The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-30
Spirit of the Press.
THE SITUATION IN THE ASSEMBLY.
Biblical Recorder.

i HE SII lAN LII EAA0'0A1-'A III L
Biblical Recorder!
This week the London bill. the Watts
bill and the Justice bill (Which is very
like the Watts bilD-each to regulate
the sale and manufacture of intoxicating
liquors in North Carolina-will be heard
by the Joint Committee, of the House
and Senate on Propositions and Griev-
ances. The readers of this paper are
deeply concerned in these measures. We
trust that every one has made his In
fiuence count in some way. If you have
not, there is yet time, as the final bill
will not be put upon it's passage until
next week. If you mean anything, let
yourself be heard.
We are prepared to say with conf
dence that unusual progress will be made
in temperance legislation. Perhaps not
all that has been asked for will be
granted. But we are confident that eth
er the Watts bill with strengthening
amendments or the London bill with
somewhat weakening amendments will
be passed-if the people will keep up
their good work. The Liquor Lobby here
is powerful, numerous and in fine fight
this hour, to take anything for granted,
might be disastrous.
The Watts bill with amendments will
be quite effective in the rural districts,
clearing them of distilleries and bars.
That part of the London bill providing
for elections on the dispensary question
wherever desired will give the moral
forces a good fighting chance in every
town and city in North Carolina. We
are prepared to encourage our people to
hope strongly for Legislation Of this sort,
Whether the Assembly will go one step
farther and put the burden If proof on
the saloons in local option elections. we
do not know. In our opinion the advo-
Gates of prohibitive Legislation can as
we'll afford to go into an election on the
offensive as on the defensive. Action OF
this character by the Assembly would be
evidence that the gentlemen are disposed
to take high moral ground and 10 give
the people an open field against The liquor
evil. 1t would be somewhat advantage
Gus, perhaps, but it would be more cred
liable to the Assembly and the party in
power, and more advantageous to thom,
than to the forces that have bean mus
tered against the saloons and distilleries.
The people in our towns and cities
should now be preparing for local option
elections. They have no right to expect
the Legislature to close their saloons if
they cannot do it by majority vote
THEY ASK ONLY WHAT is FAIR.
Rocky Mount Motor.
The paid attorneys of the whiskey men
are telling the members of the Legisla-
ture that if they pass a law changing or
restricting the present form OF selling
whiskey it will ruin the Democratic par
ty The Democratic party will never be
ruined for passing any law that is for
the betterment of the State. But on the
other hand if they fail to pass some such
law the party will lose an element COM
posed of the moral and intelligent class
that have heretofore voted the Demo
cratic ticket whether they thought the
party right or wrong on issues, for fear
of the negro. Up to now the white men
could not divide on issues. That time
has passed. Nor can the Democratic
party afford to rest on past achievement.
Politics in North Carolina will be fought
hereafter on issues and a higher plane
and the Democratic party to remain in
power, must meet the approval of the
moral intelligent and conservative class
Of voters. This class now asks, not for
prohibition law, but a law that will
drive whiskey out of places that have
no police protection and then leave it
to the majority of the people in the
town how they will control it. This is
manifestly fair and if the Democratic
party doesn't meet this demand it will
lose a larger element, of votes than those
who are selfishly interested in the whis-
key business.