Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-01-09
County Court Grants Liquor License.

At an extraordinary session of the Jef-
ferson County Court held in Charles Town
last Monday the court granted licenses
for liquor saloons in Charles Town and
Harper's Ferry. This action was taken
in the face of the most earnest and united
opposition, we venture to say, that has
ever been given public expression by the
citizenship of Jefferson county. Three
thousand petitioners prayed the court to
reject the applications for license. The
courthouse was packed with protestants
men and women-farmers, business
and professional men, clergymen. teach
ers, representing Enthusiastically the best
citizenship OF the county.
The protestants were ably represented
by Hon. Frank Beckwith and Mr.. Frank
L. Bushong. They presented their ar
guments against the granting OF licenses
in the clearest and most forcible terms,
and were sustained by brief addresses on
the same subject by Col. R. P. Chew,
Rev. H. NJ. Moffett. Bishop w. L. Gravatt,
Rev. ]. w. Ware, Rev. c. Sydenstrlcker,
Prof. H. P. Mcdonald and others. The
facts and the logical arguments presented
by these gentlemen were absolutely un-
answerable, and no person of fair and
open mind could have been uninfluenced
by them. COL Forrest w. Brown repre-
scented the whiskey people, but he had
little to say, apparently being satisfied as
TO what the action of the courl would be.
After hearing the arguments in the case,
the court adjourned until afternoon, re-
assembling in an hour or two and announc-
ing its decision.
The decision was in favor OF whlskey
saloons. John c. Burns, Daniel Hefle-
bower and Bernard J. Miles voted for
license, while n. K. Roberts and n. I.
Snyder were against the proposition.
The decision was received with silent
disapproval on the part Of the large au-
dience, except that few negroes in the
gallery gave expression 10 their iubilation.
While the result was disappointing, It
was not entirely unexpected. Mr. Miles,
il was known, was tied hand and loot by
the whiskey people, and though he had
publicly announced that he would abide
by the wishes OF the majority, and had
declared in print that he was not a liquor
candidate, the saloon-keeperS OF Harper's
Ferry had death grip upon him. Mr..
Burns has always voted wet, but it was
hoped that he would not resist the ire
mendous public sentiment that was so
Enthusiastically manifested. II was vain
hope, however for he also tailed to con-
slider the wishes ofthe people. Mr.. Hell
Iebower, when he was candidate, had
published card in which he said, 81 be-
lleve in a republican form OF government
and majority rule" Although it was
shown that by majority OF 739 this coun-
ty had voted against liquor saloons, with
a majority OF more than $1,000 in the
State for prohibition, and though 1900
residents OF the county had petitioned the
court against issuing licenses, Mir. Hef-
lebower went squarelY back on his pledg-
ed word and voted to inflict the nulSances
upon the public again.
We have never known such wide
spread indignation OF the people and such
universal condemnation OF the action Of
our commissioners. 1t is regarded as
outrageous that they should defy public
sentiment as they have done and pander
to such disgraceful and degraded influ
ence. That a body that has always been
respected by the people OF the county
should see fit to forfeit this respect is IT,
deed unfortunate, and good citizens
deeply regret the situation.
All honor TO Commissioners Roberts
and Snyder for their conscientious and
manly attitude on this question.
Licenses were granted 10 J. r. Hamil-
ton at the Palm Hotel, Henry Miller, W. B.
Alder and Geo. w. Thomas, in Charles
Town, and T. NJ. Conner at the Conner
Hotel, T. J. Burleigh and Shepherd CD
trell at Harper's Ferry.