The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-26
w. G. T. U. COLUMN.
sIsTERsvILLE CLEANS HoUs
The Boss and His Gang Route,
Horse and Foot.

The Boss and His Gang Routed
Horse and Foot.
For years the municipal govern
ment of. Sistersville has been abso-
lptely Boss ridden Saloon keepers
and gamblers have exploited the city
after their own sweet will. Their
hfgh-handed outrages were OF such
nature as to terrorize the citizens.
Fear Of personal assault and des-
truction Of property SO preyed upon
the minds of the decent people OF
the town that they feared to lift
hand or voice in an effort to break
the tyrannical rule OF these human
vultures.
Sistersville has charter that gives
the council exclusive right to grant
liquor license. The council was
owned and controlled by the gang.
The license OF the principal saloon.
known as the big Store" had been
taken out in the name OF dead
man for years. The license Of the
next largest bar in the city was in
the name OF nonresident, upon
whom service could not be secured.
These places paid no attention to
law, and ran their business accord
| ing to the ideas and plans OF the
lowners
| Preachers Start the Fight.
A year ago the preachers OF the
city opened fire from their pulpits
upon the gang and gang methods.
This speedily bore fruit in the or
ganiZation of Law and Order
League. The League proceeded to
enforce the law by securing indict-
ments innumerable times The only
result Of this effort was to compel
the licenses to be issued in the name
OF the living and resident citizens.
Further Attempts at Reform.
At the late municipal election the
citizens of the reform movement
had ticket in the field. The gang
conducted the election. All COM
missioners and clerks were appoint
ed by the council. which the gang
controlled. After the polls closed
all members OF the Reform Party
were excluded from the room, the
commissioners locked themselves in
and proceeded to determine who
was elected. Rev. Shultz, pastor OF
the Methodist Church, and Mr.. gu
ter. teller OF local bank, and men,
beers OF the reform party insisted on
remaining to see that the Reform
Party got fair deal They were
ARRESTED and thrown into Jail
i Counted Out.
The election com missioners, all
appointed by the gang, counted the
votes to suit themselves They re-
ported that Loughney, gang candi-
date for mayor, received 32T votes
and Kimball, reform candidate, re-
ceived 222. electing Loughney by a
majority OF los. The Reformers al
once called mass meeting to pro.
test against this high handed rob-
berry. This meeting was attended
bv over 400 men. Over 300 signed
affidayts that they had voted the
iCitizens Ticket. This tremendously
! earnest protest 80 filled the gang
with fear that many have fed the
city. All OF the officials reportei
to have been elected have resigned
At this writing it seems certain thai
the Reform Ticket will be declared
elected.
i sistersviile VIII Go Dry.
i While this whole movement wal
started for the purpose of compel.
ing the saloon keepers of Sisters
willie to obey the law. It now seems
to be reasonably certain that the
incoming administration will refuse
liquor license, and Sistersville and
Tyler county will join the rapidly in.
creasing majority of dry counties Iii
the State. The whole matter proves
the futility of attempting to regn-
lac the liquor business The only
way to get the saloon out Of poll
tics. either local or State, is TO pro.
hibit 1t entirely. As usual the II
auor traffic is Fastening its own ex
Termination. THE Devil, is an Ass. ;