The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-22

For years in North Carolina the coun-
try distillery and grog shop has been
felt to be the greatest curse OF the
rural districts of the State.
And not only this, but great wave
of temperance sentiment generally has
been sweeping over all sections of the
State and gathering force as it went.
At last, when the Democratic and
conservative Legislature of 1903 convened,
there seemed to go forth q tacit under
standing that the time for definite action
had arrived. 1t seemed that by common
consent every county in North Carolina
had determined to send up petition to
the General Assembly for temperance
legislation.
Never in the history of North Carolina
or perhaps any other State, have so
many petitions asking for the same thing
been presented to any one Legislature
They came in big bundles from practi-
caIly every county in the State, and they
kept on coming. new ones every day, I'M
til something was done.
Several bills calling for temperance
legislation in various ways We're intro
duced in both branches of the General
Assembly. The first one, and the one that
was finally passed. after some important
features from some of tho others were
added to it, was the Watts bill
This bill was drawn up by Senator
Simmons, approved by Governor Aycock,
and introduced in the House by Repre-
sentative A. ID. Watts. of Iredell. 1t was
drawn especially with the idea of
abolishing the country still and growlery.
and provides briefly, that no distillery
can be operated except in Incorporated
towns. In incorporated towns the entire
liquor question. whether it be distillery,
dispensary, rectifying or saloon. is left
to vote of the qualified voters of the
town concerned, because the towns and
cities have police protection where there
is no such protection in the rural dis
tricts.
There were saxeral notable hearings
before the Committees of House and
Senate. Fer the liquor forces did not
permit such a measure to pass without
fighting every inch of the way. Able at
torneys were employed, and they strove
valiantly, but the people of North Car
DINA had spoken, and that settled it with
the representatives of the people.
There was one hearing that will never
bo forgotten by those who were pres
ent. 1t lasted two days, in the Senate
Chamber, before the Joint Committee on
Propositions and Grievances.
Galleries, lobbies and floor were pack
ed with the best people in North Caro-
lima. There were representative men
from all parts of the State, clergymen
lawyers, doctors, teachers and business
men, all on the ground for one and the
same purpose, temperance legislation
Some of the best women in North Car
DINA were there too, on the same noble
errand, and one of them, Mrs. NJ c.
Woody, of Guilford College, made a plea
that could not fail to touch the heart and
appeal to the reason of every one pres
ent.
These people We're not there to SUD-
port the London bill, the Watts bill, the
Smith bill, or any other particular bill
They were there to show why the liquor
traffic should be restricted and regulated
in North Carolina. and to ask for some
legislation that would accomplish that
end.
1t was wonderful meeting, and its
effect can not but be far reaching
From county after county, as repre-
sentative men were called upon by Mr. ].
William Bailey, the manager of the
movement, came clarion calls ringing out
with the strength and tone that come of
substantial backing
Among them was the fine note of the
womans voice, pleading for the home.
the oldest of all institutions and the
foundation stone of all government
After the matter had left the hands of
the committees, the debates on the floor
of House and Senate were prolonged and
will be memorable. Days and days were
consumed before the Watts bill was
finally agreed upon, so amended as to
form sort of compromise between the
various bills under discussion, and en-
acted into law.
Here it is in full as it goes upon the
statutes of North Carolina: