The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-23


state derives its name, are East Liy-
erpool and Wellsvilie. In this Ohio
valley whose beauty is undimmed by
even a draught of many weeks, these
two Buckeye cities, important COM
mercially in many ways. lie side by
side, but a mile intervening be-
tween the two corporation lines. In
this article win have to do entirely
with Wellsville. Mr.. Mccormick
will describe conditions IN East Liv-
erpool.
The great number Of empty houses
and store rooms was what impressed
me most in WeHsvile as ! entered
and walked about the streets of the
city. On the principal street l
found many fine business rooms, To-
Gated in the most desirable places,
empty. / was informed by reliable
authorities that many of these rooms
had been vacant for months, others
for but a short time. was told
that other rooms had been vacant un-
iii recently, when they were en-
gagged by Greek and Italian mer-
chants. who were attracted there by
the low rents.
landlords told me that their prop
critics had been Idle for months,
and despite the fact that they had
more than cut the rental in two, were
still empty.
Joseph Geisse, who owns prop
erty located on the public square,
said that his building is standing
idle although he has offered 1t at
one half of the former rental. There
was formerly a saloon and restaur-
ant in the rooms. / was informed by
Mr.. Nfulweaver, proprietor of the
only hotel in Wellsville-there were
two before the town went dry
that there are 247 vacant stores and
dwelling houses in this city of 10000
souls. This number was reported by
the water company. The tax rate
was increased after the city was vot-
ed "dry" but the next levy was
slightly lower, my informant said,
because of a refunding bond issue.
At the present time the city is facing
big deficit in its administrations
funds and it is a certainty that there
will be an increase next year. Mr..
Geisse and Mr.. Mulweaver both claim
that irreparable damage has been
done to the city by the victory OF
the "drys." In support of these con-
tentions they state that merchants OF
Toronto and Steubenville, both of
which are "wet" cities and are con-
nected with Wellsville by trolley, pay
the car fare of those who ;:ve IN
Wellsville and who make purchases
at Steubenville and Toronto stores.
Both of these gentlemen and others
who desired not to be quoted stated
emphatically that business in Wells
Vile is stagnant; that fine modern
houses and store rooms are now va
cant, where under the old condition
of affairs, Wellsville was a thriving
city with store rooms and modern
dwellings at a premium.
On the other hand there are many
in Wellsville who believe that the
city is better "dry" than "wet. -
They point to business conditions ov-
er the country and attribute the
cause of Wellsvilles condition to bust
ness depression.
In Wellsville, like East Liverpool
the petition for an election under the
Rose law was circulaed by the "wets'
who secured the names of many oi
the most influential business men in
the city. Even in the event that
! Columbiana county, in which boil
Wellsville and East Liverpool are sit
uated, goes ''wet," there will be nc
change in Wellsvile which must re-
main a dry town until next June
when an erection under the Beal law
must be held and must be carried by
the Liberal league in order TO re
place the saloons. But should Co
lumbiana county go "dry" there car
be no election in Wellsiylle for three
years.
No stronger statment, no assertion
teeming with more sound, solit
facts, could be desired by those whC
are skeptical in regard to the situa
tion at Wellsvllle than that giveI
me by Mr.. e. McKinzie, mayor o
Wellsville.
called on Mr. McKinzle in hi
office at the city hall. At first HI
was rather reluctant TO be quote'
on the question but later change'
his mind and spoke freely concerning
the state OF affairs that obtains II
the municipality of which he is III
chief executive.
The mayor said that local option |
not prohibition, because IL does no
prohibit and despite the most arden
efforts of the executive officers of tn
city and the police, liquor is sold da.
and night almost rnder the noses o
the Officers, and conditions are IA
worse than when there were saloon
in the city.
Mayor McKinzie said in part:
Conditions here are deplorabl
and no one desires to bring abou
Improvement more than I, yet I ar
helpless and so are those with WHOM
] am working, know that ther
are great quantities Of liquor sol
right here in Wellsville daily. Boot
leggers thrive by the score yet W
cannot stop the practice. Since tn
4 Il