The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-20
AS ALIKE AS TWO BLACK-EYED
PEAS.

On March 2otn, a certain news
paper, published suggested
platform for the Democratic State
convention at Greensboro. This
paper predicted that nearly every
plank in that suggested platform, with
some changes and additions, would be
adopted by the Republican State con-
vention at Greensboro on the 18th OF
Nav. That conventions action fulfill
ed the prediction. AS evidence OF
this, we copy below the anti-temper-
ance plank suggested by the organ
and the one adopted by the Republic
cans. The plank suggested by the
organ was in these words:
Even in promoting so good cause
as Temperance the fundamental prln-
ciples of popular government ought
not TO be forgotten. The regulation
o. suppression of the whiskey traf-
fic ought to be prescribed by the
votes of all qualified voters, those
living without as well as those living
within incorporated towns. The watts
Law should be so amended as to allow
countrymen as we'll as townsmen to
vote upon the question under the same
rules provided for the towns.
Now here is the plank adopted by
the Republican State Convention:
1--WE favor, as we have ever favored,
just and equal laws for the promotion
of temperance, but we denounce 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 its UNI
Just and unfair discrimination in con-
ferring rights and privileges upon the
inhabitants 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
government, we favor law winch
submits to the qualified voters of the
several counties and incorporated
towns of the State, at their request
the question of whether they shall or
shall not be permitted to make and
sell intoxicating liquors. and the faith
full execution of their will as expressed
at the ballot box
The sentiment is identical and but
for the predictions of The News and
Observer there would probably have
been no change in the verbiage.
The purpose is plain: To try to get
UP an agitation and secure vote on
III CNCIy OOubsS IN TN
State The people of North Carolina
are well pleased with the Watts Law,
and this is particularly true Of the
people living in the country. They
wish no saloons and stills near their
homes, and very few townships would
permit it, but the Liquor Dealers AS
ISOLATION has raised a fund of over
million dollars to fight temperance
legislation. If they could precipitate
a general vote in ali the counties,
they could put their money where it
would do the most good" in promot-
ing Democratic dissension, and would
in that manner help to strengthen the
Republican party That's what all this
inspired talk of allowing countrymen
to vote means. 1t does not come from
countrymen at all, but from liquor
dealers, liquor manufacturers, and
peanut politicians who wish to restore
an army of revenue doodles and
gaugers in the coves and by-ways of
North Carolina.
The statement that the Watts law
discriminates against the country peo-
pie is false. None of the mere regu-
lations of the liquor traffic (such as
selling to minors, on Sundays, near
churches and the like) have been sub
mitted to the voters. The Watts law
merely added to those restrictions that
intoXicants should neither be manu-
featured nor sold in any place lacking
police protection. That was a neces-
sary, proper, and salutary provision,
and no demagogue or pot-house poll
tician can twist it into any denial of
home rule.
The Democratic party rejoices in
the honor of passing the Watts law
and will defend the principle upon
which it rests on every stump in North
Carolina. The more the revenue doo-
dies abuse it, the more the people will
believe in it, There will be no step
backward taken unless the Democrats
should decide to stultify themselves
a course they do not pursue.
The Watts law will stand. In 1891,
when he had 100000 negro votes, Dr.
Mott thought he could win by tying
the Republican party to a whiskey
jug and making the campaign cry Rum
and Radicalism. He caught few
hungry office-seekers, but the people
remained true to Democracy and De-
cency. Rollins & Co. seem to think
they can win with the purified suf-
frage with the shibboleth Radicalism,
Rum and Revenue-doodles. History
will repeat itself. and the Radical par
ty in 1904 will stagger and reel into a
disgraced ditch in it's November de-
lirium.