The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-16

pie mad In the promises direct and I'M
piled of the great party led by the
nlatchless Glenn. Shall the platform
be to us rule of action or shall we
use it only as means OF securing
| temporary power?
/ /. personally. have always voted ana
worked for local option and for the
restriction in every way OF the Ilquor
| traffic. and shall continue 70 do so.
Put / am as firmly convinced that the
present enactment of more stringent
| State legislation is nor only party MS
| honor and betrayal of the people, pul
| an actual hindrance to the cause OF
temperance. The Watts law is so ar
| in advance of the actual demands OF
| the people that time should be given
| them for the irritation it caused to Die.
| HoWever strongly We may belle"' &l
the total abolition of the traffic or -
| its restrictions, we must respect the
| opinions of those who do not thlnh AS
we do 1t is Il mistaken idea To mag
Inc that only drinking people oppose
pro1ihilinr and favor the sale as oeV-
erase Of alcoholic liquors. Nothing is
farther from the truth. Some or tne
best mon In every community be1leVe
il is q privilege and right that should
not be denied them much less denied
them without q vote of the people.
And these men are the men who have
been true to Democracy in defeat as
we'll as in success. Shall we use the
power they have given us under erect
and implied promises to Illuminate
them and drive them into direct oppo-
siton. rather than by fair and open
means secure their help as far as pos
sible along the lines we believe to be
right? know. nothing Of the local
conditions of such places as Williams
and Shore and Advance: ard yet ] be-
licve that unless there are most UNI
usual conditions prevailing thera, the
counties in which thcy are located
should be left to deal with them as
they sec 1T. If the senti:nent of tns
people demands it they can be wiped
out OF existence in democratic way.
And if the people do not demand it,
the people should rule, even though
they make and sell wniskey al over
the county. Let the temperance forces
go into such counties and towns and
educate the people-tig1t 1t "ur AS man
to man and they will accomplish per-
manent results.
have already written more than
Intended and ] only wish to cmpha-
size the fact that however much we
may desire he complete abolition or
restriction CT the liquor traffic. from
a moral standpoint. it is unadvisable
tc go farther AT present. From II po-
lit,cal standpoint, the honor OF the
Democratic party is pledged to modi-
ications Of the Watts law and not ad-
ditional restrictions along the lines
proposed by the measures introduced
in the Legislature.
As legislators who asked as individ-
uals the support of the people on the
platform adopted by the Democratic
party, the present assembly have~a
trust given them upon the basis OF
that platform which should be used IN
the spirit in which it was given them.
CHAS 2. McANALLY.
Madison. n. c., Feb. 10.
(The attention of all readers is
called to tho Democratic platform
which speaks for itself. 1t is as fol-
lows:
I'VE approve the general principles
of the Watts law regulating the man
ufacture and sale of liquors, and linz
ting the same TO localities I'm which
there may be adequate police pFotec-
ton. The principle that no saloon or
still shall operate except under police
protection is as sound as that whislsey
shall not be sold To minors ito drunk
ards, or on Sundays, or near the
schools and churches. The General
assembly has the power. and when
controlled by the Democratic party can
be trusted to make all amendments
that experience and conditions raay
demonstrate to be wise and proper"
Every section in the ward bill is in
exact compliance with the declaration
for ADEQUATE POLICE PROTEC-
TION" and in no way dependent upon
any other clause in the Democratic
platform .-Editor.)