The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-17
WHAT THE LEAZAR DEBATORS
SAID ON DISPENSARY QUESTION
The Arguments for and Against the System as State
Measure. Some Very Strong Points
are Scored
are Scored.

sixth: The dispensa1y system is par
ticularly adapted to the present needs OF
| North Carolina because its enforcement
would not place upon our shoulders a
great burden of expense.
The question / would now ask is, which
would be hest for North Carolina, prohi-
bition, which never has been nor never
can be enforced; high license, which
tends to increase the evil, which gives to
the rich saloon keeper a monopoly of the
traffic and protects him while he robs the
poor; local option with high license and
prohibition as nlternates. a combination
of the evils of both with the attendant
one of keeping the question constantly in
politics and thus offering endless invita-
tions to bribery and corruption or dispen-
sary system, which has not only succeed
ed, but has succeeded under conditions al
most exactly similar to our own? Which
shall we choose; the failures of Northern
and Western States, or the success of a
Southern Slater"
Mr.. P. S. EMERSON, NEGATIVE:
Prohibition pronounces the verdict of the
States dsapproval upon ruinous and
baneful traffic, and thus brands it with
public disgrace; it relieves the State of the
sin and responsibility OF turning its sober
children into drunkards by virtue of an
act of the Legislature and for a money
consideration; it prevents men, whom no
moral consideration seems to influence,
from making it their sole business to in
duce their fellows TO drink so that the
seller may thereby live upon their degra-
dation and ruin: it elevates law into righ-
teousness and thus makes it continual
teacher and supporter of sobriety and JUS
tice.
my first objection, then, to the dis
pensary, is that it tolerates continu-
ance of this baneful business.
I'VE want no compromise with the Ii
quor traffic; no halfway measure; no
gliding over of the great evil; no over
lures of peace with whiskey men. Can
we raise a new generation free from the
faint of drink and still allow liquor to be
sold2
Some of our so-called temperance re-
formers have been nursing and giving
medicine but what this case needs is
diagnosis and we are offering the right
thing at the right time and at the right
place. This thing is absolute prohibition
my second objection to the dispensary
is that it turns a majestic State into an
official arkeeper, and violates the high
est attribute and function of State.
Bower an eminent authority on Grim
nal law, said last year that seventy-five
per cent. of all crime was directly trace
able to the liquor traffic. Every ailmeEt
bears testimony to the fact that whiskey
is the prolific parent of insanity. How
far, then, is State departing frc.n its
lofty function when it degrades itself to
become partner in making criminals and
filling asylums! How poor and pitiful a
thing does a sovereign State become if it
violates the conscience of its best men
and women!
''The State wisely passes and enforces
laws against the manufacture and sale
of aduterated, impure or poisonous food.
Can it then with an atom of consistency
punish men for selling harmlessly adulter-
ated food when it is openly selling an
admitted destroyer of human health and
happiness? Away. forever away, with a
compromise with iniquity, and with a fell
iowship in degradation!
my next objection to the dispensary
system is that it is far behind the pro-
gressive business sentiment of America to-
day At this juncture our progressive
business men are demanding not the
checking but the abolition of the whiskey
evil.
North Carolina has very few large
towns, and our State is what is called a
rural State; therefore, we can hope for
prohibition in our State a wonderful sue
cess.
what means the general movement all
over the Southern States for prohibition
if prohibition has proved failure? We
see Virginia, West Virginia. North Caro-
lima, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas,
Mississippi and Kentucky have already
over half of their territory under prohib
itory laws.
'tAll over the State the question
is being discussed and over half the
State has already expressed its opinion that
prohibition is the solution of this ques-
tion.
IL have endeavored to show that the
cause which we have so near at heart is
founded on bedrock principles, and that
the State cannot support cause which
conflicts with ours.
Were dispensaries established, what woe
our State would suffer! In my mind, I
see the paths leading out from every
town, dotted with men, some in the CUR
ter, some Keeling on with their bottles Of
the fiery water, all of one mind, drink.
Again, l see a prohibition State. cry
is rending the air No drink and no
where can drink be found Perhaps it
will not be too much to suppose that one
or two deprived of their drink have gone
to their reward. But just over the gentle
rise / see the bright glow of rising
sun. This sun is rising on clear brains,
happy homes, communities rid Of vice and
crime, country with excellent roads not
made with convict labor a State of which
we Will be more proud and one which
besides being an example to her sister
States will show to the world that where
love for humanity abounds there will be
complete State"
Mr.. w. FINLEY, NEGATIVE: First.
] propose to show that the dispensary
system is a moral compromise 1t is the
State doing the work of the saloon. But
even the State cannot allow whiskey to be
sold without a license.
Second. | maintain that the people
are not more ready or more likely to
unite on the dispensary than on prohibi.
ton. At the present juncture there are
thousands of men who on principle will
not vote fl OF support dspensary sys-
too, For avapanla II, y,aII n.