The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-13

see why a discussion in Committee of
the Whole should prevent an absolutely
free debate on the entire bill He con-
sidered the proposed way by ali means
the best.
Mr.. Smith said he thought the gentle
man from Allegheny was SO taken up
with finance that he had taken no liquor
in his. There were certain questions
that ought TO be discussed in the House.
When the main question was decided
upon then it would be time to resolve
the House into Committee of the
Whole to discuss the best kind of a bill
to pass.
Judge Graham, for the benefit OF those
who were loaded with gooG long speech
es, yielded to the discussion of the bill
in the House.
MIR. COWAN FOR THE BILL.
Mr. Cowan, of Jackson said that for
bis part it was immaterial 20 him wheth-
CIR the bill was discussed lin the House
or the Committee of the Whole 1t was
O. bill of the utmost Importance, and the
committee to which it had been refer
red, a very large one, had considered it
very carefully, and from all the evidence
that had been given of the intolerable
evils of the country distilleres. it had
concluded that some legislation of the
kind should be passed.
The committee had concluded that this
bill was fair, just and. conservative
| one. 1t in no way disturbed local option.
Wherever prohibition existed it would
remain, and he believed this House was
To hnlp in hn 70
| 70 have temperance legislation by act of
the Legislature.
The bill, by doing away with the
country distilery, helped the people who
were most helpless and weakest, the peo-
pie of the country districts. 1t brings
the enemy within the view of the field
glass, within the range of the guns.
Every man who desires to conduct a
liquor business honestly should be sat
isfcd with this bill. Every disther
knows that his still is a corrupting in
fuence and demoralizes the neighbor-
hood
That the bill Disseminated against the
country people was denied. If there was
discriminat ton, it was discrimination that
protected the weakest and the most help
less
Mr.. Cowan spoke of the crowds that
constantly hung around the country
stills. to their own ruin and the ruin of
their families.
The country schools, however much
fostered by our patriotic Governor and
State officials, could never come to their
greatest development as long as they
stand close beside distilleries.
Every year about 5000 cases of assault
and battery were tried in our State, and
nine tenths of these were due TO liquor,
and most of them came from the country
districts, where there was no police pro-
lection.
AS to politics, we had it in our power
to purify politics to large extent, for
every one knew that these stills were
used to corrupt voters in the interests
of the Republican party.
1t had been stated that the matter
should be left to a vote of the different
communities. But if the bill in the first
place had contained a provision submit
ting If to a vote of the people, the Ii
quor men would have opposed it just
the same. He made that assertion with
out fear of successful contradiction. The
liquor men only wanted another chance
TO fight the bill.
The hard feeling and bitterness That
would be engendered by these elections
were dwelt upon. If such a provision
were to be adopted, all this work Would