The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-08
woMANs ELOQUENT PLEA.
She Pleads for Home Protection Against the
Saloons.

To the Editor: The members of our
Legislature must be unusually aroused
in the interest Of the home and the
church in having two such temperance
bills before it. The battle is between the
home and the saloon. Which shall pre-
vail?
THE COUNTRY DISTILLERY.
The very blight upon our country is
the distllery. 1t is not possible to ele-
vate the country district and leave that
pest-hole in the midst. The more re-
mote from the city-the nearer the
county line or corner, there it thrives the
best. 1t sets the fashion for the neigh
borhood and gauges the morals more ex-
actly than the Whiskey
Churches and school houses have been
Incorporated against the manufacture
and sale but there is a little valley
which the incorporation could not reach,
and here the distillery is planted and
breathes out degradation and death!
Surely this Legislature will see that the
whole country belongs to us and is as
safe for our husbands and sons as the
yard There is not room for nearly
thousand distilleries in the country.
THE ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS.
What shall be done with the orchards ?
Ship us the fruit-we will pay more for
1t than the distiller. The perishable
fruit? Evaporate it. There is always a
demand for the apple, the best of brain
foods!
Think of buying apples for the family
by the half dozens, as oranges, when
every home should be supplied by the
bushel How many an illness and fatal
disease would our children escape if only
the apples were put on the market in
stead of being distilled!
What shall be done with the perish
able grapes, of which wine is made? A
writer in The News and Observer asks,
Shall we dig up the vines?' No! Make
their delicious fruit into unfermented
wine Every family almost, has need
for the pure grape juice. The supply
will create the demand for this delicacy.
THE BURDEN OF RIGHT TO BE.
AS to the other phase of the London
bill, why should the burden of the right
to be rest upon the home? The liquor
business is the invader This beautiful
country God has given to us. The sa-
Icon has had the right of way all thes
years We have carried petitions until
our hair is white TO call elections tC
route the foe and there was always some
crook or turn by the shrewd liquor at
tCrney and the effort failed.
How long. Oh Lord, how long, was
the cry until the husband went down tt
a drunkard's grave from the deadly
broth of the saloon-then another des-
perate effort to vote the saloons out oil
the county to meet with defeat again.
And then the son fell q victim to the
saloon 1.-THE strong staff and the beau
tiful rod broken" The lone widow il
desperation to remove the saloons and
save the other son employed agents to
secure signatures to the petition to cal
an election. This, too, resulted in fail
ure. not that a large majority of the
people were not opposed to the saloons,
but it was at a very busy season and
quiet temperance men did not realize
the value of their vote and staid by
their own affairs.
When this defeat came the liquor men
draped the widows house in mourning
The Grape was little too early for soon
| the other son sank into a drunkard' s
| grave at the hand of these saloons? And
now as these lines are written the widow
| sits alone in her desolate home, racked
with disease brought on by this unequal
| Glht to care for and save her husband
and two sons, while the business stu
| fourishes and fattens on other homes
NV friends with the sentiment In Nortf
I Carolina against the liquor business is II
| fair to continue this burden upon us. i
| this "home protection? NO! North
Cardinals sons love the home and the
church better than the vested interests
of the saloon keeper and they will say
cur homes shall be free The burden OF
| the right to be shall rest with those
whose money is in the business!
| Courage! Your work is holy,
MRS. M. C. WOODY.