Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-07-06
Almost Entire Session Con,
sumed with Consideration
of the Postpone
ment of Question Refused.
LACKED TWO VOTES
OF A MAJORITY.
Council Gave Notice of In
tention to Contest a
Question of Law.

The city council met In regular
session lass night 81 OF the thirty
six members being present. The
greater part of long session was
taken up with tho consideration OF
tn, licenge matter OF ID. A. Fudge,
tho colored saloon-keeper on Raleigh
street. Fudge had made application
for license for saloon, pool and bill
lizard room and bowling alley. On
motion OF w. G. Miller. the licenses
fer these different objexts were tax
ell up separately. Pool and billiard
and bowling licenses were granted,
thu vote standing 19 TO IL or bare
majority of council. On the question
o! a saloon liconse, the vote stood IL
to IA Fudge lacking two II getting
a majority OF council. before this
vote was taken. Judge Sanders.
Flidge's counsel, asked that the mat
te' go over to another meeting. but
the council declined to postpone ac-
ticn. Those voting for license were
r. b. Ferguson. s. l.. Ballengee, j.
h. Clark. p. I. Lilly, w. G.. Miller.
Karl Schoew, j. S. Ain. ". X. Har-
man, j. c. Akers. c. l.. Borden, John
w Dunnagans B. Houchi1s, J. ID.
Enochs, X. l.. Austin and A. u. Haw-
ley, Republicans, and A. Lynch and
VI. q. Witten, Democrats. Against
license, w. f.. McArter, s. j. Sublette
f l.. Bailey, +. j. Brown, w. J.
Bailey. Hoge Mason, J. A. b. Bruce
A b. Thompson, J. S. Hall and j.
II. Wilson, Democrats. and j. NJ.
HchoIs, DIR. J. T.. MartiS DIR. +. l..
Black, and J. X. Tilson, Republicans
Absent, b. Crumpler, NJ. l.. Wing
field DIR. J. F.. Fox, +. II. Easley and
II. A. Hale. 1t is understood that
tho absentees, II they had been pres
ent, would all have voted no. They
are all Democrats, the Republicans
having had a full attendance.
Just why politics should have been
injected into this matter II is hard
to see, and yet the vote shows
strong party line up. Mr.. Borden
occupies the anomylous position OF
having petitioned the council not to
grant the license and then voting TO
grant II. F iB presumed that per
sinally he was opposed 20 granting
the license. but for political reasons
he favored It. Deep dowd In their
hearts. we have no doubt, several OF
the members are glad tie license
was refused. but political pressure
was too strong for them They lack
ed the courage OF j. NJ. Echols, who
openly stated that he was opposed
TO the saloon In any form and would
not vote for license under any con-
si6eratioa. and he was especially OPP
posed to opening a den OF vice for
the worst element OF the colored pop
uiation. He for one believed that.
the more saloons you have the great
er the amount OF liquor that will
Do sold
Judge Sanders, of counsel for
Fudge. asked that the record show
the vote as he would probably cen
tend in the courts that a majority Of
the council preseR and voting con-
stiJuted a majority. II n a provision
% the charter, we believe, that II
requires a majority OF tho council 20
grant a license. / fthis provision ls
serally he was opposed 70 granting
for ho got the greatest number OF
votes last night that he can hope to
get. All the absentees will vote
against him.
Dr J. r. Martin moved that the
ordinance providing salaries OF SIS
pc. month each for the m smbers OF
the board OF affairs bo voted. His
motion was opposed by Judge San
ders. Judge Maynard. J. r. Tilson
and others who thought he salaries
very reasonable fo7 the amount OF
labor to be performed. Three mem
bers Of the board were present and
explained somthing OF the cities re-
quired OF them. Mr.. Worley said the
board had fixed their own salaries as
low as they felt they could arford 10
do. and they were trying 60 econo-