The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-24

forced out OF II by prohibition. and
who is now engaged in the liquor
business in Kentucky. made the state
'ment, that the liquor people outside
of West Virginia could well AFFORD
to spend a million dollars TO. break
down the prohibitory law OF this state.
The liquor interests have aIready
spent a large sum of money in an
effort to do. So. Included in such Sex-
penditure is the employment of the
ablest lawyers whose services could
be had to prosecute proceedings and
defences in the courts of this state,
including the federal. and in the fed
eral courts outside OF the state. in
efforts to break through and destroy
the states prohibitory laws.
Revenue.
THE liquor people. purposely. and
some who are not In the liquor bust
ness. unadvisedly. endeavor TO create
the impression that West Virginia
hibits the manufacture and sale OF
intoxicating liquors. The Rppropria-
ton for all purposes of the state.
payable out OF the general revenue.
for the next biennial period. including
over $4,000 10 aid the local public
schools. aggregates S2.600,000 annu-
ally. The state has present deficit
and will have a deficit OF approx
mately 100000 on June 80 next-the
end OF the present fiscal year. II is
also true. however. that the state had
a deficit of S35O.00O on June 80. 1914.
notwithstanding that in the fiscal year
then ending. the state had collected
license money from those engaged in
the liquor business. Back of this,
however the state had a deficit of
$4SO,0O0 on June 80. 1913-notwith
standing in the fiscal year then ending
the state collected as much revenue
from the liquor business as in any
year that the state collected such
revenue. Now. inasmuch as we had
deficits for two succeeding years be-
fore prohibition came into effect. what
shall the liquor people say. and their
friends say. in their efforts to create
the impression that the deficit in West
Virginia exists today because she is
prohibition state. There are reasons
Tor the deficit that the state faces to.
day. We shall not refer TO all OF
them. but to some OF them. For the
fiscal year beginning July |, 1912. the
state board OF public works laid the
state levy at one cent. Such levy
was too low 10 meet the edmands that
came upon The state In that fiscal year.
notwithstanding the state was collect
ing revenue from the liquor business.
However, II is to be remembered that
the great Kanawha Valley strike en-
tailed in the state an unexpected eX-
penditure OF over 100000 during that
fiscal year. For the fiscal year be-
ginning July l, 1913, the state board
OF public works laid the state levy
ut six cents. although il had the au-
thority 10 lay il as high as ten. A,
six-cent levy was not sufficient. not
withstanding the state was collecting
revenue from the liquor business. The
board of public works at the time of
laying the six.cent levy, was not in
formed OF the deficit existing at the
close of the fiscal year, June so, 1913.
An audit of the states affairs, made
pursuant to the public accounting act,
and filed the 3Ist of December, 1914,
disclosed the condition OF the states
affairs and the deficits referred 10
and the approximate deficit that the
state will face June 80. next.
Knew the Effect.
The people OF the state knew, when
they voted 10 ratify the prohibition
amendment, that they were voting
away the revenue from the liquor bust
ness. 1t is an insult to their intelli-
gence to suggest turning again to the
liquor business for revenue. They
also know that with the growth and
advancement of the state came the
natural increase in state eXpeditures
for education, protection to the work
ing man and those dependent upon
him, and aid to those by disease as
affecting 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.
st is not right, however, TO con-
slider the question from a monetary
standpoint. Men, not money. are the
real assets OF a state. The happiness
and the general welfare OF its citizens
are the first obligations OF the state.
The generation growing up in West
Virginia, its future men and women,
will grow into the full stature of man
hood and womanhood without know
ing the open saloon, having healthy
bodies, clear minds and clean morals,
will be worth more to the state than
all the material wealth. Such a gen.
Grafton will be an asset more to be
desired than gold, yea. even more
than fine gold. Compare, If You can
make such comparison, the S6o0.0OO
of annual revenue from the liquor
business with a generation OF boys
and girls, men and women, that knows
not the saloon. Compare the $650,000
OF revenue that the state might re-
ceive from the liquor business with
the sum of s15,000.000 that formerly
went out of the state annually to pur-
chase and bring liquor into the state
for what purpose? What good did
be said for it? Did it really make for