The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-02-06
ResOlU|T|0AIHAI.
.R0ASJS THE
!. LIQUOR TRAFFIC
.......,, HIHIH

?" robert L.. Bland, of&Weston, dele
gate IN the house from Lewis couury
offered resolution An the house CT
delegates, appointing a committee to
locate site for state hospital for
inebriates, dipsomaniacs and. habitual
drunkards. The resolution refers to
the whisky habitEn caustio terms and
caused smile to fit over the faces
or the delegates when read by the
clerk. ~. ..., y. i,s -. /
The resolution reads as follows:
House Joint Resolution No. II,
Appointing a. committee to locate a
site for state hospital for inebriat-
es, dipsomaniacs and habitual drunk
ards.
Whereas, That the State OF West
Virginia has wisely provided numer-
rrous public institutions Of au
eleemosynary character for the care,
protection and we'll being of her cit
lzens, among they. being the hospital
ror- the insane at Weston, erected at
cost Of more than a million. and a
half OF dollars; the second hospital
Tor the insane at Spencer; the asylum
for the deaf, dumb. and blind at
Romney; the home for the incura-
Dies, at Huntington, aud the several
miners hospitals; and, ..'. .,
Whereas, Our State, from the time
OF. it's admission to the Union until
the present. has fostered and main
tanned the liquor traffic under the
license system. on account Of which
1t has derived thousands and thou
sands OF dollars in the way Of pub
lie revenues; and
Whoreas; Some OF the brightest
minds of our young commonwealth
nave been bliShtcd- by the course Of
intemperance, one of the inevitable.
results of legally maintained
license system; and hundreds of 9TH
ers have fallen by the wayside, as
! its unfortunate victims; homes have
been destroyed, families separated,
wives and mothers bowed down I'M
der the weight Of it's sorrow, chill
dren orphaned, and strong men rem
dered weak, helpless and dependent;
and ~. =.
,~WhereaS, No provision has r"bet.n
made by, the state for the care and
gr9tectton. Of those who have become
ldrunkards dAnd inebriates as a direct
or indirect result or system of state
government which makes possible
and permits to exist the legalized
LIQUOR traffic. and the legislature Is
impressed with the duty 1T owes to
the public veal to protect the uufor.l
tunate against all things that destroy
the life, health and happiness OF our
people, and believes that such an in
stitution as herein contemplated
ought to appeal to every thinking
man upon humanitarian grounds
alone; therefore, be it .:-s
: Resolved, BY the Legislature OF
west Virginia.; That immediate steps
be taken looking to the establishment
OF a state hospital for inebriates,
Gipsomaniacs and habitual drunkards,
for the treatment Of such unfortu-
nate people by the latest and most
approved methods, such as turkish
ana electrical baths, etc. and where
lnebF1ateS, habitual drunkarGs, dip
somaniacS, and persons who, from
che use of narcotics or other stimu-
lants, have lost the power of self
SShIh w lldS ne COlllDlnCU ana sub
jected to compulsory treatment. and
committee Of five, three members
thereof to be appointed by the
speaker OF the house OF delegates,
and two members by the president of
the senate, Is hereby appointed, with
instructions to visit and investigate
other similar state institutions and
acquatnt themselves with the con-
duct and management Of the same;
ascertain suitable location for the
establishment Of such an institution
III this state; procure plans and spec-
lhcauonS for the construction and
operation thereof, with detailed in
formation relative to cost of estab-
fishing and maintaining such all in
stitution, acquire option for the pur-
chase of property, and make report,
by bill or otherwise to the legislature
Of 1909. Said committee is also au-
thorized and empowered to ascertain
at what cost suitable property with
buildings already constructed may be
acquired, and to take option for the
purchase Of such property.