The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-27
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION THAT THIS
NOW

the rolicy set forth. Equally true ii is
that those Who are demanding an iron
clad State prohibition law expressed
their dissent. The course Of wisdom, We
are persuaded, lies in a policy that
touches the golden mean.
1T is apparent to all that there has
been a steady growth in temperance in
North Carolina. This is seen IN the
sobriety of most Of the people; in the
decrease of the number of distilleries and
saloons; in the increased prohibition
area. The more ardent prohibitionists
in the State, seeing the growth of the
sentiment against the saloon, naturally
wish TO make this a prohibition State, and
they do not look with favor upon any
other policy. The men who wish no ad-
vance against open saloons are opposed
to any further step toward saloon clos
ing. But the State in its wise policy
must not look to either to shape the
policy it is to pursue.
Legislation that is contrary to public
sentiment cannot be enforced and soon
becomes a dead letter on the statute
books.
Here is the legislation that we be-
lieVe ought to be enacted by the Legis-
lature:
Il. Pass an act prohibiting the manu-
facture or sale of liquor in North Caro-
lima except in Incorporated towns. Most
of the counties now do not permit the
sale except in incorporated towns; some
of them do not permit the sale or manu-
facture except in incorporated towns;
some do not permit it in or out of the
incorporated towns. But there are com
paratively few counties that forbid the
manufacture. The little stills dotted
about the country do infinitely more
harm than the open saloons Prohibition
that does not shut up the distilleries in
the country is a failure. This law would
do more for sobriety and education than
any other enacted in North Carolina. 1t
would remove the temptation to county
commissioners to grant license in the
country when an incorporated town votes
for a d~ispensary or for prohibition. 1t
will shut up hundreds of stills where
drunkenness and every form of vice cor
rupts and debauches the youth. In some
communities a government still does more
harm than schools and church can do
good. This act must be the mud-sill Of
any real temperance reform. Of course
the act would specifically say that this
act QOeS HOT SI6CJ III any Way pFOUlDl-
ton or dispensary territory.
-. Pass an act regulating the kind Of
towns that may be Incorporated. This
will be necessary to prevent the incor-
poration of bar-room or distillery cross
roads. 1t will require the best thought
of the Legislature to frame this provi-
sion but it "a be done so as to meet
every necessary requirement. In this
connection, If will no Wa11 fn SnoIro tho
repeal of the charters of some cross
a towns Incorporated to accommo-
date some saloon-keeper. There Grc not
many of these.
. Pass an act giving to any town the
right to vote for the establishment of a
dispensary upon the same conditions as
a town may now vote for prohibition.
a. Amend the present State prohibi-
ton law SO that when a community
votes prohibition it also secures the
Duplin county anti-jug law, thus pre-
venting the express companies becoming
peripatetic bar-rooms.
1T is believed that these four provi-
sions will give all the legislation needed.
The first and the most important step in
any reform that is valuable is to pre-
vent the sale or manufacture of liquor
in the rural districts. chat is legisla-
ton desired by most people. Wherever
it is sold or manufactured it must be
surrounded by police protection. AS to
the towns and cities, enjoying police pro
lection, each one must determine for
itself whether it will have open saloons,
establish a dispensary or have prohibit
ton. The only safe rule is to cav such
regulation to each community. That is
the doctrine of Home Rule, a fundamental
doctrine which ought not to be disre-
garded wherever there is an established
town government, organized to control
its own affairs With policemen to keep
order. If Louisburg wants to continue its
dispensary,i it is a matter alone for it's
citizens; if Concord wishes to keep pro-
hibitiOn, that is a matter which the ma
jority Of Concord voters ought to con-
troll; if Wilmington wishes to continue
it's saloons, low or high license, the
voters of Wilmington ought to determine
that question.
Everybody knows that the elimination
of the negro vote will be followed by a
constantly increasing number CT prohi-
bitiOn and d~ispensary towns. But that
is a matter that the Legislature should
leave entirely to the voters of each town,
after providing simple machinery for as
certaining the will of the majority of the
voters. Heretofore, in view of the dan
ger in the negro vote, the Legislature
has felt itself justified in passing many
local acts and incorporating many
country churches. The prohibition of
the manufacture and sale of liquor in all
places outside Of incorporated towns
would make it unnecessary hereafter to
incorporate schools and churches, and
general Legislation ought to exclude the
necessity of any local legislation what
ever as to the restriction of the sale Or
manufacture of liquor, and eliminate
from the Legislature the acrimonious
fights over prohibition and dispensaries
that have consumed so much time of late
years.
The general legislation above outlined,
if enacted, would prevent the question of
temperance, prohibition. or license from
entering into State politics-a consumma-
ton to be devOutly wished. If the Legis-
lature should decline to give substantial
ly the remedies outlined in these four
tentative suggestions, the question may
be a disturbing one in politics. Both in
the interest Of temperance and good poll
tics, this paper has presented four meas