The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-09
IN THE HANDS or THE SUPERIOR
COURT JUDGES.

Robson county probably affords the
best example in North Carolina Of the
steady and beneficial progress in tenn
perance of any large county in North
Carolina. 1t has large population of
all classes it has varied industries; it
has half dozen good towns with con-
flicting interests; and fifteen years ago
it had as many saloons and was as
sorely afflicted with liquor as any
county in the State. The good people
Of that county determined to rid the
county of the evil and succeeded in
refusing license and in getting legisla-
ton. But though it secured stringent
laws, there were frequent violations
because the Superior Court Judges,
when offenders were convicted would
too often make the order Judgment
suspended on payment of costs" In
an article in the Smithfield Herald
tracing the story of the redemption of
Robson from the curse of liquor, Mr..
j. A McAllister, of Lumberton, says:
'At last we got the right man or
the bench, and our people Will ever
hold him in grateful recollection for
lbs manly and courageous administra-
tlOn of justice in assisting us to sup
press the evil then flourishing in our
midst. Judge Conner during this time
held a term of court here. He was
informed of the situation and num-
ber of cases for retailing were heard
before him and conviction followed in
almost every case. The penalty of
the law was imposed so that from
that time until now there has been
little retailing worth speaking of in
this county,
That incident, showing how far
reaching and helpful was the enforce
ment of the Robson law by Judge
Common, puts us in mind to say that in
the last analysis the value Of the tenn
perance legislation enacted depends
upon the Superior Court Judges OF
course the sheriff and other officers
are charged with the duty of enforcing
the law, and the people should demand
that they do their duty. But the
proper word in his charge by the SUI
perior Court Judge, followed up by
the imposition of severe penalties fol
violators of the law, will do more to
guarantee enforcement than anything
else. Since the enactment of the Watts
law, in one or two instances that have
come to our attention, Superior
Court Judge has been imposed upon
and has given a mere nominal pun
ishment upon the ring leaders of the
whole gang of violators of the law.
No fine is adequate in such a case, for
the gang can afford to chip in, pay
the fine, and make ten-fold more
money by keeping up the business. The
only thing to do with such offenders is
to let them go to the roads. That is
medicine that cures them of that spe>
cies of lawlessness. OF course in
every such conviction there is great
sympathy for the wife of the offender,
and his lawyers bring all the pressure
possible upon the Judge to let him
The result is that all who incline to
the moonshine business feel that they
can safely defy the law. One offend
er let off with payment of costs" or
fine is taken as license to go ahead ana
violate the law.
If the Superior Court Judges will
do their duty, they can compel other
officials to put an end to this illegal
business, and the law will be enforced.
The matter in every county is in the
hands of the Superior Court Judge.
If every one will do what Judge Con-
nor did in Robson the good results
that have followed in Robson will be
felt in every county in the State.