Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-12-26
How Can The Members OF The Coun-
Nv Court Vote For Liquor LicenseF

ty Court vote FOr LiquoF LiSchSo'
Mr.. Editor see by the last issue OF
the Spirit of Jefferson that the town coun-
ellis of Charles Town and Harper's Ferry
have approved several applications Tor
liquor license, which will be heard before
the County Court of Jefferson county on
the first Monday in January next. |
would like little space in your valuable
paper to discuss the facts in regard to IL
cense question in this county, and to show
why our County Court, composed OF hon.
orable and upright citizens as it is. can
not and will not vote TO again open the
saloons in our fair county.
Nearly eighteen months ago the Coun-
ty Court OF Jefferson county. upon the
petition OF large number OF citizens OF
the county, refused to grantlicense to sell
liquor in the county. After that action
was taken and up until the early days OF
last November il was very loudly claim
ed that the action was contrary TO the
wishes of the majority OF the qualified
voters of the county. Why is it, Mr..
Editor, that we have ceased to hear that
claim put forth? As you are well aware,
if is because the voters at the last election
went to the polls in Jefferson county and
voted dry ION the direct issue by the
handsome majority OF 739.
AT the same election were elected two
members ofthe County Court who publicly
pledged themselves to abide by the will
of the majority in the matter, and both OF
them being gentlemen of high standing
and unimpeachabe character. they can
not 90 back on their pledged word OF
honor so expressed.
Mr.. Heflebower in his announcement
for the County Court said:
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
| ANNOUNCE MYSELF A CANDl-
DATE for County Commissioner for IA
bletown District, subject to the action OF
the Democratic Primary. BELIEVE
in REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERN
MENT AND MAJORITY RULE:
DANIEL HEFLEBOWER.
Feb. 20, 1912.
Mr.. Heflebower makes his position
perfectly plain. He evidently made a bid
for the support Of all fair minded people
regardless of their views on the license
question, and bound himself to vote as
the majority OF the voters of the county
might dictate whenever their preference
was expressed. HE IS TOOSTAUNCH
A CITIZEN and too much of a gentle
man of integrity TO go back on that, and
we do not think that he has any idea OF
doing so.
Mr.. Bernard J. Miles, who was elected
County Commissioner from Harper's
Ferry District, was even more definite in
his announcement than Mr.. Heflebower,
which we give, as follows:
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
hereby announce myself as candi-
date for County Commissioner for Har-
per's Ferry District, subject TO the action
of'the Democratic primary to be held May
I AM NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FAC
TON OR FACTIONS, and if the support
given me amounts to election, | promise
a business administration FOR THE PEG
PIE REGARDLESS OF DICTATES OF
THE FEW. am not prohibition can
didate NOR AM ! A LIQUOR CANDl-
DATE, AND WILL TREAT THE MAT
TER SUBJECT TO THE MAJORITY.
invite personal talks or correspondence
with my opponents as well as my sup
porters. | will appreciate your support.
BERNARD ]. MILES,
Harper's Ferry, w. Va.
May Ia. 1912.
As the 9th OF November last was the
only time that Jefferson county has voted
on the liquor license question directly
since way back in the seventies, and in
view of the handsome majority OF 739 in
favor of prohibition, Mr.. Miles is in hon.
or bound to vote against license, and he
is gentleman OF too much honor and re-
gard for his word to go back on public
pledge like that, and of course he will
not do il.
Why, of course, Mr.. Editor, neither of
these gentlemen will Stoop to dishonor
and lower themselves in the estimation
of the people of Jefferson by going back
on public pledge, and it is more of an
insult than anything else to their man
hood for these applications TO be sent up
to them when their attitude on the queS-
ton is matter OF record.
The other three members of the court
are fair-mnded men, and will not diSre-
gard the will OF the people of Jefferson
county on the question of saloons when
expressed in no uncertain terms by a
vote OF nearly two to one for the prohi
bition amendment at the last election.
Mr.. Editor, there is another point that
the members of the County Court should
consider well before voting for license.
On July |, 1914, the Prohibition Amend
ment will 60 into effect, and after that
date saloons will be barred in West Viz
ginia by constitutional provision. The
county has been dry for eighteen months,
the people have been prosperous, bust
ness has gone forward with an increased
volume, more building has been done
than ever before in the history OF the
county, and all conditions are being ad-
iusted to the new order OF things. 1t
would be a very bad move indeed to 60
back to the old conditions of saloons and
then have to change back to the condi-
tions as they are now in eighteen months,
upsetting business, ETC., now, and again
when the change is made back to dry
condition. There is no reason or logic
for the granting OF liquor license now,
and we feel sure that the County Court
will see ii that way and act accordingly
when they meet on the 9th of January