The gold leaf., 1905-08-10
RALEIGH LETTER.
HENDERSON, y. c.
GORMAN News BUREAU, |
Raleigh. \. C.. Aug. Z. 1905. {

Raleigh voters are to have another
fight over the liquor question in October,
and, as was the case two years ago. the
question is disEensary or bar-rOOms. The
only difference this year from the ques-
tions involved in 1903 (when the dis
pensay system was adopted by a two
thirds vote) is that if the saloon advO-
Gates should win this time high license
will prevail
Under the terms Of the new charter of
Raleigh, if the "open saloon or licensed
bar-rOOm system is ever restored, the
minimum municipal tax for each retail
liquor dealer shall be 81 200 per annum
With the county and State and the
United States tax added, the taxes and
licenses of liquor saloons here would be
from ST. 800 to 81 800 a year each.
Probably not more than a half-dozen, or
say ten at the most, could afford to do
business under such conditions in the
town the size of Raleigh. There were
about % saloons here two years ago,
but then the city tax was only $500 per
annum.
The new election is to be called under
the terms of the law which gives the
minority the right to another try every
two years, provided one-third or more
OF the qualified voters shall petition the
board of aldermen, etc. This petition was
presented to the board last Friday night
If the necessary number of registered
voters are found to have signed (as
claimedD the aldermen will order the cleo
ton to be held in October The matter
will be settled at the September meeting
of the board
QUEER POSITION OF PROHIBITIONISTs.
The result of the coming election will
very greatly depend upon the prohibition
vote, which at this writing appears to be
rather uncertain. The sentiment of the
voters OF this city on the liquor question
seems to be very evenly divided into three
parts, and the success OF the dispensary
proposition two years ago was largely
due to the fact that the prohibitiOnists
supported it almost solidly.
This will not be the case this year. for
many of the leading prohibitionists Gin
cluding the pastor OF the largest church
here) have become disguised with the
operations OF the dispensary as a pro-
moter of temperance. Some of them say
that selling drunk instead of drink"
does not promote temperance On the
other hand, some who opposed the dis
pensary in 1908 will vote for it this year
because OF its money-making record. 1t
is certainly success as a revenue pro-
ducer and the municipal tax rate has
been decreased because of that fact, and
in this lies it's chief strength here.
There is little doubt that a large pro-
portion of the prohibition vote will not
be cast this time Nevertheless, the
chances are that the dispensary will de-
feat the saloons again. high-license in
cluded
[ find a pretty and attractive little
story In the editorial columns of the
Charleston Is. Co. News and Courier CON
cerning one of the most distinguished
citizens OF our own State, and which
should interest many of the readers OF
these letters. In part it says:
The Blue Ridge Railroad is to be fin
lshed on the lines of the original survey.
Ihe Company has been reorganized with
Col. A. +. Andrews as president When
a boy II years of age he was employed
On the construction of this road. and
gave up the work to take service in the
Confederate Army, where he fought for
I years with distinguished gallantry.
1t is one of the ambitions of his
life to drive the Blue Ridge railroad
through the mountains and we have no
doubt that he will be sustained in his
Efforts by the great Southern Railway
company, of which he is now the First
Vice President
Ihls is great undertaking, but Col.
Andrews will certainly consummate it.
Tor he never meets with failure in the ex-
ecutlon OF any of his work in his profes-
sion: Col. Andrews is the greatest rail.
road man in the South. There is no man
IN North Carolina, there has never been
one, who has reflected so much credit
upon the State in the railway circles of
this country and the business world gen
orally as Col. a. 3. Andrews He has q
greater and wider reputation today than
any other citizen of our State Unuues-
tlonably he Is personally the most mag
netlc man, with more distinct and at
tractive presence in North Carolina.
we have had a few politicians. and
leWer statesmen who have made more
noise IN the halls of legislation and on
the forum. But, every thing considered,
North carolina has produced no greater
man-great of heart as we'll as of brain:
as man who has done much unheralded
good for his fellow men in a private way
as we'll as the accomplishment of so much
IN the railroad and business world And
after he is dead and gone most of us will
proclaim the fact and boast of it. and
even his enemies for every man who
amounts to much always has enemies)
will admit it.
1t Is the way Of the world to withhold
Its boquets and reserve them only for the
CONN: All! If we would only get out OF
that bad habit and bestow a few of the
mowers OF praises upon our heroes. who
so richly deserve them. ere they leave us
oehind. How much better it would be
for US all, how it would cheer the declin-
ing years OF those who have won their
spurs to izein this life that they have
attracted to themselves so many good
trends and admirers who endorse and
praise their life's work,
LLEWNAM