The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-04
THE FIGHT "FOR SALOONS" IN RALEIGH DE-
PENDs UPON OUTSIDE AID.


ANTT-SALOON LEAGUE IN NORTH
| CAROLINA.
Respectfully yours
led. V. DENTON,
Secretary and Treasurer.
Approved:
IS T. SMITH.
81. n. WHITE,
IN. WOODARD,
] LED. V. DENTON,
Campaign Committee"
Folks i'm Raleigh know that all five
names signed to the above have for
many years been saloon keepers in
Raleigh and all have made big money
by keeping saloons in Raleigh.
Observe that the men "whOse interests
from business point of view are equal
to ours" (wholesale dealers, distillers
and others whom they formerly pat
ronized) are told 1--WE know the ways
to use the money in an election, but
1--WE need the means I'm more album
dance than we now have They are
asked ito contribute to our success to
such extent as you think your bust
ness interests justifies.' In order to in
duce liberal contributions Mr.. Denton
and the other bar-keepers tell the
dealers and others solicited that RAJ
eigh is the pivotal point" and that
upon this city 1.-The eyes of all Liquor
Interests will be conferred and that
what Raleigh now does will either
strengthen or defeat all further Oper-
atoms of the Anti-SalOOn League in
North Carolina"
That was in August before the petit
ton of over 900 names cover one-third
of them illegaD was presented to the
board. 1t costs money to hire ''toters,"
to pay lawyers, and the other expenses
of the campaign. 1t is not known
how much Ed. V. Denton, Secretary
and Treasurer" received from the
first letter. Some of the men dunned
evidently did not respond as the Cam
paign Committee" of business men"
("not the work of organized liquor
menu thought they ought to do
and so Ed, V. Denton 'Secre-
tary and Treasurer sent out the fol-
lowing letter. which was in effect say
ing to the wholesalers and others So
licited that they had better come up to
the captains office and pay up, for
1--WE will remember our friends"
Here is letter number two:
"Ofice r. V. Denton,
Secretary and Treasurer.
Raleigh, n. c., Sept. 10, 1905.
Dear Sir:
Referring to my circular letter un-
der date of Aug. rs, 1905, beg to
advise that | have heard nothing
whatever from you, much to my sur
prise. We are in the midst of our
Campaign in Raleigh, and ARE
NEEDING FUNDS, and we sincerely
trust that you will send us check for
your contribution at once upon receipt
of this
Raleigh is the capital of the state,
and II THE LIQUOR MEN CAN
WIN THE FIGHT HERE 1T WILL,
OF course. MEAN A GREAT DEAL
CAROLINA IN THEIR FIGHT. which
arc now being waged We can't make
these fights WITHOUT OUTSIDE
AID, and we feel confident that we
have an excellent chance of winning
| the fight.
please do not delay this matter
| but let us hear from you with your
contribution at once as the same VIII
| he placed upon your credit in our lisa
of those who contribute i'm this Cam
/ paien and of course, WE WILL RE
MEMBER OUR FRIENDS.
Thanking you in advance, l am,
Your truly,
"ED. V. DENTON,
Secretary and Treas
Still some of the men solicited did
not send a big check to ED. V. Den
| ton, Secretary and Treasurer" In the
meantime the Board of Aldermen,
upon the advice of their attorney,
called i'm the Registrars whose terms
| expired last May and with their assist
ance purged the books as of last May.
Some of the ablest lawyers in Raleigh
say they had no right to touch the
! books and that if the Registrars
failed to revise the books when in
office last May, they could not help
| to do it four months afterward and
| that the only thing the Board could
| DO was to add up the names,
ana lncll ulNluG the ny
three, and require third of the
names on the books to be on the pc
tition. However, the Board of Alder
men, anxious only to do the right thing,
| having opened the list for one pur-
| pose properly and equitably opened it
| for all purposes, and said if the list is
| to be purged one way it must be pur-
| ged every way, and held, by the advice
of eminent lawyers, that no person
| could petition for an election who
could not participate in the election if
ordered. That didn't please ED. V.
Denton, Secretary and Treasurer" and
SO the Campaign Committee" pro-
ceeded to hire lawyers to compel an
election Presumably the second let
ter had brought in the funds which
| they said 1--WE must have" and the
| fight will be pressed before the Su-
preme court. But still the Campaign
| Committee of business men"-Ed
Denton, Luther White, Moses Woodland
Il -. In H. \