The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-17

that we print today what we unfortunate
Tuesday morning, viz, summary of the
argument of each of the young men.
The query discussed was: That II the
present juncture of affairs in North Caro-
lima a State Dispensary is the Best Splu-
tion of the Liquor Problem"
Here are the main points in he re-
spective arguments:
From almost the beginning of Bible
history to the end we find constant allu-
sions to the evils of intoxicating drink,
and are warned to abstain, as individuals,
from its abuse; but not word OF prohiA
bltlon. 1t is true that while the Bible
everywhere forbids and denounces drunk
enness, it nowhere commands total alb
stinence. The inspirer of our religion
must have thought that the best way to
remedy the evil is not to command total
abstinence from strong drink, but to
discourage its use as a beverage, and to
educate man to control his appetites and
passions. AS the fort which has been at
tackled and has resisted assault, is more glo-
rious than the one which has not had oc-
casion to face the enemy, just SO Is the
man who has been tempted and has re-
sisted the temptation, more deserving
of credit than the man who Is pure be-
cause he has never been tempted.
I'm brief, we desire to put the most
restriction on the liquor traffic, with the
least infringement on personal liberty
Prohibition, if effective, would put the
most restriction on the traffic, but we
know from experience that it cannot be
enforced, aud it infringes too much on
personal liberty. Local option allows each
community to choose between prohibition,
high license and dispensary. High license
brings revenue to the government COT
fcrs, bat does not diminish the evils of
the liquor trade. State Dispensary is a
local option measure inasmuch as it al
lows each community to choose. between
prohibition and dispensry, and thus COM
bines the good qualities of both local
option and dispensary."
During the past three quarters of a
century various States in the Union have
tried high license, prohibition, local OPP
ton and dispensary, and no one of these,
nor any combination has been tried I'M
der more unfavorable circumstances, and
more fully demonstrated its superiority
than has the State dispensary in our sister
State, South Carolina. Let US review
briefly the rivals of the dispensary sys-
TEN. Prohibition has been given as fair
a trial in America as any system could
possibly be given, having been adopted
and supported at various times by the
best citizens in sixteen States. But that
it is a sad failure is shown by the fact
that it is now law in only two States;
and in these it is not enforced excep. IN
a few rural communities. BY local cTtion
we understand that each local ccmmu-
nifty is allowed to decide for itself as 70
what restrictions shall be put on the IL
Quor traffic in that community. ] dare
say, my worthy opponents. that you will
offer local option as a better system than
the State dispensary; and since we are
combining our discussion tonight to the
question OF a system for North Carolina.
it is only necessary for me to remind you
that we now have, and have for many
years had local option in this State. II
local option is the best solution of the IL
quor problem in North Carolina, why was
it that so many thousands of our best
citizens. including ministers, business men
and mothers, signed the petitions address
ed to our last General Assembly, praying
for more effective liquor legislation? Why
has not local option, for which you clain
SO much, ever demonstrated some OF It's
possibilities for good in our State? Local
option may be good thing in its place,
but its place is certainly not North Caro-
lina.
lone OF the greatest advantages OF the
dispensary system is its elasticity; 1T can
be modified and adjusted to fit the re-
ouirements of each State. Prohibition can
not be modified, for with the least modi-
fication it ceases to be prohibition. even
in name.
theoretically. the dispensary is per
feet BY owning the business, the gov
eminent is able to exercise absolute con-
troll of the liquor traffic, and thus to
minimize the evils of the drink habit, and
at the same time reap all pecunlary bene-
fits arising from the trade.
"The Dispensary system is no mere ex-
pertinent; il was first tried with marked
success in Norway and Sweden, and IN
Russia, and it has been in operation IN
South Carolina for the past ten years
MR.. C. w. MARTIN. THE MEDAL
WINNER, AFFIRMATIVE: First: The
greatest objection TO prohibition has al
ways been In its gross infringement CT
personal liberty.
Second: Though the dispensary law al
lows the moderate use of alcoholic drinks,
it places such rigid restrictions on their
sale that the evils arising from their use
are reduced to the smallest possible degree,
and the enforcement of these restrictions
is secured by the fact that the local dis
rensary is made directly responsible for
their observance.
Third: The dispensary system has IN
practice reduced the traffic to its evils as
no other system has in any State or coun-
ty Of course our opponents deny this
also and state in support of their asscr-
tions that in South Carolina the arrests
for arson. ETC.. have increased by one
or two hundred, but they neglect to say
that in the same time the population of
South Carolina has increased largely.
Fourth: The dispensary law does strike
a direct blow at the corrupt politician.
The saloon. whether it be the gilded be-
mirrored parlor of iniquity under high
license or the blind tiger, the dirty, foul
ncisome den of voice under prohibition has
always been the ard-heelers' headquar-
tiers. The dispensary abolishes the saloon
and exterminates the blind tiger.
Fifth: OF all systems the dispensary is