The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-08
BIG DELEGATIONS
FOR AND AGAINST
MADE THINGS LIVELY FOR TWO
HOURS YESTERDAY.
MATTERWllL NOT BE SUBMITTED TO VOTE
OF The People Of Cumberland. All Three of the
Legislators and All County Officers
Opposed the DiSpedsary


before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The committee decided to recommend
the bill as it came over from the House,
(which does not leave the matter to a
vote of the people.
Both sides were represented by large
delegations, and the advocates and OPP
ponents of the dispensary filled the Sen
ate chamber comfortably. Both sides
were ardent in their views and accentu-
ated their approval with applause, and
once or twice their disapproval by misses
1t could scarcely be said that the entire
proceedings were marked with the ut
most harmony, though the personalities,
so far as INDUCED in, We're in the main
rather good humored.
Leading citizens of Fayetteville ap-
pearcd for and against the dspensary
law and apparently in Fayetteville, as in
South Carolina. the good people are by
no means agreed as to whether the dis
pensary is a blessing or the contrary.
The opponents of the dispensary took
the position that the Democratic party
in Cumberland county was pledged to
submit the question to a popular vote.
and that the county Democratic organi-
zation favored that course, which. it was
argued was in accordance with the
Democratic doctrine of home-rulc.
The advocates of the dispensary
claimed that the negro vote of the
county would hold the balance of power
and would vote sOlidly for bar-rOoms.
and stated that the dispensary had in
creased business and decreased crime.
Representative Robinson, of Cumber-
land county, again appeared and stated
hi mis-
sentation." EIe favored submitting the
question to a vote of the people of the
county.
Mr.. George NJ. Rose presented petit
ton which he said was signed by LOO
Democratic voters asking that the ques
ton of dispensary or no dispensary be-
submitted to a vote of the people.
h Capt j. W. Mcneil presented a petit
ton which he stated was signed by LOST
people, 1900 of them being voters. ask
ing that the dispensary be maintained.
Major Hale stated that he was present
in behalf of the Democratic organization,
and that the most distinguished citizens
of Fayetteville appeared with him. lie
read a brief asking that the action Of
the House be reconsidered, and urging
that the action had been taken without
all the facts before it. The brief was
L signed by Major Hale as a member of
the Democratic State Executive Com
mittee, and by all the county officers ex-
ccpt the treasurer. who signed one of
the petitions, and by Mr. w. w. Huske.
chairman of the county Democratic
committee. \ letter was read from
Chairman MdRae, of the Fayetteville
township committee. asking that the dis
pensary be left TO Il vote of the people.
Senator Williams said that he had
been informed before the election by adj
vocates and opponents of the dispensary
that it would be satisfactory to have
the measure voted on. He favored that
course and offered as a substitute for
the House bill bill carrying that pro-
vision.
Capt. Mcneil said the dispensary was
not an issue in the campaign. If any
pledges had been made they were purely
personal and without the onsent of the
party organization. Senator Williams
objected to the remark and said what
he had done had been for the success
of the party; he had accepted the nomi-
nation under protest.
Capt. Mcneil disclaimed any inten-
ton to reflect on the Senator. He stat
ed that of the twenty-five Democrats in
the dispensary. 1t was no Republican
measure.
Mr.. S. +. Newton, speaking for the
dispensary, said he had heard of no
pledges. At this point he was interrupt
ed and Senator Mcintyre, of the commit
tee, arose and objected to Interruptions
and personalities.
Continuing, Mr. Newton said that he
was surprised that an election should be
asked for on the dispensary when the
negro would cast the controlling vote. |
He was sorry to see such ardent advO- |
Gates of white supremacy as Maj. Hale |
and Mr.. Rose taking II position to leave
it to vote, when the negroes held the |
balance Of power.
Mr.. w. w. Huske said that he thought |
the party bound to submit the question
to n vote of the people; otherwise he
thought it would disrupt the party. He |
would vote for the dispensary, but he |
believed in keeping party promises.
Mr.. Tillinghast said that every white
man had put his shoulder to the wheel |
He thought the question should be left |
to the people.
Mr.. j. w. McGlothlin said that he |
was a Democrat; he believed in white
supremacy, and therefore he Vka6nuRppos- |
ed to submitting the question - vote |
when the negro controlled. If the meas |
ure was a good one it should not be re-
.pealed merely because il was n Repub- |
lican measure.
Mr.. Rose said the question was. ''Had |
pledges been made and were they bind |
ing on the party?" He declared that |
the men present for the dispcnsary were
Prohibitionists before they were Demo |
Gratis. Il
Mr.. McGlothlin was a good Democrat, |
but lived twenty miles from Fayetteville, |
and knew nothing of the workings of the |
dispensary. The men who opposed the |
dispensary were the taxpayers of tn"
county, and the bone and sinew Of the |
Democratic party. He declared that the |