The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-14
IS WILSON A
MODERN SODOM?
Serious Charges Made by
Its Own Citizens.
MAPNH CIhCH EOpIMIOMQ
WARM CLASH OF OPINIONS
Saloon Lawyer Charges Church Members With
immortality Dspensary Bill! favorab'y Re-
ported-- 0ne Speaker Declared Wilson's
Government 6rog- Ridden.


The dispensary for the town Of Wilson
had the call yesterday before the Senate
Propositions and Grievances Committee
Some weeks ago a committee of leading
citizens from Wilson came to Raleigh,
presented a petition signed by majority
of the voters of the town, and asked for
the establishment of dispensary. The
members Of the Legislature from Wilson
suggested TO the committee that they
change their bill so as to submit it to
vote of the people of the town. Ihls
was done and yesterday committee CT
leading citizens were in Raleigh to urge
the passage of the bill through the Sen
ate. it having already passed the House.
They were met upon their arrival IN
Raleigh by another phase Of opposition.
The attorney for the saloons had pre-
pared a bill submitting the question of
saloons or dispensary for the town of
Wilson to a vote of the entire county
of Wilson. The delegation present was
composed of Messrs. George W. Conner,
John F. Bruton. George H. Wainwright.
Elder James S. Woodland, Silas Lucas, e.
A. Darden, w. p Wooten, j. R. U2zell
and Rev A. P. Tver.
Col. John F. Bruton, president of the
First National Bank of Wilson, said the
business men assembled and prepared d
bill, securing full majority OF the voters
of the township. The representatives
from Wilson suggested that it ought to
be submitted TO the people of the town.
This bill does that. The rights of the
whskey men were considered. The bill
is to go into effect January 1st. 1904. 1t
has passed the House. The Wilson peo-
pie wish only to have the opportunity TO
vote. Petitions have been presented
showing that a majority of the voters
wish this matter submitted
Mr.. Mewborne, attorney for the saloon
men, antagonized the bill on the part OF
the anti-dispensary folks. They wish
the vote taken in a larger territory
Wilson has 1000 people, and the advo-
Gates of the dispensary propose to con
fine it to the town. We wish it left it
TO the vote of the township. They ought
to have voice, though they live outside
the corporate limits. They have as
much right as those within the corporate
limits.
Mr.. j. r. UzZell: How many who live
outside the corporate limits wish to BE-
heard?" He could give no answer
Mr.. Uzzell asked if the men he repre-
scented lived outside the corporate limits
He said they did not
He objected TO the section that required
five commissioners. We want three and
we want them elected by the people.
They elect the other officers Why NOT
the men who are TO manage the dispen-
sary? He objected to the election IN
Arril-it is too soon. 1t will mix with
the municipal election. He wanted the
election to take place later in the sum
mer. With those amendments it will be
all right.
Mr.. George w. Conner replied. He
spoke of how progressive Wilson was.
and said they were in sympathy with III,
great temperance movement in North Car
oljna. This bill is drawn by temperance
men, who wish to minimize this evil Of
liquor. He said he did not appear as at
torncy, but only as a citizen The bill
was carefully considered, and met the
wishes of the majority of the voters OF
the town as the petitions show. This
bill does not change the conditions ir
so as to give ample and full time to the
liquor men to retire from the business:
without loss. and they ought to have as
long notice as possible. The commission
named are frst-class men-they all make
a personal sacrifice to serve the COM
munity. They are Cicero Culpepper. f
A. Darden, Geor"" Hackney, Dr. c. e
Moore. VIM. Woodland, Jr-all men OF
f~vH 11zr
Their term expires one every year. The
town is to get as much as it now gets
from the license of its seventeen bar
rooms, the county gets the same and
then they divide. The town now gets
$1,000 from the bars. The profit from
the dispensary is estimated at 500, 900
though we hope it will not be so much
The man in charge OF it shall be paid a
nxed salary not dependent upon the sales
Mr.. Sidney a. Woodland, attorney for
the saloon men, replied to Mr.. Connor
lie said the saloon did not desire tins
inc offered them. The men represent
ing the dispenary are rcponsible for the
lax town government, where gambling
runs wide open, whiskey and food are
given away free. Four church members.
town aldermen, licensed baWdy
houses TO dispense liquor. That
was the straw that broke the camel s
rack The saloon men had nothing TO
uo with these things They oppose such
Incense The saloon men ask only for fair
play gambling saloon is run wide open
over the store of a town alderman.
Inc clamor is really against the gam
uilhs houses We need Board of AL
uerihen TO regulate these things Instead
U dlspensary. There is $40 900 in
vested IN bar fixtures, If their property
Is 10 De destroyed let's put it off till
september In the meantime. The neonIe
can think before they act No Other
town with 1000 people is asking for \
dispensary. Wilson paid out 80 ooo ooo tbis
year for tobacco. The men who cell
tobacco spend their money in Wilson
a dlspensary may hurt the vii
son market The town of wa
son gets $1,000 out of saloons Tho
bonded Indebtedness is 800 600 and
issued upon the faith of receipts bv tho
towns. We wish vote in the whole
county of Wilson. and the bill was
drawn at the suggestion of the renre-
sentatives of the county of Wilson. You
ought to wait until it is disposed Of