The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-01
THE TENT BOOK BOARD.
Meets and Draws up Advertisements
for ubli School Bookshelf Contest
in Committee Over Repeal OF Fayette-
vile Dispensary Bill.
Especial 10 The Messenper1

Especial 10 Ihe M~eSsenger.)
Raleigh. February 25.-The board OF
education, ex-officio text book board met
In the governors office this evening and
prepared advertisements TO school book
publishers 70 submit bid on or before
March 26th for furnishing one or more
OF ten school books provided for in the
text book law recently enacted.
Ihe governor requested members
present to recommend teachers TO COM
pose the sub-commisslon 10 select
school books.
The advertisements require hat ten
samples Of each book bid on be for
warded with the bids for the use of the
subcommittee in passing on their
merits. The governor appoints a sub
commission of not less han five nor
more than ten for this purpose.
The joint committee on propositions
grievances heard a great and long
discussion this evening on Mr.. McNeII's
Dill 10 abolish the dispensary at Fay
ettevllle. Over fifty delegates, for and
against, were present from Fayetteville.
Mr.. McNeiil said a white primary had
been held in Cumberland and by a vote
w ~ Il N Aae AGDtd& vi lIE dlS
pensary law He asked a favorable
epo from the committee.
Mr. Mckethan said he was elected by
the highest majority ever given and 1t
was well known he favored the dis
pensary. but he always favored the
white primary. Mr.. Mcneil a vote Of
the qualified voters: afterwards Mr..
Mcneil consented TO a white primary
and signed agreement to that effect.
he saId: If my friends and the friends
OF the d~ispensary stood aside at the
prlmary INC allowed US to be elaugh-
tered, the burden must rest upon them.
L shall abide by the result of the pri-
mary"
Speeches in opposition to repeal were
made by Messrs. Oats, Currie. and Il.
V. Newton, superintendent of schools.
The last said abolishing the ~dispensary
meant taking one month each year OF
school from the children of the county.
Mr.. Currie showed petitions from the
mayor and city officials from l.649
white voters. and 1.14s ladies. all the
pastors and teachers of the city AMI
county against the repeal.
lay Cook said he had been MAYOR
eight years and his court record show
ed a falling off OF 80 per cent. In crime
since the ~dispensary was established
and a revenue of 81 900 against s., 003.
Mr.. Currie said only 900 men at the
primary voted for repeal. The friends OF
the dispensary abstained from voting.
claiming their right TO petition, they
got sick Of primaries in the senatorial
fight.
Mr.. ]. N Lamb said he lived under
barrooms In Fayetteville twenty-five
years and followed their finished work
repeatedly to Cross Greek cemetery.
There was wonderful Improvement in
order since the d~ispensary. and boys
were safe from barroom influence.
Representative Hall said the primary
was not legal and he should not be
governed by 10. as he had no part in
calling II. He urged the committee to
listen to the petitions and refuse to re-
peal the ~dfspensary law.
Mr.. Mcneil closed the debate in :
red hot an~ti-dispensary speech. He
said he was nominated and elected be-
cause Ii was the universal desire OF the
democrats for him to come TO the senate
and repeal the ~dIspensary law.
Senator B~roughton opposed repeal OF
n law He said only 900 out OF 800
mad asked for the repeal. Over 1875
white voters had asked by petition not
10 repeal. He favored submitting the
question 10 q primary OF white voterz
Ia~ch 7th.
Mr.. McNeili moved to report the re-
peal bill favorably.
Mr.. B~roughotn moved 10 defer action
until March sth. Mr. MeNeill's mo-
ton to report ~favorably was defeated
ayes. 10; noes, II.
Among the arrivals today were rredeIl
Meares and s. F.. Craig. OF Whining
ofn.