The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-03

It was at this point OF his
that Mr.. Guthrie was several times Ques-
toned by members of the committee and
others and the applause for his Qucs-
TONERS was so prolonged as 10 elicit his
sarcastic remarks quoted above.
Mr.. Guthrie then argued that we should
follow the most successful States in the
Union, such as Nv York or Massachu-
sets. where the liquor question had been
settled. why follow States that are
lowest in the scale?
One gentleman. he said. had quoted
the Governor. He recalled that the Gov
ernor had said that the sale of liquor
should be confined to the towns. but he
did not recommend any such left-handed
prohibition law as this.
In response to a question by Senator
Brown, be said he considered the sale o.
liquor at the country distillery an IN
mitigated evil.
Rev. Livingstone Johnston said he
wanted TO correct the statements OF the
gentleman about the prohibition situation
in Rockingham. He had been pastor OF
the Baptist church there at the time. It
was true there was a great deal Of
illegal selling for a time. But finally
there was one big hearing before a mag
istrate on the question, at which men
were called on to swear where they had
bought liquor, and such a time was
never seen in Rockingham. 1t had its
effect, and things improved so greatly
that now most of the people there liked
the prohibition.
Mr.. ]. d. Mccall, of Charlotte. got ur
and said that here was one lawyer that
could not be hired by the whiskey men to
perpetuate their danSnable business.
tremendous applause.) Since his time
as mayor had expired, he had been ap-
preached by them and offered large sums
to work for them, but he was glad he
had been able to tell them they could net
bring up enough gold to get him to help
them get any licenses.
If he should be asked why he was for
prohibition, he would point to four little
boys and a golden-haired little girl.
That was enough argument for Mccall.
These were the people he represented.
He had been told that he could not be
elctd mayor without the influence of the
liquor men. He had said that if the
gauntlet was thus thrown down, he was
the man to take it up, and he had done
so, and still was elected.
His experience for two years as mayor
of Charlotte, had made a prohibitionis
Of him, although he was not when be
was elected, simply a temperance man.
He had been told that the money from
liquor went into the school fund, but he
had found it was not SO. A lie was be-
ing circulated.
Now the liquor men of Charlotte were
obliged to come like whipped spanicls
before the town authorities.
Mr.. Cam. Morrison asked why the peo-
pie of Charlotte did not vote out liquor,
if they did not wish it.
Mr.. Mccall: "It was never properly
presented to them"
Mr.. Morrison: but they could have
lone it,
Mr.. Mccall: Eyes, and we want to
vote it out by this London bill" QLoud
applause).
Mr.. Morrison: "But could not the peo-
pie of Charlotte at any time have voted
it out?" .a...
Mr.. Watts: II want to ask a question.
too. Was not a large part of the vote
a few years ago in Charlotte composed
of negroes?"
Mr.. Mccall: 1T was" (Applause.)
Then he paid his respects to the men
who would stand in the way of this leg
i~slation. There will not be a greasy
spot left of him." applause and laugh
ter.)
AS to saying that we should follow
New York or Massachusetts,, he would
say there was more hell to the square
foot in New York than any other city
in this country. We did not propose to
follow any such city as that. Well
seccdc first" daughter and %applause.)
The people had a right to legislate for
compulsory vaccination to stamp out
smallpox. I say, whiskey has killed six
times as many men as smallpox ever
did in all the years of the worlds his
tory.
Senator Brown asked Mr.. Mccall what
effect the restriction in Charlotte had had.
Mr.. Mccall answered by saying that a
man had come to him and said the bar
keepers were losing 81, 900 a week, and
he said: "Well, that Is just 1900 more
each week in the pockets of the poor
devils who drink. He would say that so
per cent Of the cases that came before
him as mayor were traceable to the sa-
loon.
Asked about selling liquor in the coun-
try, he said that liquor never had been
sold in the country in Mecklenburg in
the memory of
Then Senator Brown asked him how
Mccklenburg compared with other coun-
ties.
He replied that he thought they had
touched high water mark over there in
morality and everything else.
He thought the very part Mr.. Guthrie
specially objected to does the best fea
ture Of it. 1t had been argued that 1t
was unconstitutional, but that was ar
gued against every bill ever introduced.
Besides, what is the Constitution
among friends, anyhow"
AS chairman of the Democratic county
Executive Committee. he was asked if he
feared the bill.
Mr.. Mccall: Fear it! Why, I'VE got
on my war-paint and gaffs, and am pre-
pared to fight it out to the last ditch.
Mr.. Guthrie asked how it was, if the
feeling in Charlotte was SO unanimous
that the people had not had prohibition.
Mr.. Mccall replied that he thought he
had answered that question sufficiently.
1t was because the people were so doml-
mated by the liquor interest that they
did not believe they could do it, and be-
fore he was elected mayor, no step mad
ever been taken.
r. EA~I o1, thof WHY