The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-03-03
VOICE FROM
RIVER TOWN
Something From East liverpool,
ohio, on the Prohibition
Question.
Results CT the Financial crusade in a
Community Which Is sober and
Decent.
Which Have the Effect OF General
Antagonist Toward Professional
sobrlety.
That Which Prohibits Encourages
What It Would Prevent-some
Ideas on the Crusade.

East Liverpool, OIllOI reU. -.
Mr.. H. w. Lewis. Fairmont, w. Va:
Dear Sir: Yours of recent date at
hand, and will to the best OF my abil-
lty try to answer your requests fairly
and honestly about the conditions OF
our town since it has been dry.
The saloons we're 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
policeman in the city; we have had
two. murders. with an increase OF crime
in all grades 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 a record breaker. The greatest num-
Der previously made for Drunkenness
was Is. made under Davidsons admin
istration. 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 we'll the following: The
most lamentable thing took place in
the streets Of our city about four
weeks ago. A negro appeared on the
most prominent streets and public
places in East Liverpool with white
man and woman hitched to 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 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.
l will quote from our daily papers
the result of the last grand jury:
There were 90 indictments in the
county, two.thlrds of them from East
Liverpool"
What do you think of that for the
morals of our dry town when we have
six towns incur county that are wet?
sRefarFtn the condition OF the real
Iastaf market in our city, 1t is away
lbeie Il. In the latter part Of Decem-
[bet L had canvas made OF the city to
satisfy smyself 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 IND I'm
the state, and are considered the flhs
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 were at premium, and some of
them brought from $50 to $3.50 per
month. If forcing this dry system on
the citizens of East LiverpooFafd -
about these terrible conditions. in tlae
name of all that's sensible,swhat did?
Two years ago my property was
worth $4,000; to-dayI 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 a
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 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-few 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
/ oeyery, p,1rcAaser who would come
10 town to buy. 70 make the. sclie fne
4 ID