The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-17

have found that no whiskey can De
bought in West Virginia. That It is
as impossible for bis boo'legRer to
use the railroad stations in that
State to procure supplies as It seems
to be for him to look around MIN
before placing such libel on the
good county of Bath.
Had he consulted the officers OF
the temperance forces he would have
found that our vigorous Common
wealth's Attorney is the chief force
for temperance In this section. Had
ne but consulted the Office of the
state Treasurer he would have found
that Bath County has three licensed
places for the sale of liquor, and,
therefore, no need for bootleggers.
Had he ever been guest at any of
the large hotels at Hot Springs he
would know that its quests have no
need to buy from bootleggers and
speakeasies, as these hotels have IL
censed bars
The Real Situation.
This article grows out of state
of affairs for which Bath County is
in no wise responsible. West Vir-
ginia is a dry State. and has been
so since July /, 1914. No liquor
can be bought in that State legally.
None can be shipped into 1t. except
under most rigid conditions. The re-
suit is that our West Virginia peo-
pie. finding Hot Springs which is
only eighteen miles from the State
line. a convenient point to which they
can have liquor shipped: have 1t
shipped to them here. and come here
in automobiles, get 1t from the ex-
press ONCE and haul It back into
West Virginia There are. as stated
above, three licensed places here,
People who wish TO buy in such
quantities as can be legally sold here
come here and buy from these deal
ers. Most frequently these purchas-
ers come in cars, and doubtless carry
jugs and TASKS. or whatever other
receptacle is allowable. These they
carry in their cars over the State
line into West Virginia. What boz
comes of 1t there is thing with
which the Bath County officiais. or
the Virginia officials, are not con-
cerned. Whether they bootleg or
not. is unknown here. There Is
nothing in this which violates our
Virginia law. so long as these men
behave in Virginia. which warrants
our Virginia officers ! interfering
with them.
Few Illegal Sales In Bath.
$50 far as Illegal sales in Bath are
concerned, so far as the most Wig
orous investigations. conducted by the
commemorative Attorney twho. as
alb We stated. Is a most ardent tenn
perance advocate). have disclosed.
there have in the last five years been
but three persons who have made Il
legal sales One was a distiller in
the extreme eastern part of the coun-
ty. He was indicted in several cases
heavily fined. and driven out Of the
county. Another was a man from
Kentucky. who made one or two
small sales He was indicted and fed
from the state One was a negro
woman, who was convicted at the
last term of court.
TT there have been other viola.
tons the authorities would gladly
welcome any proof. or traces leading
to proof. They, as well as all of
our people are opposed to any viola
ton of liquor or other laws.
"Our officers and citizens are JUST
~ indignant on account OF the above
name Of our county. We trust that
as wide publicity will be given TO the
above statement Of the true facts a.
has been given to the false state
ments referred to above.
wv. HOWARD McCLINTTC.
Justice of Peace, Hot Springs. Va.
wv. F. CHALLENDAR,
Justice OF Peace. Hot Springs. Va
IT. w. HARPER.
Cashier Bath County National Bank.
Hot Springs Va.
~. r. LOWMAN.
Postmaster. Hot Springs. Va.
az T. McALLISTER,
Lawyer. Hot Springs, Va"