The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-30
Whiskey and Our Factory Population

To the Editor: The writer lives in a
large factory town. Our people are
largely steady and Industrious and were
it not for the effect of rum would be
independent Conditions otherwise are
favorable. our people realize this and
there is now in the hands of our Senator
a large petition from the citizens of the
town praying for the passage of the
London bill. Nothing less will satisfy
us. nothing less should satisfy the whole
State Thank God for the nti-Saloon
League and II. A. London. North Caro-
lima is rapidly becoming a State of looms
and spndles, and the needs of this large
class of her toiling citizens should, by
no means, be ignored. With every turn
ing spindle comes additional response
bilities. 1t is said that the factory class
is inferior. This is not universally true,
in many instances some Of the noblest
are to be found there. They are crea-
lures of circumstances due to various
causes, chief among which is the Whskey
evil 1 say, after much observation that
the saloon is mostly responsible for the
catonal, financial, and especially the
moral leanness Of the factory population.
l have several times known fathers who
lived as parasites upon their poor child
rem, draw the last pittance earned by
the children. and spend it with the white
aproned Vender on Saturday night. These
same men and other drunkards signed
the petition gladly and pray that the
temptation be removed.
The question confronting us today is
rot political question, and to argue that
it will wreck this or that party is as
flimsy as it is fallacous. 1t rises far
above partizanship and takes it's place in
the sacred precincts of the moral realm,
fastening its clutches on the conscience
and says, You ought" party or no
party. The fact is, it will be the unity
ing, perpetuating act that will make our
party stronger than before, else the
greatly augmented sentiment of the best
of our people and we believe the most
will forget it not. Is the preservation
of the Democratic party of more import
ance than the manhood of our sons and
the virtue of our daughters? Is a seat
in the next General Assembly worth
more to a man than the consciousness of
having rendered his State the most valu-
able service? Any man, when duty is
plain and paramount, who will cringe
and bow and scrape and lay his anxious
ear to the ground TO see what are his
future prospects for a seat in some covet-
ed official chair, is a coward before high
heaven and is not worthy of the slightest
recognition by any party who wants
true man. But he never makes a greater
mistake. The Legislator today is the
cynosure of all eyes-and the eyes of the
people of our State are eagle eyed, and
we have declared once for all that any
man who caters for future recognition
from the public must be man. not a
thing, a high souled man, inflexible in
convictions, unimpeachable as to record
daring for the truth.
There lies before me a letter dated
July 3rd. 1902, from the Liquor Dealers
Association of North Carolina, laying an
assessment upon all manufacturers, deal
ers, bar-tenders, and drummers This
letter states that this money is "to meet
the vital issues" and continue our vigil
ance until the Legislature shall meet and
adjourn" Gentlemen, what does this
brazonry mean? Can it be that in our
LEGISLATURE there is single man that
is purchasable? What does it mean?
Can il be possible that money. and blood
money at that, shall Influence our legis-
lation to any extent and fasten the yoke
faster upon us and our children God
forbid, We can not believe it. We have
confidence in our legislators and believe
that each would resist as the lowest in
sniff the slightest insinuation that they
could be influenced by anything other
than the right and voice of the people,
and the cry of both which comes up
from all quarters with ever recurring
frequency is: God help our honorable
body to rise to the imperative demands
Of the hour, pass the London Bill, and
set the Old North State free.
e. r. WEIGH.
Roanoke Rapids, n. c., Jan. %.