The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-29
NIotlel Ltcense .Aeit..tion.


The liquor question IS not alto
gether political c;gs. except in so
far as the Pro5lbision p&rty tries to
make it. The paucity OF the votes
that party received emphasizes the
fact that the effort from the political
point of view is an absolute failure.
Yet there are features OF the ques-
ton that bring 1t within the politi-
cal scope, however much the protest
may be made that it is positively not
IN politics.
What regulation there has been in
the sale of .ltquos in Weat SElrgfnin,
has been brought about by the RE-
publican party, which has achieved
the several reforms that exist: such.
as Sunday closing and the severe pen
alties imposed for other violations,
such as the conduct of speakeasies.
The Democratic party as a state or
ganization has been but lukewarm in
these reforms, though it may be
said that in-localities It has opposed
the liquor business and in other 10
ca1ities aided and abetted it. Doubt
less, when locality is considered the.
same may be said of the Republican
party.
However. it is and should be pure
Iy non-polftical question as it now
comes before the people. The sub,
necessarily make it political ques-
ton.
1t is a subject-thNr causes differen-
ces Of opinion i'm political circles
The Democratic camp is divided on
the question:. as-4a also the Republic
can party in sentiment in reference
to the sale OF liquor And. thus it
would seem that the question shou!
stand solely on its own EN- irtseodr
merits.
In sense at least the National
ing with that end in view in West
Virginia and its efforts have result
ed in inducing thousands of liquor
men in this State to advocates such
a license system in West Virginia.
Some Republican newspapers are
strenuously opposing such license as
against the submission OF the amend
ment While some Democratic news
papers quite strongly ask for the
adoption of the proposed license sys-
TEN. One of the strongest requests
yet presented in its favor is by the
Wheeling Register, which states edi-
torially:
The amendments to the laws regu-
lating the sale of liquors in West
Virginia, which the Model License
League has embodied in bill to be
considered at the coming session OIL
the legislature, would. if written in
to the statutes of the state, prevent
most of the evils of which enemies OF
the saloon complain. The two prin-
cipal reforms provided for are the
limitation of the number OF retail
dealers, and stringent provisions for
suspension and forfeiture of license
upon proof of violation of the law.
1t is provided in the bill that there
should be not more than one license
for each 5 90 population. Under such !
law there would not be more than |
eighty to ninety saloons in Wheeling. |
The most drastic provision, however, |
is that which makes it mandatory |
upon the court rendering judgment |
upon conviction of violation of a /
liquor law, to suspend license for
thirty days. as part of judgment on
first conviction. and to cancel license
as part of Judgment upon second con-
viction. Such a provision, honestly
enforced, would make every saloon "a
7aw-respecting institution. 1t would
speedily end the petty misdemeanors
OF which many saloonists have been
guilty 1t would eliminate the social
and gambling evils. stop sales to
minors and drunkards, and make the
traffic in liquor a respectable bust