The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-13
A DODGE.

The following has been sent out from
democratic headquarters at Raleigh.
1t will be seen that the republicans are
trying to dodge the issue on the Watts
law which they themselves raised. The
democrats did not make this matter a
Political question. They tried to keep
it out Of politics. The republicans new
ertheless, by their party platform made
it an issue. They now see the mistake
they have made and are trying to rec
tify it by secretly modifying their state
platform. Tt is a sharp dodge, but
Chairman Simmons was too shrewd for
them. They were mistaken if they
thought they could catch him mapping.
By reference to the republican state
Platform published in this book, pages
8 to 10. inclusive, it will be seen that
that platform upon the subject of tenn
perance legislation by the last legisla-
ture is as follows:
W favor, as we have ever favored,
just and equal laws for the promotion
of temperance. but we d%enounce the
democratic legislature for the enact
ment of the Watts law, for the reason
that it was conceived and enacted for
political advantage. under the guise
Of temperance reform, and for it's un-
just n unfair discrimination in con-
ferring rights and privileges upon the
habitants of incorporated towns and
cities which it denies to the citizens Of
the country. But in pursuance of our
~time-honored policy, of local self-goy-
eminent, we favor a law which submits
to the qualified voters OF the several
counties and incorporated towns of the
state, at their request, the question OF
whether they hall or shall not be per-
mitted to make and sell Intoxicating
liquors. and the faithful execution of
their will as expressed at the ballot
hox-"
The republican state platform, as
published in this book, containing the
above platform as published in The Ra-
leigh Morning Post on the morning
of May 10. 1904. the day after the
republican state convention at
Greensboro. and in The Raleigh News
and Observer on the morning of May
Goth.
The Greensboro Record of May 18th
did not publish the platform, but con-
tanned the following reference to the
temperance plank of the platform:
~. J.. Britt read the report of the
committee on platform, which was an
extensive observation-disclosures. . =
favoring a good law governing the
question of temperance, condemning
the Watts liquor law and believing
the whiskey question should be left to
the voters of the district affected. - =
ION motion the platform was unani5
mously adopted. Before the vote was
announced ~ex-Judge Robinson was
recognized and said he wanted to give
his dissent to the clause in reference to
temperance. He spoke several minutes,
saying God forbid that the paths to the
bar rooms should be made more open
tina now, n protesting against the
impeachment of Governor Aycock's
character. =
THE platform was again voted on
and adopted
rot publish the platform, but contain
ed the following refence to it in its is
sue of May 18th:
THE only sensation, etc, was when
Judge Robinson . . arose upon the
reading of the report of the commit
tee on resolutions and protested
against the section condemning the
Substantially the same account
quoted above from The Charlotte OBJ
server appeared in The Charlotte News
OF May 10. 1904.
Mr.. Thomas s. Rollins, republican
state chairman. is mailing to individu-
al voters in different parts of the state
under cover of ordinary envelopes q
lot Of republican literature, among
which is what purports to be republi-
can state platform, adopted at Greens.
boro, May Is. 1904. In the platform
thus being distributed by Chairman
Rollins, the only reference to temper
ance and temperance legislation is the
following:
XVIII. We favor, as we have ever
| favored, just and equal laws for the
promotion OF temperance, but in pur.
suance of our time-honored policy Of
local self-government we favor
law which submits to the qualified
voters of the several counties n in
corporated towns of the state. at theil
request. the question Of whether they
shall or shall not be permitted to max.
and sell Intoxicating liquors, and tn,
faithful execution of their will as ex'
pressed at the ballot o
1t will be seen from the above tina
the portion of the temperance plani
as published the morning after tn
day OF the convention with referenc.
to the Watts bill and in black type,
and referred to in the account of TIL,
Greensboro Record. Charlotte Oberv
er and Charlotte New is omitted leav
ing nc specific reference in the platform
whatever to the Waits bill.
What does this mean? Have tn,
republican bosses changed their plat
form as adopted by the convention
If so. when did they change it ani
what was the purpose OF the change
Why are they sending copies of thi
revised platform under cover to in
dividuals in different sections, per
haps careful selected sections? It Il
a well known practice of the repub
hcan bosses to make nominations o