The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-06
THE WATTS LAW.
Attitude of Democratic Party as De-
fined by Chairman simmons.
(Webster's Weekly.)

Thu following letter from Chairman
Simmons shows the construction he
putslon the temperance plank of the
democratic state platform:
'faleigh, y. c., August 20, 1904.
'Hof John r. Webster. Reidsville.
n. O.:
Dear Sir-I have received your let
ter o. August 18th, in regard TO the
temperance plank of the democratic
state platform of this year. in which
yo upropound the following inquiries:
Il. Did not the late democratic con-
ventisn at Greensboro declare unani-
mousy for the principle of the Watts
bill?
"2. Has any county conventions or
can tidate for office the right, under
the provisions of our platform, to
ethel propose or advocate an amend
ment to said bill to leave it to a vote
of the people by township or county?
% Can there be police regulation
provoked by the platform, outside OF
incorporated towns Of cities?
In reply to you several inquiries l
beg p advise you that the democratic
state convention recently held at
Greensboro did unanimously approve
h gsneral principles of the Watts law
The language Of the platform. upon
this subject, is in part as follows:
1--WE approve the general principles
of thu Watts law, regulating the man
~ufacttre and sale Of liquors and limit
ing tie same to localities in which
there may be adequate police protec-
ton A subsequent clause in this plank
Of the platform declares that, The
general assembly has the power and,
when controlled by the democratic par-
ty, can be trusted to make all amend
ments which experience n conditions
may demonstrate to be wise and prop
err OF course the legislature has I'M
limited power to amend or repeal all
Legislative enactments, bur those two
clauses of the democratic d~eliverance
upon the subject of temperance leg
i~slation, as embodied in the Watts law.
should betaken together; and constru-
ing them together, an amendment of
this law, which would allow the man
u%facture and sale Of liquor in which
there may not be adequate police pro-
lection, would in my opinion be a VIC
lation Of its general principles. and in
conflict with the platform declaration.
THE essential principle of the Watts
law is that liquor must neither be
manufactured nor sold in the state
except under adequate police protec-
ton AS at present written, that law
confines the manufacture and sale OF
ilQuOT 70 ncOTpOGdlGu UOWlS, WHeIc
adequate police protection is presumed
because required by law. 1t would
SEEM, therefore. without reference to
the Incorporation of a locality as a
municipality, if adequate police protec-
ton Of the traffic to be conducted
therein can be and is in truth n in
fact provided and secured by law, it
would be a compliance with the nartv'S
requirement limiting the manufacture
and sale of liquors to localities in
which there may be adequate police
protection"
Every truly yours,
81. NJ. CTNfMONS,
Chairman State Democratic Elk. Com"
of the platform. The man who advo-
Gates the repeal of the Watt law or
it's amendments so as to permit the
manufacture or sale of liquor where
adequate police protection is not and
cannot i n|truth and in Iact be provid-
ed, is at wal with the democratic par
ty. The country districts cannot afford
the cost of policing the business. 1t
would involve an increase of taxation
to put a special officer at each distil-
lery and grog shop, without any cores
bonding increase in revenue
The democratic party has taken its
position and is not going TO destroy
the essential principle of the Watts
law to gain a few votes here and there.
The liquor element have the machine
| with them in a few counties, but the
state as a whole is for the Watts law
onI u-ii1 4anI hu it%