The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-13
AN APPEAL FROM BAILEY
TO SUPPORT LONDON BILL
Two Measures Before the Legislature for Regulation
of Liquor Traffic.

Just. 1t is timely. 1t is needed. 1t is
representative Of the Temperance senti-
ment of North Carolina. 1t is endorsed
by a committee personally and officially
representing the Christian bodies in the
State.
It is reasonable. Where local option
is wise it provides for local option.
Where it is not wise, it does not provide
for it. The principle OF local self-gov-
eminent is preserved. In the unpoliced
rural districts and in the smaller towns,
it calls for the suppression of the sa-
loon, at the same time making a wise
and reasonable concession to the indi-
vidual berry and grape grower.
It is just. It calls for local option
with the burden or proof on the advo-
Gates of the saloon. Heretofore and now
we have local option with the burden of
proof on the side of temperance. This
would be just if there were question Of
the evil of the saloon, if it were presum-
able that the saloon is a moral and bene-
fetal institution, or if it were presumable
that the majority of the people are i'm
moral. But no one ventures such a pre-
sumption. On the other hand. the people
Of North Carolina are moral people, and
they regard the saloon as an evil and a
curse-a source Of crime and Of shame
and of loss to the State. 1t is just,
therefore, TO hold that saloons should no
where exist save where the majority eX-
pressIy calls for them.
But how comes it that saloons are now
in existence in North Carolina, il the
people arc moral and recognize them as
o curse? 1t is a good question and worth
answering. The saloons exist because
the moral forces have never had a chance
at them. The white people in North
Carolina have had to stand together for
white supremacy, regardless of the sa-
loon question. But this is no longer so.
But have we not had local option for
years?- Yes, and it is another good
question, and worth answering. We have
had local option, and by this means and
by special legislation the saloon has
been suppressed in sixty counties. The
other counties, you will observe, are
counties in which the ignorant negro
vote is large. This explains the presence
of saloon: 1t rests upon ignorant negro
votes and vicious white votes. But now
the negro is eliminated.
The bill is. therefore,, timely. The peo-
pie of North Carolina nave waited for
this day when they can raise a moral
issue freely and when a moral cause will
iiot-OS ~ NHS - oAA o.
rant negro vote.
The Amendment was offered to the
people of North Carolina not as a release
from party allegiance, but it was offer
ed as q release from the necessity of
voting one ticket regardless Of moral
issue. l think the power that raised up
a majority of 60, 000 votes for the Amend
ment was not hatred of the negro or fear
of the negro, but it was the longing Of
the moral forces of North Carolina for
an opportunity to inject moral issues
into their party policies and into our
civil life. Now that the people have won
their battle, they have right to make
this issue. Let the men upon whose
brows rest the laurels of the peoples vic
tory beware how they respond to the
peoples call for their rights. They have
chosen wisely to make their first issue
the issue against the saloon. They ask
for battle on fair and reasonable grounds.
They cannot be justly denied their petit
ton. 1t is their share.
1t is not enough to close the rural bars
and distilleries in q few counties, and
set up rural wine and cider shops in their
stead. 1t is ridiculous to pretend that
it is enough.
1t is not enough to concentrate the sa-