The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-21
NOTHING CAN WITHSTAND
RIGHTEOUS PUBLIC sENTI.
MENT,

MENT,
There is no man SO high, no cause so
lntrenched. no evil so strong that either
can prevail against righteous public
sentiment.
The result in the board of aldermen last
night shows what an aroused and de-
termined body of honest men can do TO
| expose wrong and uphold the right
When, by a majority of nearly two
hundred, the people voted for a dspen-
sary for the city of Raleigh, it was I'M
derstood that it would be managed by
the men who secured its establishment
The very letter of the law was manda-
tory-that no man could be eligible as
commissioner unless he had voted for the
dispensary. In the face of the petition
of the anti-saloon forces CT the city. the
board of aldermen elected one commits
sioner who is not legally qualified, and
elected two others who were supposed TO
have pledged themselves to vote for GER
tain aldermen for paying positions in the
dispensary. That action caused such
wave OF indignation to sweep over the
city as had not been seen for a decade
1t was believed that some members of The
board OF aldermen, having voted to cou-
tinue twenty-four saloons, had determ-
iEed to make the dispensary odious and
that some of them were resolved to get
jobs in it for themselves. Is it auy
wonder that the people of the city rose
up in righteous wrath against the at
tempt of the enemies of the dispensary
to dominate it and make it the agency
OF graft, favoritism and a refuge for al
Germen wanting paying jobs?
The people of Raleigh and the State Of
North Carolina are to be congratulated
that last night, by the ever memorable
and portentous vote of to Z, the board
of aldermen practically rescinded the ac-
ton of the last meeting. Then, though
they elected three men over the men
recommended by the temperance forces.
the board did not fix their terms of Office
er name the size of the bond they
should give. And So when the question
of fixing the term of the office of the
three commissioners named came up, Al
fixed to end on the 23rd day of November
that is on next Monday. AS 40 term
had been fixed, and the tenure in Office
rests entirely with the board, it was in its
province to give them a term of one
week or two years. The motion was q
complete surprise to the men who cracked
at the former meeting of the board Of
aldermen. The vote was put and upon
roll-call it was found that Mr.. Habei's
motion prevailed by a vote of eight to
seven. The crowd that filled the mayor $
office applauded. The men who saw their
victory turned into defeat were dumb
breath the temperance leaders on the
board, wishing time to consult and do the
wise thing, pressed and carried a mo-
ton for adjournment.
The change in the result is due to the
vote of Alderman Rogers, At the pre-
vious meeting, to the great surprise
of every real friend he has in Raleigh,
d NIT oF
dispensary, thus giving his vote against
his lifelong position. He made great
mistake and wounded his friends. Upon
mature reflection he was convinced of
his error. and last night he had the man
illness to admit his mistake and to undo
it's consequences before it was too late.
eminent in Raleigh and his friends re-
joiced that he showed the pluck and man
hood to acknowledge his mistake and to
take his stand with the earnest temper
ance forces of the city of Raleigh.
This paper, which has voiced the indig
RANT pIOleSIS VI the temperance forces
in Raleigh against the former action,
applauds last nights retracing a wrong
course. 1t is unfortunate that any dis
sensions have arisen in the city over
the dispensary. 1t is entitled to far
trial, and to be managed by its friends
who have no obligations to aldermen or
others-men who will take the control
of the dispensary as a high public trust,
to be administered in the interest of the
mitigation of the evils of drinking and
intemperance
The opportunity is now presented to
the board of aldermen to do what they
should have done in the first instance