The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-02-05
AMONG THE EDITORS.
How Do They stand?

It Is said that Senator Gartlan, Of
this district, who voted against tht
submission Of the prohibition amend
meEt at the last session Of the l.egis
lnture. will change his attitude this
time, and will favor letting the people
pass upon the matter. The STAT
Journal is Informed that he gives rs
n reason for this. that the Republican
State convention adopted Il resolution
ravoring the submission OF the amend
.lnent to n vote Of tile people and he
considers this action binding upcll
himself anil feels that he Is In honor
bound to carry out the pledge Of his
party. This LOOKS like yna correct po
sitIon. For. the Republican party Of
West Virginia, which is represented in
the Legislature !,y a large majority OF
members, to fall to carry out Its prom
ise. would result in great harm to it,
MS we'll rs being 4 violation Of Its vol.
nntary obligation. The people Of tie
State are depending upon It and It Is
being weighed IN the balance on this
subject. It is impossible to meet the
argument TINT the voters have the In
disrutable right to regulate the or.
garlic law OF the St,te. II they want
prohibition. they have the absolute
riglit:to have It: Il they 10 not lesi,c
1t, submission Of TIN matter 10 them
can 10 no harm to tho liquor interests
as they will vote It down. This prlh,
clple was recognized In every Stat.
convention held last year, and the
proposition was practically nnan!'
mously adopted In all of them.
But. while 1t seems that Senator
Gartlan will stand by his party In this
particular. as no always has In others
there are reports that 1t is quite liffe;'-
cnt with Senator Craig. Of pleasants
county. Fears are expressed that
while he Is the more strongly bonrl
Of the two members from this district.
having heen elected in the campaign III
which the Republican party pledged
itself to submission CT the prohibition
amendment. he will he found allied
With those who desire OF strike at the
right of the people to decide this
question. The fact that he is father.
Ing town option lii. one which
leaves the liquor question about where
II is now. that gives towns and cities
the right to have saloons without re-.
gar, to the general wishes Of thc
whole people ora county. strengthens
this view Of his position. II Senator
Craig does stand thus, It Is the mora
of a surprise for the reason TINT Il Ii
In contradiction to his record hereto.
fnic. He certainly knows he repra-
sents n strong prohibition district and
for this reason clone he should vote 10
submit the amendment. for II he does
not he will DO mIsrepresenting his
constituents. f+
However. It will he time enough to
condemn Senator Craig after he lIllt-
sues n wrong course in this matter.
The State Journal, knowing him ts
well as II does. Is slow to believe even
in lew Of what Il hears, that ,hc viii
90 contrary to bis party and tho
wishes of his people on the question
now attracting more attention IN
West Virginia than amy other, and in
regard to their action on which. les.
islators will be held more severely re
sponsible than in any other matter
coming before them during the pres.
ent session Of their boiy,-Parkers'
burg State journal. "a
d