The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-01-05
PROHIBITION IN SCOTLAND NECK.
All Saloons Closed December
31st, 1904.
A REVIEW OF THE MATTER.

AAoOS - Z VIZ
REVIEW OF THE MATTER.
On tie 18th of September, 1908,
there was a prohibition election in
Scotland Neck, which resulted in a
small majority in favor OF open saloonr.
It wac charged that some who voted
for the open saloons we're not entitled
to vote and steps were taken to test
the election by law.
Considerable feeling was stirred In
the town and after suits were COM
menced an agreement was made be-
tween the temperance people and
the liquor people whereby the differ
ences were amicably and peaceably
settled. That agreement was signed
by a large number OF the representa-
tive temperance people and also by a
good number Of the whiskey people,
who pledged to st.nd by Its provisions.
The agreement recited that all open
saloons should be closed in Scotland
Neck ON the 31st OF December, 1904
and that on some day between the 18th
of December, 1904, and the LIST OF Jam
uary, 1905, there should be a mass
meeting held In the town at which
meeting vote should be takan for q
dispensary or prohibition. By the
terms of the agreement all saloons
should close at the end of the year,
1904, and the town should have either
a dispeneary or prohibition. The
agreement further recited that the pro-
posed mass meeting, after deciding be-
tween dispensary and prohibition,
should ask the Legislature of North
Carolina to pass an act, with no vote OF
the people, establishing in the town
the choice expressed In such mas
meeting.
In pursuance of this agreement the
mass meeting was held December 21st,
1904. DR.. J. E. Shields, mayor OF the
town, called the meeting to order. f.
E. Hi!liard was made chairman and e.
L. Mcdowell was made secretary. The
vote was taken by ballot, the ballot
being "For Prohibition" and "For Dis
pensary." N. B. Josey and A. Nc
Duwell acted as tcllers. The result OF
vote was as follows. For prohibition
lO5 for dispensary 81. By milton OF
J. A. Kitchin, the vote was made
unanimous for prohibition.
BY motion OF F. P. Shields, W. A.
Dunn, 4. McDowsll, O. K. Taylor, r
l.. Hardy, S. w. Morrisett, R. H.
Smith. A. L. burlington and E. +
HlIliard were appointed a committee
to memorable the Legislature, asking
for an act establishing prohibition In
the town OF Scotland Neck.
The following night, December 22i,
the town commissioners of Scotland
Neck met In special session and by
unanimous vote revoked the liquor
license granted by the town tor one
year from May LIST, 1901. The revoca-
ton by the board of commissioners
was to take effect January LIST. 1905,
and in revoking the license they ten
dered the four bar keepers rebate OF
$50, answering for the time from jan
uary LIST to May 1st.
Two OF the saloon keepers in the
town, Mess. Evans and Bunch, surrsn-
dered their license and accepted the
rebate but the other two, Mess. Lewis
and Askew, refused to do 80 and made
regular application before the county
commissioners at Halifax Monday for
the regular SIX months license.
The board of town commissioners oil
Scotland Neck informed the board oil
county commissioners that they had
revoked the licenses In Scotland Neck
to take effect January 1st, 1905.
When it was learned that two OF the
saloon keepers were going to ask for
license Monday the temperance people
felt such interest In the matter that
about twenty of the best citizens OF the
town went to Halifax to protest against
the granting OF license in the face of a
vote in the town OF los for prohibition
against 81 for dlspensary.
The matter Was ably argued before
the county commissioners by Mr.. w.
A. Dunn for the prohibitionists and by
Mr.. e. L. Travis for the liquor men.
When the arguments were concluded
tho commissioners promptly passed
upon the question. Commissioner II.
lC. Adkins moved that the board re.
fuse to grant license. Only one voted
against it and that was Commissioner
N. L. Stedman. He explained bis
vote by saying that IT the town licenses
in Scotland Neck were properly revoked
he would not vote to grant the licenee,