The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-03
THREE VIEWS THAT SHOW REAL
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

and Western North Carolina. There
is more opposition to it in the Second
Congressional District, perhaps, than
in any section of the State. This fact
answers the incorrect statement of
some advocates of special privilege
for Shore, Advance and Williams that
THE West will be politically hurt if
there is legislation that denies the right
To manufacture whiskey in the small
Yesterdays mail brought three
personal letters from parties who
know the situation in Yadkin
and Davie counties politically
as well as other wise-as we'll
as any men in North Carolina. They
are all three Democrats of influence,
who love their party and prefer it's
success to any particular legislation,
temperance or otherwise. These let
tiers were intended for the eye only
of the editor of this paper, though we
have no doubt the writer's would be
willing to have their names attached
to them. However, in the absence of
any authority to give their names we
print extracts from the letters. There
is more political wisdom in these three
letters than in all the whispered special
pleading by lobbyists for special
privilege for Shore or Williams or
Lackey that have filled the Capito,
since the converting of the Legislature.
Tho first latter saws.
Il am glad to see that you are urg-
ing the passage of the Ward bill
QiquCr). The Incorporation of GER
tain tile towns to bring them within
the provisions of the Watts law, has
caused the party much harm and will
do us immense injury, III not repealed,
or if not met by some such measure
as The Ward bill. The fact that those
bills protect men, who are Democrats.
makes it worse for us politically. am
sure there is danger ahead of us If the
Watts law is not extended so as to
cover these cases, and to allow its
provisions only to towns which have
in fact (not in name only) Sufflclent
police control Of course on moral
grounds, this should be done, but ii
is of great political importance. wish
to assure you that the great body of
the party in this section, near Shore,
w anu -iQNdiiCN, dlC Win Sou,
and that they look to you as one of our
leaders to press the importance Of this
upon the Democratic members of the
General Assembly"
Another gentleman, who under
kin better than the lobbyists in
Raleigh, writes:
81 write this to say that it is to the
interest of the Democratic party
certainly in this section of the State
to pass the Ward bill--agreed to by
himself and Long-notwithstand i,
VIII stop the business at that place or
some men--a Democrat--in a nearby
incorporated town-Con-
slsJency of the party is worth more
tnan some mems party affiliations If IL
comes to that issue"
The third letter-and a great letter
ii is-sums up the matter in so mas
terly way that it literally cuts the
ground from under the feet of the men
who are asking the Legislature to
grant special privilege to Mr.. Williams:
Il understand that Mr.. Glenn Will
liams is writing letters to Democrats
asking aid in protecting his distillery
on the ground of Democracy and large
invested. / presume he will
make vigorous effort to keep the
from discharging its plain
DUTY / do sincerely trust that you
will leave nothing undone to get the
Legislature to wipe out this blot on
The legislation incor-
porating Mr.. Williams distillery is q
stain on the party. 1t cost us one Con-
gresham in the last election and
many thousand votes. 1t and the Shore
bill are the worst pieces of special
legislation ever enacted in the State.
We wiped out the little distilleries. In
the interest of morality We destroyed
their investment as it was our duty
to do, because the interest of the peo-
pie ls immeaSurably above that of any
individual. If we should now protect
Mr.. Williams because of the size of
his investment, it would be clear
case of discriminating against the man
of small investment in favor of the
man of large investment. Think of the
Democratic party denouncing special
privileges doing this thing. and after
doing 1t, standing by it. 1t is a mat
ter. in my judgment, of deep interest
to the party as we'll ITS serious concern
to the people, and because / am deeply
in both / write you to urge,
If there is the slightest danger OF nom
action on the part of the Legislature,
that you through your paper III
to the attention of the Legislature the
enormity of this thing and the neces-
sity. if the good name of the party
is to be protected, OF prompt and de-
cisive action"
The legislature should put a stop to
the continuation of agitation over the
right of this or that little incorporated
cross roads or still to make. rectify or
sell liquor. 1t should enact a law
naming a minimum number of voters
or a minimum population for place
where the liquor business in any shape
can be carried on. Otherwise there
will be need of special legislation at
every session of the legislature and
repetition of the troubles that now
legislators.
Where will the stills at Hoffman,
Myrtle, Shore, Advance and Williams
go when they can no longer operate in
those so-called towns? Unless some
general law is passed to prevent it they
will move into some other insignificant
cO-paJiad town control in as thew con-