The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-03

But to argue that this was the HlotiN
for the Watts act is no more Soullu
than to argue that any other law ne
improves conditions was designed 70
reduce the number of officers OF III"
law. The Watts acts prime hlollIe
and as such the peopIc
value it: its collateral effect was 20
reduce the number OF revenue ON
GERS. which as q matter OF eCoiIo,'i9
and progress in government VIII iiNc
wise be appreciated. o 10
AZ ia discrimination. the case Is
equally clear. Dlscrllillilatlo
a difference is wrong; but dlLere .!s
in conditions always justify distinction"
in tha treatment of those conultloilS'
rrbora ie one law for the head, an
other for the stomach; one law ior one
State another for another; one law Tor
one age: another for another. Inc
Watts act provides local optloll LOT .ue
limited prohlnltloh LOT
tho Incorporated and unpoliced dis
tricts our obligation is to show that
mis- distinction is based upon proper
regard for differences in the respective
conditions of town and country.
First. let it be observed that such
distinction as there is in favor of the
rural districts The Punishment of
the crossroads bars and the back
woods distilleries can but be regarded
as q boon to all peace-loVlng residents
of our rural districts.
Second, let it not be forgotten that
by the incorporation Of schools and
churches the rural districts had prac-
IDEALLY prepared themselves for this
enactment
Third. bear in mind that by petition
and by local action the rural districts
had practically registered their will in
this matter. Instead of incorporating
all the churches and schools, the Gen
eral Assembly simply passed gen
eral law answering the SANG pur-
pose.
Now. for the statement of the reason
underlying this action by the Genera!
Assembly. let us refer to the state
ment in the Democratic platform:
1--WE approve the general principles
of the Watts law regarding the manu-
facture and sale of liquors. and linn
itfng the same to localities in which
there may be adequate police protec-
ton. The principle that no saloon On
still shall operate except under police
protection is as sound as that Wh1s-
key Shall not be sold to minors, to
drunkards, or on Sundays, or near
the schools and churches. The General
Assembly has the power, and Wh"H
controlled by the Democratic parry
can be trusted to make all amend
ments that experience and conditions
may demonstrate to be wise and
proper"
Limiting the same to localities in
which there may be adequate police
protection"
The principle that no saloon or
still shall operate eXcept under police
protection is as sound as that whis-
key shall not be sold to minors, to
drunkards, or on Sundays, or near the
schools and churches"
In the town the bar-room and still.
are under the eye of the police; in the
country, they are not. Consequently
as a mere matter of preserving the
peace and protecting men in the pur-
suit of happiness. the saloon and dis
tillery cannot be permitted in UNI
poiced districts. The distillery hid In
the woods may go to any extent of
laWleSSneSS, may sell to minors, may
defraud the government may organize
a local reign of terror, and there is bGs
limited remedy. But in the town it ls
under constant watch. The bar-roor.
at the crossroads has by reason OK
its unpoliced condition invariably
proved a center of disorder anG
crime; and from it's doors may pro-
coed at any time drunken men-often
negrocs-irrespons and on fire WITH
criminal purposes.
So far from being Objectionable, the
conservative people throughout North
Carolina have approved this feature o:
the act as the most beneficcnt piece
Of legislation in a quarter Of cen
tury. 1t is calculated not only to make
residence in the rural districts more
desirable than ever, but to have an
immediate effect in increasing the
value of country proprty. With our
,icI,i hoy -
the country districts delivered from
the bar-roomS and diStillerieS, We
may expect to see the tide of popula-
ton turn again to the farms, and the
quiet country home once more ex-
toIled as the place to live the nobler
| life and to rear men and women to
lead the commonwealth
The claim that the question should
have been submitted TO d vote is {.
mere preteXt of the opposition. More
than three-fourths of the State had
already spoken True citizens do MOI
object to having a boon conferred
upon them simply because they were
not required to work for it, going to
the expense and trouble of campaign
To be sure there is opposition but
mark its sources: Cd Revenue Off
GERS, who no longer have an excuse for
drawing their salaries; CD diStilleries
VINO are cOmpelleQ now TO carry on
their business in the open; (3) poll
ticians seeking an issue with which
to stir up the pre1udices of the igno-
rant
1t should also be added that in JUS
tice to the country people it is ex-
pressly ordained in this act that half
the profits from such dispenSarieS as
may be established shall go into the
county treasury.
The Watts Act and the Towns and
Cities.
There could be desired no better
approval of an act than the history
of the operation of the local option
feature of the Watts act Freed from
the incubus of the negro vote, the
white people Of North Carolina have
addressed themselves earnestly to the
treatment of the drink problem.
At eleven places. namely, Washing
ton, Wilmington, Rocky Mount, Tar
boro, Wldon, Scotland Neck, Spring
Hope, Reidsville, Roxboro, Salisbury.
Morganton and Marion they have vo-
ted for high license, and at some of
these they have passed ordinances gov
erning the liquor traffic strictly; at
Elizabeth City, New Bern, Goldsboro
Nashville, Benson. HillsborO. Wades-
boro Greensboro, Durham, Roanoke
Rapids, Charlotte. Statesville, South
port jacksonville Pilot Mountain and