Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-22
w. C. t. u.
COLUMN.
Edited BY tns losalEchaptes Of the
@omsn's ehristlaa Temperance Union.
Re.poa.lbllltY fet cflme.

Inc intoierable conditions that have
returned TO Charleston and Ksnawha
county with the return Of the saloons
was noticed Ia n sermon preached In
Tue Fist Presby terrain church, Charles
too, Sunday morning. October is. DR.,
thompson, psstor of the church, does
not hesitate 10 place the responsibility
where 1t belongs. IL is all too true that
license could have heen defeated had
the church vote gone TO tina polls the
Jay the matter was up for settlement
III the city OF Charleston. Men, who,
for any Reason, fail to get TO the polls
on day when such issues No the
granting Of liquor licenses is being set.
are far from being good citizens. Mem.
oership in the church will not cover
their sius Of negligence at the judg-
meat. The great question Of state wide
prohibition may be settled in favor Of
the liquor tratfic by just such negli-
gence. We most heartily approve the
following extract from Dr. Thomp-
sons sermon.
| For crimes that CONS out of the H.
censed sale Of alcoholic drinks the
power behind the license IL responsible
10 punish the committer OF the crime
aud allow the canser OF the crime to 60
free is . satire that would make the
gods Of the Homeric heaven laugh. II
is time for some Nathan, tiod directed,
to go 10 the David Of the judicial bench
who has granted To one man licepse to
sell 10 another that which may turn
him into criminal and say "thou art
the man:" TO go 10 society with It's IL
cense laws and dare tocry intoits very
face, "rhou art the msn:n /, 60 10
Church who signed petitions for IL
cense, who rents his property to those
whose known purpose is to use the
premises for the nefarious business aud
dare 10 say To them, "rhou art the
man
just commoa, vulgar whisky, but
sought IN spite Of It's yuigarity ny all
classes. Men will have ii, right or
rang they will have it, aud s. tie
time servers say, "Do not make it an
outlaw. Let it DE an inlaw. hedge it
ABOUT with restrictions. Make 1t a
source of revenue. Let society have its
appetite gratined, but makeit pay the
price, Have you been sayingit? Then
you sr,lgu lily.
Eighteen murders since the saloons
came back into Charleston. Who is
responsible for them? You who voted
for the saloon to come back and you
who failed to keep it out. There is no
escape. Is the church then responsible
for the traffic in intoxicants? Is it not?
We make the challenge and the bur-
den OF proof rests upon you to the con-
trary. For il is without doubt true
that aggregated, combined christian
ty could wipe this curse out Of any
community. And until we do it the
smell Of the fires which the match Of
the liquor traffic kindies will be on the
garments Of the church.
Most of the border counties OF Ohio
will vote in the second round OF local
option elections yet this year. Elec-
tions have already been called IN Law
renee, Gala, Meigs and Columbiana.
West Virginia is greatly interested in
the results of this second round of cleo
TORS. If these counties again reject the
saloon it will be great help to us in
our state wide campaign next year.
So far as we have been able to gather
information it looks like the counties
would 20 "dry" by an increased ma
jority.
NAMES GOVERNOR.