The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-09-03
LIQUOR FIGHT
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
THE WATTS LAW PAVED THE
WAY FOR AN ORGANIZED
WAR ON THE SALOON.

IL 10 udtulal CO0C Cu0 0y0S Vi tu0 uH-
ton are now focused upon NORTH
Caroline. Her people have been delt
ing into nation-inspiring and nation
making history during the last few
days. They have tasted to the dregs
the fruits of temporising with the L.
quor traffic, and are NOW ready for
something else. The way, paved BY
the enactment of the Watts law of the
last Legislature, is now clear, and Old
North State citizenship has promptly
sprung into the gap.
From a disorganized mass of ilnper-
feet, Ineffective, imperative, scattered,
unframed, unheraled and purpoeelese
elements there has been evolved 3
compact. united, organized, captalned
and comparisoned force, enlisted tor
war against the saloon. They have
given notice to the liquor element,
which has SO long dominated North
Carolina politics, that Its tenure OF un-
restricted, unframed, unheraled and
purposed and preempted authority lie
passing and that a reign of righteous
neas is at hand.
In Raleigh, whose people fifteen
years ago took on the habillmen:s Of
prohibition with q half-hearted deter
mlnation to give it short shift, and
haye been since buffeted about between
desire for righteousness on one side
and thirst for riotousness on the 9TH
or, there has sprung into life definite,
we'll planned, and splendldly developed
movement that must have for it's ultl-
mate end complete prohibition.
For years North Carolina has been
at the mercy of conflicting combina-
ton of contrary excise enactments
Her people have tasted nearly every
thing In the category, from high, to
middling and low license; from the
limitations of dispensary semi-respect-
ability to the unlimited booze of boot:
legeery af1uence; from the mildly ex-
hilarating essence of moonshine fizz to
the seductive ebullition of classic high
balls from the cup that cheers in qua
si.sober ambush to the one that cheers
not at all in the eyes of wide open
beery opulence.
Although, strange to say, more than
two-thirds of the State is now under
prohibition of the liquor traffic, the
laws in other sections have been 80 di.
versifed and 80 conflicting that en-.
forcement in one town almost means
pullificatation in the next. One could
drink in Raleigh any time from 5 a
m. to IL .. M, but let him 60 few
miles to Durham, and be found in q
saloon after 8 p. m. and he would
socn find himself in Jail. Again, this
man might bic himself to Waynesyille
aud be able to buy liquor by the gal.
lon, but not by the drink, and be
might land in Fayetteville and find
neither saloon, Jail nor police. In q
five hours ride the tourist would find
more different kinds of excise laws than
a Philadelphia lawyer ever dreamed OF
From this sea of appalling inconsist.
ency the State has made harbor amid
tempestuous breakers, brave hearts
have been tested to the utGermost, and
cool heads have found occupation iol
consummate wisdom. The ship o.
State is now firmly anchored to the
buoy OF reform, with the decks cleared
for effective work.
There is fixity of purpose and
unanim1ty of action about it all thai
compels attention, and already tht
common foe is planning counter
movement. But with the magnlficen
armament OF the past week before US
with the States leading educators, ar
tisans, merchants, manufacturers, min
listers and iaymen up in armor. 1t i
fair to assume that North Carolina il
not now on dress parade, but is out tt
win.
EAT ALL YOU WANT.
Persons troubled with indigestion o
dyspepsia can eat all they want 1t the!