The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-04
WILKES COUNTY INEXPERIENCED.
The Legislators From That County Against IT.
Best Sentiment

To the Editor: While Gen. Bryan and
DIR. Pegram claim they represent the
good people of Wilkes county on the Ii
quOr question, yet it is very clear that
they have misrepresented q large class
of the best people in the county. The
sober, moral intelligent, thrifty, indus
trious citizens that build up the coun-
try have been misrepresented on this
question. They only represent that ele
mcnt that destroys, debauches and ruins.
AS to numbers they may represent a ma
jority. This is doubtful, but as to what
it takes 10 make a country they are far
in the minority AS pastor in the cOun-
try and as a member of the commit
tee that prepared and sent out petitions
to secure names to send to the Legisla-
ture asking for a law prohibiting the
manufacturing and sale of liquors in the
county, | think | have a right to speak
upon this question. After it was an
nounced that such petitions would be
circulated there came calls from all parts
of the county, asking for the privilege of
signing such petitions. Some said they
would like to sign a dozen. We said
no, only one. Don't put your name to too
many papers. We only want qualified
voters. No minors, no negroes We
want to make an honest fight for an hon
est and just cause. We begged no one.
We argued with no one. 1t was free
willing act upon their part and with what
enthusiasm they did it. 1t seemed like
an old fashioned Methodist revival. We
met with no opposition. If we had had
time to have canVassed the county thor
oughly | have no doubt a majority of the
best citizens would have signed. The
two towns were almost unanimous. Mer-
chants, bankers, manufacturers, doctors,
Except those employed on the other
sidc), the mayor Of the town, high sher-
if of the county, all the/county commits
soners and yet the legislators from this
county claim they represent the good
people
They also claim to be prohibitonists.
They have not only misrepresented the
people but the churches they belong to
One a Baptist the other a Methodist
The Baptist associations that met in
Willesboro last year passed resolutions
Withdrawing fellowship from any church
that kept in it a member that made or
sold whiskey and yet Dr. Pegram boasts
of the saint living in 300 yards of a Bap-
fist church, deacon in the church who
makes liquor Gen. Bryan claims to be
a Methodist. The Methodist church in
general conference declared: 1--WE are
a prohibition church" Not only the man
that drinks is considered guilty of i'm
morality, but the man that makes and
sells it; also the man that signs a petit
tiOn or goes on bond or rents property
for the purpose of making and selling is
IL,
odist church; so neither of these men is
in good standing in his own church if
they ally themselves on the side of stills
and bar-rooms. 1t is strange that Gen.
Bryan could read the Bible sixty times
and not learn that it is a prohibition
book all the way through Thou shalt not
is found almost on every page of the
sacred book. No man car p each full
gospel and not preach prohibition.
Thousands of the best people are look
ing and hoping and praying that this
Legislature will give us relief from the
burden of Whiskey. If it prefers the in
ilucncc Of the whskey men TO the in
fluence of the best people of the State
woe be unto that party. This qucs-
ton will not down. The moral forces of
the State arc back of it and unless relief
comes through this Legislature these
forces will assert themselves and seek
relief by other means. Many good pco-
pie that have all along affiliated with
the old parties will no longer do so unless
they heed our cries and regard our pray
ers and respect our wishes While it
would be hard to sever our connection
yet we would be under no obligations to
remain. j. B. TABOR.
North Wilkesboro, ~ c., Feb. 2.
SMOKE LA Josephine and young