The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-03
SUBJECTS FOR LEGISLATION.
A Few Words on Cigarettes, the Reformatory,
Sawdust in Streams

To the Editor:
There are several things now before the
Legislature, and will be that | want to
say word about.
a. ! did not think there would be any
opposition to the passage of the anti-cig-
arctic bill. but l learned from your col
umns a few days ago, that there We're
many manufacturers and farmers hang
ing around the Senate chamber, waiting
to get a chance to oppose the passage of
the bill The Good Book says, the love
of money is the root of all evil which.
while some coveted. they turned
from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows, 1 feel sure
that one half of the half grown boys of
this State are today TO a great extent
under the influence of cigarette smoking
Is it true that parents will not oppose
the stopping of an evil that's destructive
of the health of their own boys, and their
neighbor's boys? For the sake of money
according to our own observation this is
true, and in this way men pierce them
selves through with many sorrows. When
the people of this State were called upon
TO vote for Or against prohibition, one Of
my best friends, and one of our best
FARMERS. got very angry With me DeCduSS
voted for prohibition; he said was using
my influence to put down the price of
corn If that man could arise from the
dead just long enough to see the bloated,
staggering ruined boy(the effects Of whis-
key ne would say the love of money
ruined his boy, and broke the heart of the
widowed mother
90 Two years ago l suggested to the
members of the Legislature, that they
start a reformatory for the benefit of the
fallen and ruined boys and girls Of our
State. / see that move is being made
in that direction; but we dom need a first
class school TO do this work, many of our
boys take their longest step downward
in some of our first class schools The
most Of the bows that go into dissipation,
are those that have had good advantages;
could live without work. What we need
is an institution where the fallen can be
put to work. and where they can learn
something about business and making a
practicable living. Let the institution be-
long to the State and the inmates Let
the subjects remain two years or longer
if necessary. And then let it be under
stood that if they, after returning home,
go back into the same evil they shall
be returned to the institution to serve out
the second term. Give them good litera-
ture to read, and the gospel. This done
and many of our boys and young men, that
will soon fill drunkards' graves will be
saved. and will carry light and happi-
ness into many homes that are now dark
and full OF sorrow
go ! hope some member of the Legis-
lature will have thought and nerve
enough to pass a law prohibiting all saw
mill men from running the saw dust into
the running streams, especially in west
ern North Carolina. Fish raising in this
part Of the State ought to be protected
and the health of our people looked after.
Most of the river and creek beds are
already filled with saw dust. Why not
stop it. and let the owners of the mills
burn their dust and save wood, and lei
those mills that are run by water power
have on elevator and the dust be used
for drying lumber.
a. By all means let the dog law be
passed, and if necessary put in the cats
Better educate boys on money raised from
sorry dogs to their ruin. If the number oil
bird dogs increases as rapidly in the next
two years as it has in the last two
the most of the fowls and birds will be
destroyed during the summer months
have many other things to say, but | have
said enough this time.
c. c. HAYMORE.