The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-24
THAT @ U PETITION.

THE liquor interests are certainly dying hard in West
Virginia. During the past few days a petition has
! been circulated in practically every city of any
consequence in the state asking that Governor Hatfield
call q special session OF the legislature to consider the
adyisability OF ordering a vote on an amendment to the
constitution OF the state authorizing the licensing Of sa-
looms in the state for the sale Of beer and wine only.
II Governor Hatfield wants to commit political suicide,
he viii listen to the silly statements Of the liquor inter-
ests and order the Legislature to convene in November
for a discussion of the observation-disclosures he Wall pass
up the petition without giving it a minutes constdera-
ton. We take it that the present chief executive OF the
state Is wise, enough to be unmoved by any fake petit
ton. He certainly knows, or at least should know, Just
how public sentiment stands on the liquor proposition
in this state. and it is not likely that Governor Hatfelo
will make any move at this time which would be in dt-
rect opposition Of the great majority Of the citizens OF
this state.
one year ago the people of West Virginia voted by
. vast majority to make the state dry, and after a year
without the saloons and their evil influence pubic
opinion on the liquor question remains the same as II
did at the time the vote was cast which sent the saloons
from the state. II there is any change at all since that
day on the part Of the public. it is towards an even more
stringent liquor law. The value OF prohibition has been
proved in West Virginia, and no effort on the part OF the
Honor interest within or without the state can change
public opinion in their favor.
The petition to the governor Of the state sets forth
that prohibition in West Virginia does not prohibit. This
Is an unauthorized lie and stands out so conspicuously
as such that It needs no answer, and may be passed
without consideration, being the rantiugs OF the dis
uuntled liquor dealers who have met their Waterloo in
west Virginia, and who see the handwriting on the wall
IN many other states. :
the "wets" also complain that the state has not been
improved either financially or morally under prohibition.
Ners silly twaddle. Statistics show land these statistics
have been published that the state Of West Virginia
Is better on both morally and financially since the state
went dry than It was before, and we await with interest
any statistics which the liquor dealers may have to the
contrary.
Another silly argument brought out in the petition
concerns the Virginia debt case. The state that with
this great debt hanging over the state, the interest on
which amounts to about $4,000 a day. steps should be
taken to secure all the revenue possible and that there
tore the saloons should be brought back and the license
money used to meet some OF the state obligations.
Better that the state go bankrupt; better that the
Yights of West Virginia be taken away in payment OF
The virginia debt than to have any or all OF the money
eaised through the sale of liquor in this state. West Fr-
siuia WIZ meet the Virginia debt Question as she has
met other problems in the past. and the state will not
he forced to bow to the liquor interests in meeting the
problem.
OF course, 1t was not to be expected that the liquor III
ferests would die without a fight; but there is no danger
Of their latest, stunt bringing any results. The people
AZ the state Of West Virginia decided the liquor ques'