The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-06
Tuesday Sept. s, 1904.
THE WATTS LAW AND THE ANTI
JUG LAW.

The Watts law and what is known
as the ''anti-jug law seem TO have be-
come veritable firebrands in democratic
ranks. They are disturbing elements
from one end Of the state to the other.
1t is unfortunate for the democratic
party that the liquor question should
have been taken from the domain of
morals and transplanted in that Of
politics.
That the principles Of local option
and prohibition are spreading in this
state no one can deny. That is all
right. If the people want prohibition
they are entitled to it as a moral and
nOn-political measure But it is also
patent that many politicians seeing the
growth of these ideas have seized the
opportunity to attempt to ride into Of
flee and political prominence on the
popular wave. They-some politicians.
have brought these questions into
politics for their own advancement and
in doing 50 have jsopardized the demo-
cratic I2rty.
1t is hard to keep any such move
ment out of politics, and, knowing this,
the leaders Of h two sides in this is
sue should have taken extraordinary
precautions that the welfare of the
party should not be endangered by 1t.
Blu the mischief has been done. There
is no denying the fact that already a
breach has been made in the party
from one end of the state to the other
"a breach that will be hard to close
on election day. In fact, there is dan
ger of its growing wider and wider each
day. The press of the state chronicles
this growing hostility among party men
over the Watts law and the anti-jug
law. Two instances come under our
observation in looking over our ex-
changes today. The Charlotte Chron>
icle says:
Brunsick is another county where the
democrats are having internal troubles.
Tt appears that the Watts law is the
disturbing element. and because they
are dissatisfied with the nominees for
county offices, certain adherents of the
measure have called a convention to
put out another ticket.
The other is Intentional in the States
vile Landmark. From that paper we
gather that the democratic party is
badly divided on the question in Nc
Dowell county. There the regular par
ty nominee for the house of represen-
tatives is an anti-prohibitionist. 4
prohibitionist has announced himself as
an Independent candidate against MIN
n has declared his platform to be an
amendment to the Watts law which
Will allow the voters of the whole coun-
ty TO pass upon, at a special election,
the question of prohibition in Marion,
the county sea 1t seems that an eff
fort heretofore to vote liquor out OF
this town by the vote of it's electors
failed, and now the intention is declar-
ed of attempting to induce the legis-
lators TO submit the decision Of wheth-
er the town shall have saloons, dispen.
sary Or prohibition to the people of the
county.
There is a heavy demand for amend
ment Of the Watts law. This demand
comes from both the advocates Of that
measure and from it's opponents. The
ON iNS "oAo SNAASNS ASiSiolAOAi.
The other wants it modified. Still others
demand the repeal of the law. Be
tween these what is going to become
of the democratic party? Is the i'm
portance of its remaining in power to
be lost sight of by the two factions in
this contention over the question Of
regulating the sale of liquor? Are we
to return TO the days or fusionism be-
cause a few politicians prefer Office and
power for themselves to the best in
terests of the state? 1t looks hat way
and it is pretty apt to come, too, I'M
less the democrats and patriotic North
Carolinians arise and determine that
such shall not be the case
I'VE ave no reference herein to those
conscientious laborers for the suppress
cion of liquor drinking or liquor traffic
whose aim is to accomplish a moral
reform. That is a question entirely
aside from the one which today the
democratic party ~confronts through
the scheming of a number Of small
calibre politicians.