The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-11-28
Public Colisclenee Aroused.


Most every gambling place in the
city Sc CONNECTED with a saloon.
That fact does not strengthen the
saloon ia the eyes of the people. and
the sooner the saloonists wake up to
that fact the better for that business.
The people are aroused on the sub
iect and It is needless to deny that
fact. The people are the public
conscience, and the following in con-
nection with the public conscience
and vice from the Harrison County
Herald is quite timely:
The people of Slarksburg have be-
come aroused to the extent, the Her
aid believes. that lawlessness will
not he tolerated. They have learn
ed the value OF the ballot and they
recognize that election day is the
time to rebuAe laxfty DIN the admin
istration of city affairs, though at
times under temporary spells of pas
sion, they forget.
For the last several years the voice
OF reform has been heard here and
sentiment in favor of honest, clean,
respectable city government has been
strongly crystalhzing. To such an
extenHhas the conscience of the peo-
pie been aroused that houses of bad
repute have been compelled to go
out of existence. But, in this re-
spect, as was stated by the Herald
last week. a condition exists openly
which Is fully as bad, and no effort
is put forth to stop it. The streets
are over-run with women of ques-
ttonable character, indeed, to the
largest extent ever known within the
recollection of the present genera
tion. This deplorabIe condition is
due to either the indifference shown
iby the city administration or by in
capabiIity to cope with the evil. The
truth is the history of the admins
tration does not show that 1t ever
tried to rid the city of this disgrace.
Respectable people should not fail
to hold to account those charged
with the work of keeping the city
clean, but instead permit vice to run
rampant. The place to make them
account for their failure is at the
polls Your conscience againt
This pretense of reform is further
disclosed by the prevalence of gamb-
ling on an extensive scale. Years
ago, when a different character of
population was here, the city was
wide open, but with the standard of
population splendttly raised, 1T Is as
founding to realize that the city, In
a way, is just as wide open as during
that "palmy'' period. Yet it is true.
Promiscuous gambling is going on
in Clarksburg today. 1t has been
for some time. Unfortunately for
the welfare of the citizenship of the
city and especially for dependent
families, these places succeed in en-
5ticing many young men. Money
that should go for food and clothing
for the children at home slips easily
over the gambling table and is seen
no more, and the children at home
are given less food. less clothing and
fewer of the pleasures of life
Most, II not all, of these places are
attached to saloons and operated in
conjunction, In open defiance OF the
law and without notice by the men
In authority sworn to enforce the
law. Little wonder is 1t that there
Is rapidly growing prejudice against
the saloon and an insistent demand
for its adjustment.
None can think it strange under
the circumstances that the public
conscience-your conscience-should
:be aroused, but that conscience will
not have been satisfied until gamb-
ling Is driven from Clarksburg for
ever.
The people of CIarksburg demand
a clean town and we believe they
will have it, but not until they pros
vide for changes from official indif-
ference and incapability.
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