The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05
CHALLENGE OF
LIQUOR FORCES
They Wish to Destroy the
Watts Law.
Chairman Bailey Says Temperance
Forces Will Accept Challenge and
May Advocate State Prohibi-
lion.

To the Editor:-The advocates OF
bar-rooms and distilleries in North
Carolina are skating on thin ice: They
have challenged the Temperance
forces to a battle to the death.
They are pursuing a course that is
bound to hasten the hour when the
moral forces of this State will throw,
aside their present self-restraint and
make an end of the propagation of the
liquor busieSS once and for all.
Can they be in doubt as to the issue
of such conflict? Is it possible thai
they invite It?
Let me make myself clear
The moral forces of this common
wealth have so far pursued a moder-
ate course. They have been consider.
ate. They have been patient.
They have not embarrassed the
Democratic party with demands. They
have accepted the measures of the
leaders of that party in good faith.
This cannot be said for the liauoi
dealers and distillers: for they broke
a hole in the Watts act that cost the
party thousands of votes and one repre-
sentative in the United States Cong.
ress. They have sulked and kicked
and bucked and bolted.
But this is not all.
While they were kicking and bolt
ing last year. the temperance forces
We're electing in good faith General
Assembly as strong as that which
passed the Watts act and in many in
stances far more strongly enlisted in
the cause of reasonable temperance
legislation. The boilers were not
missed. Better men took their places.
Right royalty did they rally to the
standards of Democracy, grateful for
the Watts act, and assured that the
strains of Williams. Shore. etc. would
be wiped out.
a few days ago a moderate bill was
introduced by Senator Ward. More
aggressive measures We're promptly
withdrawn in its favor by temperance
men. The object of this bill is to
repair the breaches in the Watts act
made by the distillers and the bar
keepers in an evil hour-breaches that
embarrassed the Democratic party be-
You'd measure and that have harassed
the temperance forces beyond endur-
ance.
Now the bar-rooms and distilleries
are opposing this bill, needed as it IS.
moderate as 1T is. demanded by the
welfare of the Watts act as it is, es-
sentiai to the straightness of the face
VI lhc party DIS IT Is, IN
accord with the wishes of the great
host of temperance people as it is:
the distiliers and bar-keepers, in per-
son or by attorneys, are under the
dome of the capitol. with all manner
of pleas and arguments, attempting IL
defeat it.
1 say they are skating on thin Ice.
They are saying to the temperance
people of North Carolina We hold
mo lore 70 II To
policy in contempt. We will take ad-
vantage of your patience and modera-
ton. We interpret your considerate
attitude as a confession Of weakness
rather than the restraint of seriously
purposeful strength.
Very well. If they will not let us
have moderate measures. we will Offer
or will not either. There is no mis-
taking the temper of North Carolina
on this subject.
The legislation now proposed i.
mainly in the interest of prohibition
districts-Of territory really conceded
under the Watts act principle to pro.
hibition.
The attitude of the liquor men
therefore. amounts to an invasion. Ws
are not content, they thus say. to hole
our own IN the cities and towns; We
upon the rural districts. This has
ever been the fatal curse of the LIQUOR
business: 1t continually cries fol
more. Give 1t twelve hours and il
asks for twenty-four. Give it SIX
days and it demands the Sabbath
Give it your recognition and it de.
mands your life. And not content
with that, 1t grasps for your wife and
babies.
.
The present course of the distilleries
and bar-keepers practically forces
upon us an issue which we have not
invited, but which we will not avoid
They say TO us. YOU cannot pursue z
moderate, patient course. Thus they
challenge us to make fight all along
the line with no quarter if we would
preserve the progress that has been
achieved--not to mention proceeding
with practical plans to minister to the
Drink Evil.
L am willing to accept the chal-
lenge. I thought to wait. But these
distillers and bar-keepers bid us TO the
battle. | begin to fear that if we shall
wait, they will gain some advantage
that will undo our present power.
Their present course convinceS me
above the theories of the books that
we shall not have rest in North Caro-
lima until prohibition is proposed lis
a part of the fundamental law of the
commonwealth and the battle Is
fought out before the people.
Let the people look on their Gen.
eral Assembly in the next few days
And as they look it will be revealed
10 them whether their present moder-
ate policy must give way to a policy
in which the distillers and bar-keep-
ers will find no room to trifle We
have nothing to fear: We will pro-
coed with moderation. if permitted
we shall proceed by the might of a
great people inspired by Il great cause
j. w. BAILEY.
Raleigh. y. c.. Feb. 4, 1906.
IL Is An Outrage.