The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-30
IS WISE ANDPROPER
Adequate Police Protec-
ton and the Watts Law.
The Position of the Democratic PARTY
on the Liquor Question is Clearly
Set Forth by Democratic State
Chairman Simmons.

Adequate police protection is set
forth as an essential for places where
liquor is manufactured or sold. and
the Watts Law discriminares against
no one.
Such is the substance of a letter
just written by Democratic State
Chairman Simmons in reply to a series
OF questions sent to him by the editor
of Webster's Weekly, of Reidsville,
who asks the position of the Demo-
cratic party on the Watts Law, anG
the application of the law.
The reply of Chairman Simmons IS
as follows
Raleigh, N. c.. August 20, 1904.
Hon. John X. Webster. Reidsville, N.
c.:
Dear Sir:-I have received your let
ter of August 18th, in regard to the
temperance plank of the Democrtlc
State platform of this year, in which
you PROFOUND the following inquiries;
/. Did not the late Democratic Con-
ventiOn at Greensboro declare unanI-
mously for the principle of the WAITS
bill?
2. Has anv county convention or
candidate for office the right, UNI
der the provisions of our platform, to
either propose or advocate an amend
ment to said bill to leave it to a vote
Of the people by township or coun-
ty?
8. Can there be police regulation,
provided by the platform outside OF
incorporated towns or citie5r
In reply to your several inquiries, ]
beg to advise you that the Demo
cratic State convention recently held
at Greensboro did unanimously app
prove the general principles of the
Watts law. The language of the plat
form, upon this subject is in part as
follows: I'VE approve the general
principles of the Watts Law, regulat-
ing the manufacture and sale of Ii
quors and limiting the same to locaii-
ties in which there may be adequate
police protection" A subsequent clause
in this plank of the platform declares
that, THE General Assembly has Inc
power and, when controlled by the
Democratic party. can be trusted ["
make all amendments which eXper-
fence and conditions may demonstrate
to be wise and proper OF course
the Legislature has unlimited power
to amend or repeal all legislative en-
actments, but those two classes of the
Democratic deliverance upon the SUD-
iect of temperance legislation, as en-
bodied in the Watts Law, should be
taken together: and constituting them
together, an amendment of this law,
which would allow the manufacture
and, sale of liquors In localities in
which there may not be adequate po-
lice protection. would in my opinion
be a violation of its general principles,
and in conflict with the platform
declaration. tt
The essential principle of the Watts
Law is that liquor must neither be
manufactured nor sold in this state
except under adequate police protec-
ton. AS at present written, tha'
Law confines the manufacture and SAFE
of liquor to incorporated towns, where
adequate police protection is pre-
su;ned because required by law. IL
would seem, therefore, without REFER
ence to the incorporation of a locality
as a municipality, il adequate police
protection OF the traffic TO be conduct
ed therein can be and is in TRUTH
and in FACT provided and secured by
law, it would be a compliance with
the party's requirement limiting tha
manufacture and sale of liquors to To-
calitles in which there may be ade-
ouate police protection"
Very truly yours
+. M. SIMMONS,
Chairman State Democratic Elk. CON-