The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-07
SENATOR SIMMONS RINGS CLEAR

One of the most important questions
that will come before the General AS
sembly will be legislation looking to the
regulation and restriction of the manu-
facture and sale of whiskey. The senti-
ment against the sale of liquor, except in
incorporated towns, is SO strong that
license is not now granted for such sale
except in about one third of the coun-
ties. The law should be so amended that
it cannot be sold, except in incorporated
towns, in any county in the State.
Heretofore temperance agitation has
largely been directed at the saloon. But
when all the saloons are driven out of
the country districts, the greatest evil
remains if parties are permitted to put
UP stills and manufacture whiskey away
from police protection. 1t is necessary,
if the demoralizing effect of the whiskey
traffic is to be removed from the
country, to absolutely prohibit also the
manufacture of whiskey in the country.
hdnulacluFerS SHOulQ De permitted TO
carry on their business under the same
restrictions and regulations as the sa-
looms.
Speaking about this matter during the
past week, Senator Simmons said:
There is no greater evil in the State
than these little copper distilleries scat
tered about through the country where
police regulation is impossible. General
ly speaking, they exert a demoraliZing
influence upon the community in which
they are located, debauching the morals
and the politics within the radius of
their influence. Besides, many of them
have become recruiting stations for the
Republican party. In a large measure,
they are undoing the work of the
schools and the churches in these COM
munities.
IF liquor is permitted to be manu-
featured only in Incorporated towns the
distilleries can be subjected to rigid po-
lice regulations and the evil CT tne bust
ness would be largely diminished. At
any rate they ought to be adequately
taxed by the State and no retail estab-
lishment ought to be allowed in con-
nection with a distillery, for a large part
of the evil of these concerns grows out
OF the retail house which is almost uni
versally run in connection with them.
IF the Legislature shall determine to
confine the sale and manufacture of
whiskey to incorporated towns, each
town should, by general law, be given
an opportunity to vote upon the ques-
ton OF prohibition or dispensary, SO
that the continuance of the traffic in each
community would be made to depend
upon the majority vote of that commune
ty. OF course this general law should be
so framed as not to require a vote in
towns where prohibition or dispensary
already exists.
Senator Simmons expressed the hope
and opinion that the Legislature would
give these questions earnest and mature
consideration, and he added if the manu-
facture of liquor was confined to the in
corporated towns and the usual bar
room accompaniment it would greatly
diminish the work of the Federal courts
and might in the near future make it
possible to dispense with one of the Fed
eral court districts in the State as we'll
as a large part of the revenue force now
necessary, and relieve the State of the
odous political activity of so many
revenue officials when the Republican
party is in power"
1t is gratifying to see Senator Sim
mons lending his influence to legislation
that will make for the betterment of the
people of the State in matters of tenn
perance reforms. The prohibition of
the sale and manufacture of whiskey
outside of Incorporated towns is essen
tial to giving a clear field and proper
environment to the public schools of the
rural districts. Senator Simmons spoke |
a parable when he said Of the country |
stills: I'm a large measure they are |
undoirg the work of the schools and |
churches in these communities"
One single Crum may not satisfy Teddy, |
but if he can use his Crumpacker the |