The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-03
A TORRENT OF THE BEST
SENTIMENT IN THE STATE
Mighty Plea Before Committee for Temper
ance Legislation.

49, 49, 81 NH'e wv " -
pie wanted the bill.
Mr.. c.. H. ireland, representing the
business men of Greensboro, said that
Greensboro occupied a unique position,
in that there was not q saloon in Gull
ford outside of Greensboro. He held a
petition signed by 800 of the business
men of this county,, who wanted the Lon
don bill. the Watts bill, or any other bill
that would hit a saloon. (Applause).
Mr.. Y. T. Ormond, of LenOir, spoke for
600 of the business men of Kinston. They
too. wanted any bill that would bring re-
lief.
Mr.. Edwards, representing the Free
VIII Baptists of Lenoir, simply said that
the Free Will Baptists of that county
wanted some kind of a bill restricting the
liquor traffic. The London bill suited
them.
Mr.. N. B.. Mills, of the Board of Alder
men of Statesville, presented memorials
and petitions from the business men of
Statesville, for any kind of temperance
legislation.
DR.. l.. L. Nash, of Rocky Mount, said
he represented the ministers of Nash
county, and they looked to this Demo-
cratic Legislature to give them some re-
"oo " S-Oohi
swell in their county.
Mr.. A. F. Johnson, of Clinton, Sampson
county, said it would be remembered that
Sampson was here two years ago asking
for prohibition for their county. He asked
the committee to look around them now
and see the whole State asking for it.
w now ask you to look around and let
the good movement go to our neighbors.
In the amendment movement, the
whole liquor interest was opposed to us.
We were Democrats then; we are Demo-
Gratis now, and we believe in doing some
thing for our boys who are endangered
by this traffic, while we are spending SO
much for education"
Rev. ". r. Bradshaw. of Wilkesboro,
said he was here representing seven an
ti-liquor leagues of Wilkes county and
several ~non-political Leagues, asking for
the London bill.
Mr.. w. r, Royal, Of Brunswick, said
the people of Brunswick We're in large
majority for any temperance legislation,
preferably the London bill.
Rev. Mr.. Croxton. of Union, said they
had dispensary, and now wanted some
thing better, the London bill. They want
ed to do what they could to help the
whole State. and want you to double
and twist it for Union county"
Mr.. j. c.. Clifford. of Harnett, said
that FOR eight years the Board of Coun-
ty Commissioners had refused to grant
licenses to stills and they had been sus-
tanned by all parties. He had a petition
from 900 citizens for prohibitions; one
from LOIS women, and one from 200 or
800 persons asking for London bill.
Prof. j. A. Campbell, of Buie's Creek,
rnnr0cnnfiny c0poo ~ tho ho,,c 80 Ny1r+L
Carolina, put in his plea for the London
bill, or some kind of temperance legis-
lation.
Rev. r.. c.. Beaman, of Durham, repre-
senting the Ministers Association Of the
city, back of which was a membership
OF 1000. A petition signed by something
like 600 of the voters of Durham had
preceded him here. The opinion Of the
Influential men was that the saloon was
undemocratic, unwholesome, and should
go
Mr.. P. H. Fleming, of Burlington, said
he represented the Pastors Association
of that place, back of which were 800 to
1000 members. They asked through a
petition the enactment of the London
bill.
Mr. F. P. Gibson, Of Gibsonville, said
he never was refused by a man to whom
he went with a petition. They wanted the
London bill.
Mr.. E D. Mercer, representing the tenn
perance sentiment of Richmond, said that
the people had suffered for years for this
curse. He wished to correct a state
ment made by a man from Richmond,
that conditions were excellent. They
might be from the distiller's standpoint.
AS a matter of fact. property had actually
II nd - -ar oFf1, ~oooc~or ~ ~
close the schools because they could not
get enough attendance, partly through
fear to send small children along roads.
On account of the number of drunken
men. There were five distilleries in the
county. He could say that at least three
quarters of the people of the county ia
vored the London bill. He claimed that
the liquor men were licensed to encroach
upon the rights of others. He spoke of
the large amounts of money made by
liquor men. and said it was well known
such fortunes could not be made in such
a short space of time without encroach-
ing upon the rights of others.
Speaking Of the talk of fear of the
liquor interest he said: IF there is a
man here who is afraid of the power of
tho liquor interest he is not worthy to
sit on this committee" He claimed that
the movement, even from q pOlilltdl
standpoint, would do moro good than
harm.
Mr.. Bailey then submitted some re-
marks on the proposed legislation. He
said he thought it was clear 1t was not
a crank's movement, but a perfectly
timely one. 1t was one that could not
be brought about until the amendment
getting rid of the fears of the negro vote
had been passed. Back of the move
ment were all the religious bodies of
the State. 1t had received the support
OF all the leading men Of the State. 1t
has also been supported by the college
presidents of the State. In the News
and Observer of last Sunday there were
letters from the most prominent of them.
Then, too, all the religious papers Oh
the state were for it.
The forward movement had gathered
behind it all of the moral strength OF
the best element and most progressive
thought. The getting rid Of the dist1l-
lery from the country, giving the right
Of each locality to vote on prohibition,
and putting the burden Of proof on tn"
~ mn