The news & observer., 1901-03-06
FIGHTING ON NEW LINES
But the Dispensary Forces Again
Win the Day.
He CoMNITTtESvoT WAS SIX TO FOUR
Rerew dAgtat' on Born cf 'Arger ard Passion
Declares Member ''flabbsrgas'ea"
Con ii.ion of a Senator O,s-
crbed VvdIy.


the liquor question from Fayetteville
'bobbed up sercnely' once again in the
House Committee on Propositions and
Grievances yesterday afternoon. 1t has
that liquor problem from Cumberland
This afternoon it came up with prohibi-
ton dress on. as is here narrated.
Early in the session bill prohibiting
the manufacture and sale Of liquor in
Cumberland county was introduced This
bill provided that all OF Cumberland eX-
cept interpretations of more than 1000
people be made prohibition territory.
Since the defeat of the forces which
sought to legislate the dispensary out Of
Fayetteville an amendment has been
made to the bill, striking out the section
exempting towns of 2,OCO or more popu-
lation from the provisions of the bill, the
purpose being to close mp the dispensary
in Fayetteville. The movement was put
on foot b. the parties who had fought to
legsate the dispepsary out of existence,
and who were understood to favor the
open bar rather than the open dispen-
4 sarv.
| Representative L. r. McKethau. or
Cumberland, first addressed the commit
tee. lie said that as Bladen, Sampson
| Robeson. Duplin, Pender and other coun-
tics had been made dry counties: that
unless Cumberland was also put in the
same list his county would he the dump
ing ground for stills from tho surround
ing counties. That though he had earn
Cstly advocated the repeal of the dispcn-
sary law for Fayetteville, while exempt
ing it from the prohibition law, he now
asked tho committee to make Fayette
vile an absolutely dry town. Il am for
i temperance" exclaimed Capt. McKethan,
and so l now sec chance to get prohibit
tion for Fayetteville, | am going to work
for it,
In answer to questions from Judge
Graham OF the committee Capt. Nc
Kethan said that it was true that the
delegation who came 10 Raleigh as an
antl-dispenaary delegation was now lead
ing the fight for prohibition but that he
knew nothing Of bill for prohibition in
Fayetteville having been anlogonized by
Senator Mcneil in the Senate. Just here
Representative Hail. of Cumberland, who
has been opposed to tho position Of his
colleagues from Fayetteville on tho dis
pensary question. said: MIR. McKethan,
did YOU not ask in tho House that bill
providing for prohibition in Fayetteville
be voted down."
Yes" was tho reply OF Capt. Nc
Kcthan. but that was before had heard
from tho people of Fayetteville that thcy
wanted prohibition"
Mr.. J. II. Currie, of Fayetteville. spoke
ncXt He made warm speech. full OF
eloquence aud vim that drew a still larg
or crowd TO the Supreme Court Library.
He expressed surprise hat the question
of reversing the decision Of the House on
the dispcnsary matter should even be
considered. That twice victory had come
once in an unfavorablc committee report
TO repeal the existing law and once by n
decisive aioritv Of the same tenor in
he House. He plead that the matter be
left to Cumberland county to settle two
years hence. He hinted that the man
now crying for prohibition we're Greeks
bearing gifts and he feared them cspo-
cial1y when he saw what strange bod
fellows this liquor fight had made" It
was sight" he declared, Ito see bar
room men rushing about carrying petit
tions for prohibition.
In reference to the support given Scna-
tor McNeils opposition in the Senate he
cried out, Strange Senatorial courtesy.
that does not decide a matter on its
merits and the wishes of the people,"
MIR. Currie concluded by asking what
"AabbePga5tcd" meant. 1t was neg
word to him. he said. but he had seen
the condition of the Senator from Cum
bcrland thus described in paper after
the anti-dispensary forces had been
! f,l L.
it to mean the condition reached when
Senatorial courtesy" failed and merit
came out ahead.
After remarks from Representative
Stewart of Harnott, Representative Hall
spoke briefly, saying he opposed the
amendment. as he had not been instruct
cd by his people on 1t, and while he fa-
vored prohibition for Cumberland so that
ii might not be dumping ground for
liquor. he stood for the measure his pco-
pie had asked for. and this was the dis
pensary Following him Capt. McKethan
again urged favorable report on his
amendment.
Iic said that he knew the ladies aud
children who were said to have signed the
petitions, and that they were not for the
dispensary as against prohibition; that
they were opposed to the liquor traffic in
any form, and certainly TO the dispensary
IT there was any chance for prohibition.
That tho whiskcy sold there was the
same as that sold elsewhere and the same
III effect and that the sales last year
amounted to over fifty thousand dollars,
and that he knew that they did not ad-
Vocate 1T; nor could he believe it of the
ministers and others in large numbers
VINO mad signed for the dispensary think
ing lhat IT was step towards prohibition.
lie SAID that he was no longer bound, and
mat nc was glad of it, and that he was
siad TO be able to stand now and cham
elon the cause of the good women and
children Of Cumberland
Atter an expression from several mem.