The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-01-26
Peoples Forum

EaitoF West FifSinian:
We have been recalling with more
than ordinary interest your recent edi-
torials relative to the coming munich
pal campaign. and are in hearty &c:
cord with your plea for the elimination
Of the people. We are further per,
also believe that the people s.s,uld
rlle; that 1t is their right to say
whether license shall or, shall not be
granted. Just as we believe It was IT,!
peoples right to have the privilege OF
saying whether q prohibition. amend:
ment should be submitted to the vote
OF the people. w eare further per-
.,uaded that in a fair contest the peo-
pie OF Fairmont and OF West Virginia
would make short shrift Of the liquor
trnilic. Outside OF vested interests
the liquor traffic hasn't n friend on
Gods green earth. What man has the
temerity to defend the liquor traffic on
its merits? 1t is the tainted money
put by the traffic into the pockets OF
n few that purchases it ever an apol-
ogy, or 'damns 1t with faint praise"
"For license" and against license
ought to be on the tickets. but we can.
not agree with the West Tirginian
that 1t makes no difference about the
PERSONNEL Of the tickets or of the city
council. A no-license law with a
liquor henchman for mayor or with
liquor sympathizers for councilmcn
will be practically a dead letter. and
serve to bring iiscredit on the law
itself. We want no%-license. but. we
also want men behind the law in SYM
patty with its execution. And right
here we beg to say that Fairnlont has
had that kind OF a mayor for two
years. and until the saloons ut Monon-
sah were opened no town of the same
size In the State had a cleaner admin
lstration. nor yer any freer from
Drunkenness and disorder. Your even
Ing contemporary suggested that we
select a ma who can preside with
dignity owe our municipal affairs.
That's just the kind of man we now
lavc-cultured. scholarly. dignifled
and fearless In enforcing the law. yet
his party organ has not had one word
OF commentator for his fidelity in the
effort to uphold the majesty OF the
lay. Why: Probably vested inter-
ests."
Two things have ben forcibly DEM
onstnrted by Fairitlott's brief period OF
no license.
First. That business Is o depend
ent upon saloons. Fairmont has never
had larger and more orderly crowds
on her streets than on special occa-
sions in the last two years. There has
never been q greater Christmas rush
in the shops and stores thnn that seen
the past holiday season.
While we do not presume to claim,
that the absence Of saloons has been
the sole cause of this. 1t clearly proves
that business Is in no sense dependent
upon the liquor traffic.
That the open saloon does Increase
drunkenness has also been demon
strate,. for until license was granted
ut Monogah II drunken man was n
rare sight on Mi streets. and the po-
lice records occupied not more tilan
an inch or two of space In the local
pa rers. AS soon as the saloons we're
opened in Monongah. however, and
drink was easily accessible. drunken
ness became more common and the
police news grew in length until now
1t frequently occupies from five to
eight inches OF space. The Ohio Mes
sengcr quotes President TAFT as say
Ing at Akron. 1.-THE more saloons yn,,
have. the more people viii drink. and
the farther people have to go to get
liquor, the fewer will go"
1t il further 10 Clnrkshurg than to
Monongah.
The West Virginian's editorial on
Governor Hughes Is timely and de-
served. We beg to close this comimun-
ication with a quotation from that dis
tinguishe,l gentleman:
DO not be deceived. The people
are not Knocked. If 1t Is an easy thing
to override the law to protect the sa.
loon keepers, some day it will be an
easy thing to override the Constltu-
ton in Its protection of property"
Another distinguished governor. j.
w. Folk, of Misspuri.fsays:
The saloon Is d business the nat
/. 'iral; tendency ofj which Is towards law.
tlessnesss anil the time HIS come Witch
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