The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-02-23
SENATOR MAS0N'S SPEECH
Education And Temperance Go
Hand In Hand
Raleigh N. e. Feb. 1s, 1905

Raleigh N. e. Feb. 1s, 1905.
Senator Thos. w. Mason, of North
ampton is grand old man as the follow :
Ing repotr of his speech upon the Ward
temperance bill yesterday will attest:
"Mason. of Northampton, in his speech,
said great deal had been said regarding
party, but that this question was great
moral one and above the party but that ne
would be willing to test it by the standards
|of the Democratic party in the service OF
which he had grown old. The first two
provisions of the Democratic platform are
education and temperance. When he an
uounced this during the last campaign the
crowds had applauded him and had cried
that they would follow the party to the
death. He declared that education and
good morals were the ground-workers of
our civilization and that the party which
stands for them will be immortal. He de-
clared that Fleming and Williams were
both mistaken, and that if we do not 90
forward we will go backward. The Demo.
cratic platform demands adequate pelice
protection. The substitute of Fleming
does not give it, but the. Ward bill does.
Some personal illusions have been made
which he said he resented. This bill is not
striking at individuals but we bow our
heads to the will of the people, and this
law will give those who have invested
capital in whiskey the chance to withdraw
their aid to this traffice, q bar to civlliza-
ton. Stubbs in his attack on the Ward
bill declared that was not of sentiment but
that it should be time for calm, deliberate
and dispassionate discussion. The senti-
ment OF the great masses of North Caro-
lima should be represented. Two years ago
when certain legislation was enacted, the
minority fought vehemeutly, yet the ma
jority willed it and the minority bowed
their heads in submission, but it was
implied and there was tacit understand
ing that no further temperance legislation
should be enacted until the Watts law had
time to work its mission. Those towns ac-
cepted in good faith the act of the Legis-
lature. What the Democratic party said
at Greensboro was that there should be no
more drastic temperance legislation. Stubbs
fsaid the majority should rule, tha
s1athcrity had been given the call elections;
that they were called and the majority
spoke and yet people came here and en-
croached on this decision. He asked if
the honest construction of the Democratic
platform was not that the amendment
should be in the opposite direction, because
it was known that the people wore restless.
Speaking of the eighth district election he
asked whether the Democratic party stoop-
ed to retaliatory legislation. After the
constitutional amendment had been ratified
it was supposed passion and prejudice
would be abrogated, yet Senators are say
ing that they must legisIate against white
men who saw fit to vote the Republican
ticket. He declared that if this kind of
legislation continued the day would soon
come when Legislature would be elected
which would be pro-liquor In the sense that
it would be composed of men who were
opposed to party which encroaches on
the rights of the people. He added that it
was hard to be Democrat in North Caro-
lima and said: 1--WE yield to the majority
but before we do it, wish to enter my
protest" He referred to letter against
this sort of legislation as against the argu-
ment that it was endorsed Ly Senator Sim
mons aud closed by saying that whatever
the result of the vote was he would cheer
fully yield"