The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-11
Prolonged and Impas-
stoned Discussion.
VOTE WAS rs TO Is
But This Mas On Its Second Reading,
There Being Objection to It's In
mediate Passage, and the Bill
Was Fought Back to the
Calendar.

The Senate yesterday plunged into
Il stormy debate on the Ward whis-
key bill and many an argument was
shattered on the rocks of facts, and
several stately speeches. which could
not survive the shock of contact with
the wild oratorical elements were
completely wrecked, hardly a seu-
tence from the rhetorical structures
remaining unharmed after the storm
had subsided, and quiet had been
restored.
In the course Of the lengthy discus
sion, which consumed nearly four
hours there were personalities galore.
and the trend of remarks changed
constantly from heights sentimental.
to depths sensational and from the
calm, dispassionate talk, to an intcm-
pcrate and almost infuriatcd speech.
The bill was argued upon its merits,
from n religious and moral stand
point, as it affects the Democratic
party, and from q basis Of equity and
Justice It was turned upside and
down and inside and out and every
provision of it praised and censured.
Many phases of the debate were
precipitated by the speech or Mr..
Fleming, of Pitt, iii advocating his
substitute bill. He charged that
praiscWOrthy motives had not inspired
the Ward bin. and that its advocates
did not possess manhood and courage
sufficient to frame Il bin aiming di-
rectly at the objects, they desired 10
strike. These statements We're Vehe-
inently objected to and rcpudiated by
several Senators. Later in the day
Mr. Fleming withdrew his bill.
Several amendments We're offered.
one of which. changing the date of
the act. making it effective after
January I, 1906, was accepted by MI
Ward.
When the vote was taken on the
bill on its second reading. twenty
five Senator's voted in favor of
land sixteen against il. Mr.. Gi
liam objected TO its being read
third time. and Mr.. Scales made
motion TO set aside The rules ana ~
tho bill on its immediate passage BIT
thu motion failed, requiring Il two
| thirds vote, and the bill was pace
on the calendar.
At 12.o5 o'clock the Pre-
/ ident laid before the Senate the war
| bill being an amendment to III
Watts law. The Fleming subslitu'
was first read.
! Mi. Fleming said in advocating
| that ne was in favor of police rcguli
| ton for the sale and manufacture
whiskcy. and was in favor OF IN
| Watts law. and its Interpretation
| the Democratic platform. ana l9 ~
| favor Of aboliShinG every town tuat
| does not carry out the PROVISIONS Oh
! the Watts act He declared ne was
! onpospd to the Ward bill, saying IL
was in violation TO the principles OF
| the Democratic party. and against
the temperance people. and he there
/ fore offered his substitute, not Offend
! ing the temperance people. out snow
| ing them the true temper OF the tenn
pprancc cause. He declared the Ward
| bill was fraud upon its face:
! The first provision of the Ward DiII
/ rrovidiuG for population require
ment, is the one | most strongly an
! tagonize. He said:
! The Ward bill provides that every
town manufacturing whiskey snail
! have two policemen. y town may
/ have twenty policemen, and IN" fcEu-
/ Iatiou net he efficient. All that may
be done is to stick a badge upon two
! mems coats, and it IS not necessary
to give them a salary. The LIQUOR
mon will control the town. 1t further
requires the policemen to visit the
/ places twice a week. II means Moth
ing, leaving the places to work their
havoc the rest of the week 1t iur-
thcr requires that report Shall De
made but there is nothing which pro-
hibitS the report from being false.
MY bill provides for at least one
policeman of good moral character
! who shall be paid. This will be an
efficient addition 10 the Watts law. /
have required that policeman shah
! make a report under Data. and II n:
/ swCars falsely. he is guilty of pcrJufE:
The Ward bill is nothing i'm the Worih
but a makc-shift and Il fraud upon
the temperance cause.
= 81 n, hi
makes population requirement II
has but little effect. and the only in
/ tent of it is to wipe out a few such
towns as shore Williams. Myrtle. and
the bin does not affect more than ten
or fifteen counties in the State. That
bill does not prohibit the sale or
LIQUOR in any small county i'll North
Carolina. But my bill would 20 Il
step in that direction. The distillery
/ is the only whiskcy business in the
state that the Ward bill will effect.
/ The Ward bill is undcmocratic. con-
| traIry to the Watts law and Democratic
platform as anuunciatcd by the con-
| yention at Greensboro. and is contrary
to the temperance principles. This
| legislature is bound by the Greensboro
platform, and that was that the Dem
ocratic platform stands for the temper
ance legislation already enacted, and
do not take a backward step. The
! people were told the Watts law was
democratic because it, allowed III"
people of the State to control whiskcy,
no matter how small a town should
be, just 50 it had police protection,
CONTINUED OH Page Three)