The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-29
ONE VOICE AGAINST IT
A Woman's Voice Raised for the Home.--County
After County Heard From---Mr. sailey's
Eloquent Speech---SIedge Hammer
Blows by Mr.. Mccall.

Eloquent Speech---SIedge Hammer
Blows by Mr.. Mccall.
The Senate chamber was crowded yes
terday with the best people in North
Carolina.
There were representative men from
all parts of the State. They belonged to
all professions, and were all there for one
purpose, temperance legislation
Some of the best women in North Caro-
lima were there too on the same noble
errand, and one of them. Mrs. NJ. G.
Woody, of Guilford College, made a plea
that could not fail to touch the heart and
appeal to the reason of every one pres
ent
These people were not here to support
the London bill, the Watts bill, the Smith
bill, or any other particular bill. They
were here to show why the liquor traffic
should be restricted and repudiated in
North Carolina, and to ask for some leg
islation that would accomplish that end.
1t was wonderful meeting, and its
effect can but be far-reaching.
From county after county, as represen
tative men were called upon by Mr.. j.
William Bailey, the manager of the
movement, came clarion calls, ringing out
with the strength and tone that come of
substantial backing.
Among them was the fine note of the
woman's voice, pleading for the home, the
oldest of all institutions and the founda-
tion stone of all government.
One voice alone was lifted against this
mighty torrent of the best sentiment in
the State. and that was the voice of
man who said he was the paid attorney
of the saloon men, and who said that he
considered the selling of liquor in country
districts an unmitigated evil
That was Mr.. T. c. Guthrie, of Char
lotte AT times during his speech when
he was queried as to some of his argu
ments, the applause for the temperance
side was so prolonged that he had to wait
before he could resume.
Once he remarked sarcastically dur
ing an unusually long round of laugh
ter and hand-clapping: Go on. Don't
stop. Don't mind me in the least
Another time he sa.4: Il never got so
much applause before in my life That
redoubled the laughter
1t was shortly after o'clock when Sen
ator Vann, chairman of the Joint Com
mittee on Propositions and Grievances,
called the committee to order.
First. by reqest of Mr. j. w. Bailey,
Mr.. j. M. Rhodes, of Littleton,
for the North Carolina Conference,
numbering $50 ministers and 81, 1000 mem
bers. He said they had decided to sup
port the London bill. and their request
was that that bill should be passed Just
as it was. He stated that Senator Lamb
had their memorial
Senator Lamb then read from the me-
mortal and stated that it called for alb
solute prohibition. The committee of the
Conference, he said, had since decided
to accept the London bill.
Rev. S. b. Turrentine, of Greensboro
of the central committee on temperance
of the Western North Carolina Confer
enee, then addressed the committee. He
said he represented 4,799 church mem
bers, who felt that the time had come
when they should be relieved of the
weight of the liquor traffic, which, as we'll
as drunkenness. was a fearful burden
upon the people.
Then Rev. NJ. L. Kesler, of Scotland
Neck. representing the Baptists of the
State, spoke for his people. There were
back of him. he said, 10000 white Bap-
lists, and 1000 preachers. They belonged
to the rank and file of the cole, who al
ways did love liberty. He brought the
message asking for temperance legisla-
tion. There was no whining sentiment in
this. The people were voters.
DR.. A. J. McKelway, of Charlotte, for
the Presbyterians of North Carolina,
said he had tested the sentiment of his
people, and this movement had recon-
mended itself to them. He believed he
could say without fear of contradiction
that an overwhelming majority of these
people were heartily in favor of the Lon
oon Dill. He recalled the fight four years
ago, and said the people of Mecklenburg
never resigned an opinion, when once
they made UP their minds. There were
S'0oo names on the petition then. and still
more favored the movement now NOT on
ly Tor Charlotte. but the whole State.
MRS. M e. Woody. of Guilford Col
lege said she belonged to the oldest
church in North Carolina, but she did NOT
come to represent that. She came to ron
resent the oldest institution in tho world
the home (Applause). She was not ac.
customed to speaking before tribunals of
this kind. The women of the State wero
used to pleading before a very differont
kind of court, and in every home women
were praying that this London bill might
be adopted.
The two oldest institutions in the conn
try, the home and the Sabbath. were he
ing intruded on. What did it meano
What had come over our State? Why