The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-04-06

| 6iannlather GaSSaWay Davis. ..' g.. ...
" Martinsburg, one OF the oldest
cities OF the state, over in the eastern
Panhandle, furnished the surprise OF
the week when by a majority OF 172
votes out Of a total vote OF $500 the
4ser4te eley- capital OF Southern senti,
ment- voted against licensing Of sa-
looms. 1t was local option election
and while not binding on the Coun-
cilmanic body, both sides engaged In
the controversy, confident Of the re.
suit, and 1T Is expected will abide by
the popular decision. The contest
was "A stubborn one and / p saloons
and two Wholesale houses will be
eliminated. Martinsburg is the home
of the Hannis Distilling Company AMI
Is in the senatorial district represent
cd by Senators Gray Silver and A. G..
Mclntire, who&have opposed the sub
mission Of the prohibition amend
ment. The election was a surprise
to the vets, who believed that wet
sentiment predOminated in that sec
ton. l.
However, the license elections have
shown an even division of sentiment.
Grafton. the home Of Colonel John r.,
McGraW. Democratic National Com
mittee, after reposing eH-the- water
wagon for two, years. Joined the wet
municipalities of the state and at the
same time elected a. Republican
Mayor and Council. while Fairmont,
nf IVY
voted license. and elected Democratic
municipal Authorities.
THE municipal elections to the
present. time have not been of one
variety. Both parties have scored in
the cities and towns where elections
have been held. Moundsville went
Democratic and against license, while
Ststersville elected a Republican
mayor and council. Point Pleasant
elected an independent Republican
Mayor and Elkins elected an indc-
pendent Democrat. Next week
Charleston will have a municipal cleo
ton and, elect mayor after a sizz-
ling campaign.
'Galveston, Des Moines and other
municipalities governed under the
commission plan may be able to
chuck partisan politics out the win
dow working under the modern idea,
but the bipartisan plan does not
work that way at Charleston on-Ka-
-nawf1a. When the new-idea charter
was promulgated through the State
Legislature q a|HfeW, years q 60 1T was
stated that the municipal politician
the fellow who thrived on the flesh
pots--would have to look for another
Job'-But not so.-He is still at work.
and more than ever
SO complete has been the failure
Of the commission plan, as practiced
at Charleston, to take the municipal
government. Out Of politics that even
the Courts have been called upon
to restore to one Of the parties the
political rights that are said to be-
long to said political party.
Mayor James A. Holly, trained i'm
political maneuvers and believed TO
nave gubernatorial ambitions which
are inclined to grow formidable in
the next two years, is the local leader
or the Democratic party, Which is IN
the ascendancy. Recently the Char
lesion Mayor won complete victory
over the Democratic insurgents. in
nomination Of municipal candidates
ana the Republicans, who have also
nominated municipal ticket, say
that the Democratic leader will not
only nominate and elect the Demo-
cratic candidate for Board Of Affairs.
but will also elect II. B. Buster, the
independent candidate.
TWO members of the board are
to be elected, and they are to be of
opposite politics. Buster is a Repub-
lican, but remained out of the Re-
publican primary and became an indie
pendent candidate --With-the-s support
of the organization Democrats. When
the regular Republican com mTttee
slept at the switch the Hollev and
buster forces named the election
otilcers and now a suit in the STU
preme Court Of Appeals for a writ
or mandamus to compel the Board of
Affairs to appoint the election Off
GERS recommended by the Republican
City committee, Is pending. The case
Will be heard on Tuesday.
"Clerk Mansfield NJ Nicely, OF the
House Of Delegates, who was in,
structed by resolution of. the State
senate while. the Legislature was in
session to refrain from printing the
TT. Pleasant charter bill in the acts.
viii disregard the action taken by
the State Senate. After an investi-
CATION the Clerk Of the House de-
c1ded that the Pt. Pleasant charter
| which has for it's purpose the chang,
ing Of the licensing body in the town
jof PIT. Pleasant in order to make the
| town dry, was law, and that it
should be Incorporated in the acts
along with the other laws enacted
at the recent session Of the Legisla-
ture.
The charter bill was passed by
1