Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-01-02
The County Court and the Salon
(Connunicated.l

Inc county Court and the Sal00n.
(COmmunicated.)
The Prohibition Amendment which
was ratified by the people most over
whelmingly on November 9th, provides
for the closing of all saloons July LIST.
1914. The date was fixed at this time
for the express purpose of being fair to
the liquor traffic, and was intended to
give those in business proper time to
get our of the business, and was not in
tended to give those out of the business
occasion TO get into the business. The
walls of the liquor men themselves sug-
gested the date, it was fixed in good
faith, and was an attempt to be fair.
Now come the liquor men of Harpers
Ferry and Charles Town, asking for
license in the face of 1000 majority
for the amendment, and dry majority
of 739 in their own county. A PROPOSE
ton which was asked for to aid men in
getting out of business is to be used to
put men into business. That which was
asked in fairness is to be used in I'M
fairness.
License Laws Already Repealed.
Some of the ablest lawyers in. West
Virginia contend that the licensing laws
of this State with regard to intoxicat-
ing liquors are now repealed, since the
Constitutional Amendment automati-
cally repeats all statutes in conflict with
it. Practically all lawyers agree that
the amendment is now in effect as a
part Of the Constitution, although that
prohibition is not, infbrce until July LIST,
1914, and the contention of the lawyers
is that, being in effect, the liquor Ii
censing statutes are now abrogated and
that there is no power remaining under
which license can be granted. If this
contention is good law, land it is backed
by some able legal minds.) there is no
power to grant licenses in Jefferson
County at the present time, nor is there
any power to renew licenses anywhere
in the State in June; and all Of the sa-
looms in the State must close on July 1st,
1913.
May Close All Saloons Now
Having drawn the amendment in good
faith, the temperance forces are not
inclined to rush into court to break
faith upon a mere technicality IT.,
however, the liquor forces, or any Sec
ton of them, attempt to take an un.
fair advantage of the offered fairness,
that act would absolve the temperance
forces and leave them free to enter suit
against the Jefferson County action.
with the possibility of closing all the
saloons in the State, or asking the Leg
islature to do so.
! Means County Law Suits.
The attempted action of the Jefferson
County fquorites may bring expense
and litigation to Jefferson County, pro-
vided the temperance people of Jeffer-
son County see fit to fight it in that
way; and. Judging the future by the
past, they will use every means in their
power. In view of these facts, and the
possibilities of the situation, would any
member of the Jefferson County Cou,
be justified in voting for license which
might mean litigation for Jefferson
County and expense for the taxpayers?
Are the liquor men themselves wise in
asking for that which, by adding ex-
pense to Jefferson County. will put
them in bad with their own citizens, and
by jeopardizing the license of every
saloonist in the State will put them in
bad with their own crowd
Campaign Statements.
There is one other angle 10 this ques-
toni lees the incoming new mem
bers of the County Court should vote
for these licenses the liquor men could
not hope to obtain them. 1nasmuch as
one member made his campaign on the
ground that his actions upon the license
question would be entirely in accord
with the vote of the people upon that
question on the 9Th of November; and
since the people on the 9Th of Novem-
Der by more than 700 majority repu-
dated the saloon for jefferson county.
the licenses can only be granted by a
breach of faith On the part of that
member, or of some former member
who has previously been dry. Such q
breach of faith would forever leopard
ize that member politically, socially,
and in all probability in business way
What right have the liquor men to lay
this burden upon one of their fellow
citizens
VETS May Be Dry
Looking at it from the standpoint of
the Commissioners who have hitherto
voted wet, until the present time, there
has been no infallible wav of knowing