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

alone vas to be consulted There
must be mutual concessions ny
honest advocates Of various
bills now pending. 1t Is no COM
promise of principle for n Prohibi-
ZIONIST CT a dispensary advocate to
Join hands in driving the stills and
saloons from the rural districts.
The suprcrnest devotion TO ccnsci-
ence is seen in men who do not re-
fuse IL go forward because they
may not reach the goal IN one pro-
gresc;yc step. Indications multi
ply to show that, while differing
upon the provisions of pending
bills, there will be substantial and
hearty agreement urc0 h essen
tial points of temperance legisla-
ton which is demanded and needed
action and an aggressive fight, far
reaching temperance legislation
that will make for sobriety, fer
good order, for education. for the
L hSSt C1E1leZdttoA can De ScCuIca
at the hands of the present Gem
eral Assembly. The advocates of
such legislation, OF OF any progress
sive legislation that shuts up a
still or a saloon anywhere, need
net expect to win the battle except
by strenuous effort. They must
show that it is wise, that it is prac-
ticable, that it is desirable, and
that is demanded by the people Of
the State. They are doing this and
will on next Wednesday and
Thursday demonstrate that they
are asking for nothing that ought
not to be incorporated into law.
The only argument that some of
the attorneys of the distiI1ers and
liquor dealers employ against the
proposed legislation is to go among
h members and declare that if it
is enacted sit will defeat the Demo
cratic party" Such suggestions,
emanating from paid attorneys of
the whiskey men, are entitled to
the same consideration as if made
by their clients-no more, no less.
When they accepted a fee to rep
resent the whiskey men, then and
there they became devoted to the
interests Of their clients and pro-
fessiona1 duty forbids their judi
cio nrcsIorofso 20 -rLn& LII
help IT hurt the Democratic party
with reference to temperance leg
is1ation. ANY of the proposed leg
islation will hurt their clients. AS
their clients, it is easy for them to
persuade themselves that what will
hurt their clients Will also in
jure the Democratic party. But
spectacles OF the men who have en-
ployed them, and their judgment
is, of course though with some un-
consciously, biased. When they
took a fee to represent the whiskey
men they then and there abdicated
their right to counsel upon this
matter in the interest OF the
Democratic party. They could
not calmly consider all the condi-
tions without being false to their
clients. We speak now of those at
torneys who disclose their attor-
neyship and openly and frankly
NO {I,~A L@- r.
saloon men or distilIers. They are
within their rights as practicing
attorneys. We do not speak of
those men, accepting fees or re-
and come to Raleigh to work up a
sentiment that "the Legislature
will kill the Democratic party" If
it takes an advanced step on tenn
perance legislation and pretend to
be acting only as disinterested citi-
zens. They are outside the pale.
The Democratic party in North
Carolina IS not a prohibition .arty.
1t is not an anti-proLibition party.
1t is made up of men who think
alike upon great governmental and
economic questions, and differ
widely upon such police questions
as regulating or prohibiting the
liquor traffic.
The Democratic party is the only
agency of good government in
North Carolina. It is through this
great narty-and only through it
that the people may look for real,
practical, sensible reform CT any
kind. It must preserve itself as
the a~geRcy-the only ~agency-for
whatever the white people of North
Carolina wish Co carry out Tor their
b~etter1nent. It's leaders will not
jeopardize its supremacy by any
rash or i'll considered legislation,
however desirable, when the same
ends can be reached by wise re-