The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-11

last legislature, and who is again a
candidate for reelection to the same
office, for being absent and not vot-
ing when the vote was taken UPON
THE PROHIBITION. (YosT) LAW,
THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WAS BEFORE
THE LEGISLATURE FOR CoNsID-
GRAFTON DURING HIS TERM OF
OFFICE"
There is not one word said in the
platform in this connection about
the "submfssions of the prohibition
amendment" The prohibition law
Is the Yost bill and the records of the
House OF Delegates, show that Mr..
Shaver was "absent and not voting
when that law was passed. Certain
ly a representatives vote on a bill or
HIS action on public questions is
a subject ofllegitimate discussion by
the voters or any political party. 1t
Is not descending to the low level Of
personal abuse" to use a public Of
ficial's name in connection with his
record on apublic questions.
The Republicans have no desire to
misrepresent Mr.. Shaver on any of
his acts at the legislature and most
certainly the West virginian has no
such desire, and II we ever misquote
him at any time and lie will show us
our error we will be fair enough with
him to give as much publicity to a
correction of any incorrect statement
that might unintentionally be made,
as We do the original statement.
Tho Journal of the House of Del
cgates of February Sd, 1918, on
pages 301 and 302 contains the rec
ord of the first consideration of the
prohibition law referred to in the Re-
publican platform, and commonly
known as the Yost bill. as follows:
Mr.. Yost moved that the rules be
suspended and that House Bill No. s
"a bill to prohibit the manufacture.
sale and keeping for sale, of matt,
yinous or spurious liquors, wine, por-
tor, ale. beer, or any Intoxicating
drink, mixture or preparation of like
nature; and to enforce the amend
ment of section 46 of article six, of
the state constitution, ratified on the
fifth day of November. 1912; and
creating the office of State Commits
sioner OF Prohibition, providing for
the appointment of such commission
or, fixing his compensation and de-
filming his duties; and providing for
the enforcement Of this act and pre-
scribing penalties for violation
thereof"
On first reading, be taken up out
of its order for consideration. On
that motion Mt. Wetzel demanded
the ayes and noes. The demand be-
ing sustained, they were ordered and
taken as follows: Here the eyes and
noes are recorded and the journal
shows ABSENT AND NOT VOTING:
Messrs. Arnett, Bannister, Bloch, Ell
SON, Gray, scherr and SHAVER.
On February z Mr.. Scherr offered
an amendment to the bill exempting
clubs, societies. and social organiza-
lions and page AIS of the, House Jour
nal shows the following members
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Messrs.
Bumgarner, Crislip, Elson, Harmon,
iSHAvER, Shears and Wolf. 'a
J On the passage of the bill which
came up on February IL, 1913, the
Journal on page $40 shows the fol-
lowing: ABSENT AND NOT .VoT-
ING: Messrs. Asbusy, Crislip, DowI-
ling, Ducff (of Jackson), Glenn, Gray
Harmon, Hays (of Gilmer), Hill, Rcy-
nolds. Shaffer, SHAVER, Smith (oi
Doddridge). and Wolfe.
The most important blow at this
bill was the amendment exempting
clubs, and Mr.. Shaver certainly was
not very strongly opposed to the cx-
emption Of clubs or he would have
been present and voted against It,
This amendment would have virtual.
lyf Killed the bill had 1t been passed.
While the Times claims that Mr..
Shaver did vote for the submission OF
the amendment to vote Of the poo.
pic, and which we have never denied
nor stated to the contrary, he Ger.
tainly was disappointed in the yer.
dict of the people which registered q
majority against the liquor traffic Of
$4,000. Ifhe was very greatly inter.
ested in their verdict could he moi
have done as Mr.. Ice, voted for the
Yost bill?
The adoption of the amendment
without a law supporting it would
have been of no value to the people
The people certainly have right tc
know how their representatives voted
on these measures and II they were
absent and not voting they have q
right to inquire, why?
On the roads bond sale the plat.
form says, I'VE further censnre and
condemn the county court for selling
the good roads bonds forless than pal
value in violation of law -
There is not one word said In the
platform about what the road fund
received for fine 4hnndal T,hie Mat.