West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-04-01

friends say, In their efforts TO Great
the Impression that tho deficit I'm Wes
Virginia exists today because she IL
prohibition state. There arc reason
Tor the deficit that the state faces tc
day. We shall not refer 20 all OF then
nut To some of them. For tho flsca
year beginning July 1. 1912, the stat
board OF public works laid tho stat
levy at ono cent. Such lovy was 60
low to meet the demands that cam
upon the state I'm that fiscal year. no,
withstanding the state was coilectin
revenue from the liquor business
However. II ia to bo remembered tina
the great Kanawha Valley strike en-
tailed In tho state an unexpected OK
penditure OF over 100000 during tha
fiscal year. For tho fiscal year be
ginning July 1. 1913. the state boar,
OF public works laid the state levy a
six cents, although it had tho author
ity To lay II as high as ten. A six cen
| levy was not sufficient. notwithstand.
ing tho state was collecting revenue
/ from the liquor business. The board
or public works at the time of LAYING
the six cent levy, was not Informed of
the deficit existing AZ the close of thc
fiscal year June 30. 1913. An audit OF
the states affairs made pursuant to
the public accounting act. and filed
the Slst of December, 1914, disclosed
a
IN, condition OF the states affairs md
the deficits referred To and the approx
mate deficit that the state will face
June 30th next.
The people of the state knew, when
they voted to ratify the prohibition
amendment, that they were voting
away the revenue from tho liquor bus
mess IL Ia an insult TO their intelli-
gence to suggest turning again to the
liquor business for revenue. Thev
also know that with the growth and
advancement of the state came tho
natural Increase I'm state expenditures
Tor education, protection to tho work
ing man and those dependent upon
MN, and aid TO those by disease as af-
tecting not only themselves but the
public as well. And the people. when
they voted upon prohibition. expected
the legislature TO make necessary pro-
vision to meet the changed conditions
1t is not right. however, to consider
the question from monetary stand.
point. Men, not money, are the real
assets or n state. The happiness and
the general welfare of it's citizens ara
the first obligations OF the state. The
generation growing up In West yir-
ginia, It's future men and women. Will
grow into the fun stature of manhood
ana womanhood without knowing the
open saloon. having healthy bodies.
clear minds and clean morals, will be
worth more to the state than all the
material wealth. Such n generation
VIII be nm asset more to be desired
than gold, yea, even more than fIne
gold. Compare. If you can make such
comparison, the $3.50 OF annual reve-
nue. from the liquor business with n
generation of boys and girls, men and
women, that knows not the saloon.
Compare the s650,O00 OF revenue that
the state might receive from the IT.
quor business with the sum OF $I5.-
100000 that formerly went out OF the
state annually to purchase and bring
liquor into the state-for what DUR
pose? What good did Il do, when
brought here? What can be said for
1t? Did II really make for happiness
1t might have made somebody feel
good one day. but very bad the day
after. II brought crime, even to the
extent OF murder. II, more than any
other factor, is responsible for 1899
men, most of them young, being today
In the state penitentiary. IL, more
than any other factor. is respon-
sible for 225S being in the state asy-
lums today. The criminal court of
Mcdowell county. from it's creation
until after July 1st last, never had n
term without murder case on IT'S
docket. That court before the first OF
last July sent on an average OF 16 men
to the penitentiary every term. That
average, since July 1st last, has fallen
30 per cent. In the county OF Berke-
ley, since July 1st last, the grand
juries for two terms OF court returned
no MISUNDERSTANDING that had
not occurred in the prior history OF
the county.
Women and children are wearing
shoes this winter who never knew
shoes before; this winter women are
warmly clad who heretofore went I'm
thin and scanty garments
There are many others In the state
today who are clothed and in their
right minds because the temptation
OF strong drink has been removed.
The state hopes TO depopulate its pen
itentiary IT'S reformatorles, its asy-
lums, since 10 has done away with a
great cause Of crime and disease OF
mind and body; and, therefore. I re-
peat the state is not going book to the
liquor business; on the other hand. in
the language OF the command that
came to the Hebrew children by the
Red Sea. It will "go forward"
--ss--
In the case OF the Victor Talking
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