odniEfad