The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-19


chinery 10 work to establish an absurd
precedent.
A we'll known Representative said
the iagitation had added impetus and
momentum to the sentiment in the
House in favor of the Ward bill. and
its passage would be like the rush of
whirlwiud. That any member of
the Democratic Executive Committee.
he said, should attempt to dictate the
course of the Legislature is wrong
hand presumptuous, and unbecoming
Hin them to thus try TO self appoint
the representatives of q
free people.
1t was loosely remarked by another
Representative that in this case the
powers behind the throne Chose who
would have the Executive Commit
tee to become a self constituted
miniature Russian government would
get the gold. and the throne (the
Legislature) would get the curses
should it in any event fail to pass the
Ward bill.
Another stated that he had prom
Used the people on the stump that he
would not vote To save Shore. Will
liams, Advance and Myrtle, and send
the souls of the young meE of the
State to hell, and all the money con-
trolled by all the liquor interests in
ANOi LII OSticbllket, lic NtNlcl GU, Subulu
not be allowed to divert in the least
the Legislature from the right path.
which, without the faulty aid of
the misrepresentation men Of
tho. Executive Committee, 1T was
fully able and competent TO follow
He doubted whether the members of
the committee who desired the meet
ing had more 70 heart the interests
Of the disti,lers or those Of the State,
Int III I,. lot
they were certainly misled and ex-
tremely, numerically deiuded.
Here it was sarcasticalIy suggested
by q Representative: Lets adj
journ and let the Executive Commit
tee come in aud legislate for us.
What's the use of doing anything
else? Only one body may be the
representatives of the people, and if
the one is subjected to the dictates
of an organization purely political
whose real duties are to direct cam
paigGs. then I say I've enough of il,
and am against the idea of being the
tool of anything as we'll as anybody"
Then. more seriously. he said that
men may advise as individuals, and
It vas not wrong TO listen to what
they say, but when they come in
body, replacing the fair Judgment
and opinion of men duly elected by
The people, for their own, then that
was assumption unbearable, and
would not be borne by single Rep
reSentative.
The above was the general opinion
of all the Representatives interview
d. and there was not one seen but
had already made up his mind as to
Which way he would vote on the bill
ind II may be remarked that every
one seen said he would vote for the
Ward bill.
One declared himself ashamed of
the status to which the Democratic
2arty had been reduced by the op.
)onents of the Ward bill and paid
tttorneys and lobbyists of the distil-
ers. This is not a political question
and the Legislature is not response
ole to the Democratic Executive
Committee, but to the people of North
Carolina, and its answer to the SOW
9reign people would be cowardly. if
he Legislature accepts the newly
would bc-establiShed principle OF
urrendering its power to the Execu
tive Committee, and then look to
hat body for permission to enact
laws. We are supposed to act as
representative legislators not as. poll
5icians, and the authority of that
committee is in directing campaigns
md controlling political issues.
1t was partly explained by another
member that North Carolina does not
send it's representatives to the Leg
stature 10 represent the Democratic
Executive Committee.
Il shall vote for the Ward bill
thus serving my people. | have made
up my mind to do this. and will DO it.
no matter what action the Demo
cratic Executive COmnittee may or
may not act said a loyal but in
censed Democrat.
representative. one who is held
high in the esteem OF his fellows,
said that he had talked with a large
number Of members of the House, re-
latiye to the matter, and almost uni
versal sentiment in the House, was
in favor of the Ward bill and that it
was going to pass the House when the
members got hold of it. Not bit of
attention, he said. will be paid to the
Executive COMMITTEES: "fhe COM
mittee can't boss and we are not
made of the stuff to wear yokes and
other mems collars. The Ward bill
is no infringement on. but an i'm
provement TO the Watts law
"The House is not much frighten-
ed, and cares little about the action Of
the Executive or any other commit
tee in opposition to the Ward bill.
We are all IN favor Of it. and had l
been in the Senate when ii was be-
fore that body. i would have made
the best speech of my life, but I'll
just make that same speech in the
House. said an enthusiastic advocate
of the bill.
Cne of the sta.warts of North
Carolina Democracy said: Il aip a
Democrat and believe in doing things
in a Democratic way from Democratic
principles. The bill cannot in the
least hurt democracy, and in my Sec
ton it will make it stronger, as the
Watts law has already done"
a gentleman who mas talSer a
prominent part in carrying through
the best laws in the House. and
watching that no injustice be. done to
any man or secti6n, thought the Leg
islature had bester adjourn and turn
all the business over at once to the
Executive Committee.
They are arrogating to themseleys
all kinds OF power and authority. and
there is no use of having any legis-
latiye department al ALL Just let
the Executive Committee have all of
ii.
IT wax also suggested that, as the
Legisla turc was no longer indepen-
dent, both branches of the Legisla-
ture should appoint a committee to
wait unon the Executive Committee,
to ascertain its desires and instruc
lions IL, rcg9r d 10 all bills and the