The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-17

To the Editor: senator GOQWln S utter
ance in the Senate Committee on Propo
sitions and Grievances last week was
significant A week before he had re-
quested the consideration of the London
Bill be deferred as he had not had time
TO examine it. The week having passed,
he arose and declared. Il have examined
the London Bill, and I am ready to vote
for it as it stands
There are other gentlemen who will be
more favorable to the London Bill when
they have examined it. They have
preiudiced it. Because it is so ardently
urged by the temperance forces, they
have concluded that the bill is extreme.
This comes UP to the mark if the craah5
in times past. The London Bill is not
extreme. 1t is reasonable, nd it is
adapted to the people-meeting al once
the demands of good morals and sound
public policy.
Suppose the General Assembly should
declare that the States policy is to as
sumo that the people desire prohibition,
and declare also that prohibition is de-
sirable but should add that if any city
or town preferred saloons or dispensaries
either might be established by popular
vote or petition?
Is there anything drastic or extreme or
unreasona BILE about that? Does it not
fully meet the demand for local self
government and popular rights? IS it il,
the least less right or reasonable to de-
clare that saloons should not exist, save
upon the expressed will of the majority
than it is to declare that prohibition or
dispensaries shall not be established,
save upon the expressed will of the ma
jority?
And yet this is the block upon which
many gentlemen are stumbling. This is
in effect the fifth s",t iG1i-the much op-
posed fifth section-of the London bill
1t is this that they have permitted tC
oyershadow the entire bill.
in view of the fact that this matter Of
temperance legislation is in the nature
not of popular legislation but of police
regulation; that IS. in view of the tact
that the Assembly is dealing with &
recognized evil. in the endeaVor to fine
remedy for il; and in view of tho fact
that there is such q, trend in the AS
sembly for 'leavnE it to the people, il
seems to me that this feature of the
London bill is, after all, the most timel
and accepted part of it.
It merely gives tho people opportunity
to vote their towns wet if they want
them Can the saloon mon ask more
Do they wish to be maintained by thc
Assembly-and not by an expressed pop
ular vote? Does the Assembly wish tc
stand before the Sthate as so maintain
ing them?
Now l must add that the fifth section
as it stands would call for a vote ever'
TWO years. This would be we'll for TIVE
or three elections, as the States polio!
should be to lead the people into some
handling the great drink evil. This fea
ture is decidedly constructive in its char
acter.
)" the fifth section is not such a terror
but merely a we'll conceived and timel,
piece Of constructive legislation lookin!
to the cure of the great drink evil.
1T LEAVES THE NATTER WITH TIL
PEOPLE.
This reminds me that the Smith bill
which has gained so much ground Whil
the gentlemen were running away from
the London bills fifth section-is afte
all the application of this very fifth soc
uon to the whole State, But gentleme1
who have rejected the London bill on ac
count o. fthe fifth section have readil
embraced the Smith bill. The Smit
Dill presumes that prohibition is goo
"+i'I - itStIeQ Dut permits the peopl
VINO do not think so to test the question
instead Cf establishing prohibition onl
oy popular vote, it provides that saloon
ana dlspensaries may be established onl
upon popular vote
1t seems to me that the advocates o
saloons VINO are crying, Leave it to tn
people, are really pleading for the hit
Sectlon of the London bill.
am willing to leave the question O
establishing saloons 20 the people TIL
HIth section of the London bill distinct
~ calls for just this. But | fear til
gentlemen mean by their cry of ''LeaV
1t 10 the people''-"Leaye it alone,'
30 much for the fifth section. l iudg
mat the other features of the Londo
o'Ii are pretty we'll understood and large
~ conceded
IL calls for an anti-jug law. That sim
py makes prohibition laws just and CT
ietIlVe IN prohibited territory. Any ma