Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-05-07
SENATOR SILVER EXPLAINS.

OI l6sb rIludf, III WHlOA no oocho w
explain his vote against the submission
of the prohibition amendment to the
people of West Virginia-the one vote
that killed this most meritorious meas
ure. We don't know why Senator Sill
yer waited so long before giving his ex-
PLANTATION, and after reading what he
has to say, we somehow think it would
have been just as well for him if he
had postponed his remarks indefinite
ly.
We quote the Senator's statement
on one point verbatim
1.-THE proposed measure provides that
the Constitution be so amended that no
person could engage in the manufacture
of such intoxicanIs within the State,
aud under the present Constitution, such
amendment would have become imme-
diatelY operative upon adoption, thus
in effect confisosting the property, stock
and plants Of those engaged in any dis
trict in the business OF selling or manu-
featuring intoxicants. This fact caused
me to favor and reflect
In order to refuts Senator Silvsr's
assertion above, we herewith quote the
amendment referred to, as it was re-
ported to the Senate by the Judiciary
Committee
Resolved by the Legislature Of West
Virginia, two-thlrds of the members
elected to each House agreeing
thereto
That the following be and the same is
hereby proposed as an amendment TO
Article VI of the Constitution OF this
State, to-wit:
That section iorty-six Of article six OF
said constitution, as it nowis, be strick-
en- out and the following inserted in
lieu thereof
Sec. 46. On and after the first day of
July, one thousand nine hundred and
nine, the manufacture, sale and keep
ing for sale of spirituous or alcoholic
liquors, wine, porter, ale, beer, or any
intoxicating drinks, mixtures, or prep
arations of like nature, or OF any kind,
hereby are prohibited in this State;
provided, however, that the manutac-
cure and sale, and keeping for sale Of
such liquors for medicinal, pharmaceu-
tical, mechanical, sacramental and sci
entific purposes, may be permitted I'M
der such regulations as the Legislature
NAV provide. The Legislature shall,
without delay, enact laws with suitable
penalties and securities for the sup
preston Of the manufacture, sale and
keeping for sale of such liquors, drinks,
mixtures or preparations, as aforesaid,
with the exceptions named above, and
for the strict enforcement OF this Sec
ton.
1t may thus be plainly seen that
Senator Silver's statement that the
amendment would become "immedi-
atsly operative upon its adoption" is
entirely inaccurate. The amendment
would be voted upon in November,
1908. If carried, it would not go in.
to effect until July 1909. Did Sens.
tor Silver ever read the bill that his
vote dsstroyed2 If he did, why
should he make 30 inaccurate state
mentt Indeed, most of his defense is
taken up with an elaboration of this
point, which has no basis in fact, and
his apprehension for the welfare of the
poor brewer and distiller and the
worthy liquor seller, which is so touch
ing, is based on false premises.
Of course, we do not desire to find
fault with Senator Silver because of
his touching solicituds for the whiskey
dealers, but we cannot understand
why, when his heart was so softened
as he thought Of loss that might come
to them, that his bowels of compassion
were not exercised for the wretched
victims of this traffic. If he had been
as tender toward those who suffer
from the evils that follow intemper-
ance as he was toward the Hannis
Distillery-owned and operated by
the deserving but needy Standard Oil
Company-or if his ear had been as
attentive to the pleadings of the earn
est men and women who petitioned for
the submission of this question as it
was to the whispers of ReYmann's
brewery and Schmulbach's beer man
ufactory, We should feel more conf.
dencs in his professions of regard for
the people of this State.
Taking it for granted that Senator
Silver is sincere in his solicitude about
the property rights of the liquor PEG.
pie, his argument shows that he has
studied the matter 10 the most super
fetal manner-with the predetermined
view of making out a good case tor
the cause he has espoused. The e1.
perience of those cities and States
that have put prohibition into effect is
such as to utterly refute his opinion
about confscatiEg the property of the
liquor interests. So eminent an au-
thority as John Temple Graves writes
as follows in the current issue of the
Cosmopolitan Magazine in reference to
the effects of the prohibition law in
Georgia