The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-02-05
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.


Adverting to the subject OF temper
ance legislation the Reidsville Weekly
says:
One of the most important ques-
lions with which the General Assem-
bly will have to deal is the restric-
ton and regulation OF the liquor
traffic. 1t is a problem calling for
the best thought and patriotism OF
the people as representatives. 1t
must be dealt with in a practical
way. The Legislature will make a
serious mistake if it allows itself to
be controlled by extremists on either
side of the question-by those who
want to go too fast, on the one hand,
or bv those who don't want to move
at all or go backwards on the other.
There are some we'll meaning people
who think the remedy is prohibition.
They are impractical. On the other
extreme there are those who say it
is not the States business to try to
regulate the morals Of the people.
They have much to learn. Occupy
ing the golden mean, the safe, mid
die ground. are the conservative
people of the State, who recognize in
the whiskey traffic a great evil, one
that needs to be curbed by legisla-
ton and confined within the narrow
est possible limits. They favor a
crusade of education against it and
would, step by step, create a healthy
moral sentiment that will finally
drive it out of existence. They
know that the world cannot be made
over in a day and that a law is no
stronger than the public sentiment
behind it. An evil so deeply rooted
in the habits and social customs of
the people as the use OF Intoxicating
LIQUORS cannot be OyercOmein day,
week nor year.
The progress of temperance in
North Carolina the past few years
has been steady and sure. Nothing
should be done to endanger the
work that has been accomplished.
The time is propitious for a step for
ward. The Legislature will make no
mistake in giving the people what
they are ready for.
Commenting on the London bill
which is the measure supported by
the Anti-Saloon League, the Weekly
says:
This bill is unwise and in advance
of public sentiment. It's enactment
would cause a world of trouble and
do very little good. The reasonable
ness of a law is the surest guarantee
of it's enforcement. Arbitrary pro-
hibition would aggravate the trouble.
The sale OF whiskey cannot be bro
ken up by legislative trick, such as
is proposed by the Anti-Saloon
Leagues bill.
We favor the Watts bill substan-
TALLY as it stands. 1t ought to be
amended in one or two particulars.
Every incorporated town should
have the privilege of voting every
two years upon the question wheth-
er it will have prohibition, saloons
or dispensary. Leave to
every incorporated town to say how
it will deal with the evil. Don't force
it one way or the other.
Break up the retail feature of the
government distillery Forbid it to
sell except in unbroken packages.
Impose an adequate State tax on
all barrooms, distilleries and rectify-
ing establishments. Tennessee gets
S215, 1000 annually from this source
Virginia gets $4,000. North Car
DINA gets only about $4,000.
Eighty per cent. of the States pop
ulation live in the country, and the
removal of the grog-shop and dis
tillery, with their demoralizing infu-
ences from their midst, ann thus
giving the churches, schools and
other uplifting agencies a clear field,
will be a great stride forward. 1t
has been done already in two-thirds
Of the counties and the time is ripe
for its application to the remainder.
Amend the Watts bill along the
line suggested by Senator Simmons,
to-wit; let each town decide for itself
whether it will have prohibition, sa-
looms or a dispensary, and it will
meet the demands of the hour. 1t
will not suit the extremists on either
side, but will meet the approval of 90
per cent. of the people.
Whatever legislation may be enact
ed along this line by the present Legis-
lature, let it be absolute, and, under
no circumstances let it be submitted
to the people for ratification or re-
lection Deliver us from another
State election on the whiskey ques-
ton.