The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-02

question. / know not. But the Senator
from Cumberland is for the bill. This
makes a majority of the representatives,
and ! shall vote for IL.
Mr.. Baldwin said he wanted to up
hold the gentlemen VINO had called the
primary and had secured the will of
the reople, but he had felt that this
was a wrong view. Our duty is not
TO study the wishes of our fellow mem
bers. but to do what is best for the
county of Cumberland. The gentleman
who first spoke has said himself that
he favored the dispensary. 1t has been
shown that the dispensary lesses crime.
We are here TO legislate for that pur-
pose. and l am going to vote against
this bill. Moreover, the people there say
that it has brought additional money
into the treasury. So if you are mer-
cenary, and don't care for the moral
side of the question, or the prayers OF
these good women. you will vote
against the bill from purely practical
motives"
Mr.. Mclean: Il want TO say that
wish TO speak especially for the bentf
of the gentleman from New Hanover
(AIr. Rountree.) He knows the law, but
he needs a little touching up on this
matter"
Mr. Rountree: Il thank the gentle
man for his attention.
Mr. Mclean: The reason ] address
ed myself To him is because he ex-
pressed himself as wishing TO hear from
me, and ] wanted to crafty him"
He then went on TO say that he want
ed the bin defeated. He denied the
right OF any member of the Legislature
to call a primary. He was sorry to
see Mir. MacKethan placed in this posi-
ton he was, for he had the highest re-
gard for him."
MIR. Mclean said he wanted to vote
for the right on this matter as fol-
lower of the meek and lowly Jesus. The
way to settle this question was for the
two representatives to step aside, and
let the House settle it for themselves.
WOULD NOT FOLLOW MAJORITY.
Mr.. MacKethan asked If Mclean
would not be governed by majority.
Mr.. Mclean: NO, sir; | am not one
fo those that are always governed by
majority. If the majority wanted TO
so to HELL / would not go with them.
l vote as / believe TO be right | don't
propose TO go back on what / think is
right out of senatorial courtesy, House
courtesy, on any other kind OF courtesy.
/ believe from the bottom Of my heart
that it is better for these people to
have dispensary or open saloons.
Mr.. MacKethan explained that the
bill aid not open saloons; that there
was to be an election on the first Mon
day in May to determine upon license
or prohibition. The defeat Of this bill
F, would prevent the people from voting
for prohibition.
Mr.. Robinson said he did not know
, OF a better way for representative TO
find out the will of the people then by
calling primary. This has been done,
and a large majority have voted TO
abolish the dispensary. Whenever l
have had an opportunity, | have voted
for prohibition, but whenever the peO-
pie have shown that they wanted IL.
cense / have voted for il. IF all these
petitioners are opposed to the bill. why
: did they not so to the polls and vote
against it? You all know petitions are
not worth anything. have always vot-
ed for what the majority OF the people
wanted, as expressed at the polls, and
shall vote for this bill
Judge Conner expressed much admir-
alton for the representatives from Cum
berland. He said he could appreciate
! love they felt as sixteen years before
Re had felt that his vote was being
watched with great care. His experience
had taught him that the world went
on and things settled themselves, no
matter how he voted.
IF the two gentlemen, he said, from
Cumberland stood together and asked
for the same thing, / should not hesi-
tate how to vote. But we are confront
ed with this state OF affairs. On the
one hand is a majority of 941 at n pTi-
mary, on the other, petitions from Il
Geo white voters and l,l00 good women.
A great deal has been said on the opin
ion of the churches / recognize the
church as the representative of the Di-
vine Head. While, OF course, | do not
think it should enter into politics. I do
think on questions involving the NOR
ality of the people. the church should
instruct the Legislators how TO vote. /
believe it ought 10 haze voice in the
matter oil divorce. (AppIause.)
II hope the, dag may come when the
children of North Carolina may he ed
ucated without recourse TO money de-
/ rived from the liquor traffic in any
way.
! Judge Coanor asked Mr.. MacEethan
il he thought the best interests OF the
community would be served by passing
the bill.
Mr. MacKethan asked if Judge Con-
nor would vote according to his reply
| Laughter and applause)
On inquiry MIR. MacKethan said he
would have voted at the primary for
the dispensary, if he had been there.
He considered that the merits of the
question had been changed since then.
Judge Connor went on to say that the
founders of cur institutions had not
thought that petitions were useless.
Mr.. Robinson asked Judge Connor
which he thought was the stronger. a
name on petition OF ballot
Judge Connor replied a ballot.
Mr.. Gattis asked If some Of the sign
ers Of the petition had not voted
against dispensary.
Mr.. Hall said such was the case but
they had been told they were voting
for dispensary as against prohibition.
Judge Connor went on TO say it was
best to let these matters settle them
selves. He had found that the dispen-
sary was the best way of settling the
orreot question II ef'c deal with IL nc