Dry Notes (on beer joints) – December 27, 1951

All through the years I have fussed and fumed about the licensing of beer joints in countries and towns by a State Commission down in Charleston far removed from the place of operation. This is certainly infringement upon local self-government. County Courts and City Councils should have the power to refuse or to grant or annul licenses, and to generally supervise. To begin with about the only restrictions as to location is not nearer than 300 feet of a church or school – measured from front door to front door. If the joints become unbearable nuisances, complaint is made to the far away Commission. Incidentally, I notice in the published reports of licenses withdrawn, a common cause is bootlegging – in direct competition with State liquor Stores.

All this is leading up to say that the Echo paper of Moundsville recently took a poll of the citizens on the question of allowing people within 300 feet of a proposed beer joint to vote for or against it. The vote was 1,047 for the privilege of voting for or against the joint; and 45 against such privilege.

Of the 1,112 Moundsville citizens voting in the poll, 18 voted for liquor by the drink, 10 voted for both the present law and liquor by the drink, while 1,075 voted for total prohibition.