The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-19
WHAT WILL YOU TAKE
Do You Prefer a Dispensary
to a Bar I?
FAYETTEVILLE AROUSED
DELEGATIONS HERE FOR AND
AGAINST THE DISPENSARY.
kPiAN TO SUBMIT IT TO THE PEOPLE
The Advocates Ct a Dispsnsary Object to Let
ting 1900 Nsgroos Vote on the Prep.
oshion. against Principle Of
White SUPP macy.

Library in the capitol, when j. Frank
Ray, chairman of the Proposition and
Grievance Committee. called his com
mittee to order, the little room was
crowded, mostly With a Fayetteville del
egat.on, one part advocating the repeal
Of the dispensary law and the others adj
vocating its retention.
The discussion was pretty warm at
times and showed the division of SEN
timent about the dispensary in Cum
Lerland.
The discussion was opened by Mr..
Ray member OF the House from Cum
bcrland, who had introduced the bill
10 repeal the diSpensary. He made "A
rafting speech IN favor of repeal, say
ing many bright things.
we Scotch people," he said, like Il
drink now and then. We can buy at
S1.00 gallon in Richmond county.
while we have to pay $500 at the dis
pensary. ] Invent got a good drink of
common liquor since they put UP the
dispensary."
There has been more complaint about
schools since the new plan was inau-
gurated than ever before, notwith.
standing the claim that it gives large
sums TO the school fund. HE said that
though there are more white children
IN Quewhiifle township than negroes the
negroes got more than the whites.
This act was put upon us without tn
approval Of the people. Fayetteville is
losing trade. There are as many drunk
en- people in that town as ever. There
are open bar rooms in Raleigh, but /
haven't seen drunken man SINCE i
have been here" He then presented a
petition of 200 representative men asking
10 have the law repealed.
Mr.. Ray. chairman: What effect
on drunkenness?"
Mr.. Ray, of Cumberland: ''There
was never more than now"
Mr.. Robertson. of Cumberland: II
am opposed to the passage Of this bill.
| will offer q substitute to submit it to
the people, 1t was not an issue in.
the campaign. IL it had been made an
issue in the campaign, our ticket would
have beeen defeated. The people are
divided. The figures show that the
school revenues have been increased.
Some business men think it has helped
business, some think it has hurt business.
/ want to represent all the people and
| therefore shall move to submit it to
the people when l can draft bill. APP
parently the public drinking is less than
when saloons were open. When Till
man spoke at Fayetteville there were
5000 people and only one man was
drunk"
C'The dispensary was closed that
day." said Mr.. Rose.l
Mr.. d. ~ Oates: Il was a speaker
for the Democratic party i'll the last
campaign I declined to run for the
Legislature because my position on TEN
perance was so pronounced that il
hurt the party. There was no under
standing as to the dispensary being sub
United to the people" He read a letter
from ". w. HusEe. Democratic chair
man, stating thar there WAS IN under
standing whatever in the campaign us to
the d.spensary.
Senator Williams: During the cam
paign everybody was for the white man.
They were all willing to let whiskey
and the dispensary alone. They came to
me to know how we stood on the dis
pensary. Representative men of both
SIDES said to me that they wanted a
vote on the question. As far as a dis
pensary is connected. ! reckon it is a
good thing"
Mr.. Robertson: 1.-The dispensary
made $4,000 last year. divided between
the town and the county. The revenue is
now less than one half. "He wanted to
amend the act and submit if to the peo-
pie. He wanted to repeal the provision
that makes it possible TO provide sub
dispensary. He also wanted to authorize
Fayetteville to police the dispensary.
lie also suggested other changes to
improve the law.
Hon. George NJ. Rose: Il represent
the anti-dispensary interests. We are
willing 20 leave the matter to vote
Of the people"
Mr. Oates: "Mr Robertson is trying
TO dodge the issue"
Mr.. Robertson: II insist that / shall
be treated with respect. 1 am trying
to dodge nothing
DR.. Mcneil: "Mr Robertson is adj
yocating submitting the question to the
reople-not TO the white people. Yes
terday he secured a high license law
without submitting it to the people
Ex-senator MCLAUGHLIN: II think
Mr. Robertson is a friend of the Dis
nensary with his hands tied. He wants
to leave II to the people. But if we
submit this matter to the people. the
negroes will be appealed to and the ne
gro element can be bought for a bar
rel Of whiskey.
1T is not safe to put any community
under the control of the negroes.
y was opposed to some of the methods
used to get the dispepsarv. but it has
nroven a blessing TO Cumberland coun-
ty. Most Of the leading men saw there
IS loss drunkenness in Fayetteville and
in the county. One of the leading cot
ION huycrs told me that more cotton
had been hronoht in Fayetteville than
ever hefore-this is true sign of prog
ress in orr Southern towns. Property
has advanced in FAYETTEVILLE in price in
spite Of low prices Of crops.
"Tnder the disnensary any nan who
reeds whskev con get It Mt the orou
door Tho disnensary has helnod The
morals of the voung. About $4,000 more
hes been paid in taxes th.s wear than
whom the bar rooms took the neonle's
money. The interests of the women and
children ought TO be considered There