The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-19
TEMPERANCE PEOPLE NOT
SNEAKS.
The Observer Should Name the Man
or Withdraw it's Reflection.
Editor Charlotte News:

| Editor Charlotte News:
| In the Legislature of 1903, a tenn
perance bill was introduced, named
the London bill, after one of the pur-
est and best men in North Carolina.
| One of the provisions of that bill was
that the place of delivery should be
considered the place of sale. That
would have made it unlawful for any
| distillery or saloon in North Carolina
| to ship liquor into prohibited terri
! tory. When it was found that the
| London Bill could not pass the Watts
Bill. not containing that provision, was
backed by the temperance forces ana
was passed. Four counties. However
decided at that time to avail them
selves of the provision of the London
bill, making the place of delivery the
place of sale. In drawing up that bill
the feature of the general law that
had been withdrawn was probably
copied and accordingly, though the
title made it apply to four counties.
the provision itself was left by mis-
| take in the general form that had
been originally intended to apply to
the whole State. The anti-jug law was
decided by the Supreme Court to apply
to the whole State. on test case ana
since that decision communities IKE
Charlotte have voted for prohibition
under the law as interpreted by the
Supreme Court This is as 1t seems To
us the most plausible theory 70" the
form that the bill unWlttin%iY took.
That law has worked admirably.
There is an effort of the saloon
forces to repeal it and instead Of maxi
ing the issue fairly they are trying 10
create prejudice against the law on
the ground of its being an accident.
1t has remained for the Charlotte OBJ
server, however, to impeach the meg
rity of some unknown person or per
sons in the preparation or the ~plll.
1t lets out the trainers of the law. and
as they were evidently temp 9cance
people they may consider themselves
fortunate in not being besmirchcd as
to their characters for that crime.
The Observer says There is no
question of the honesty and good falth
of the craftsmen and promoters of the
original bill" 1t then admits that III
first it considered the matter accl-
dental. But its suspicion seem to in
crease with it's defeats on the saloon
issue and it now says: I'VE now pc
lieve and a great many of the best In
formed people in the State believe. that
as finally enacted this anti-1ug law
lacked none of the elements OF
sneak BILL" 1t has reached the con-
clusion that the bill was "purposely
doctored, changed by design to say
what it was not designed TO say
We question any great number Of
the best informed people of the State
believe any such thing.
Manifestly, the only ones interested
in perpetrating such a fraud" are
the people who believe in temper
ance. There was an organization IN
existence at the last session called the
Ant-Saloon League and the State
Central Committee of that league had
charge of all matters of General in
terest regarding temperance legisla
tntN nnn ~
forces. The names of this State
Central Committee are as follows:
j. w. Bailey Chairman n. b.
Broughton, r. n Ivey, j. A. Oates, J.
c. Blair, Treas, A. j. McKelway, j. I.
Johnson, w. II. Spruill, j. c. Massee.
r. G. Beaman. II. A. Page, j. Fl.
Tucker. B. Craige, W. b. Cooper, G. f.
Adams. r. b. White, j. A. Hartpess.
Q. X. Nimrocks
Does the Observer mean to say that
any of these men are guilty of Jug
CLING with the laws in this fashion?
If so let it name its man or its men
with the proof. Or if 1t has any sucfl
information as 1t claims to have about
anybody ii ou0ht as q public duty ana
as a matter of justice to the innocent
to give the names. 1t has thrown
cloud of suspicion over number OF
good men by its charge Of fraud.
No temperance people are not
sneaks. They are interested in
moral reform that they cannot advo-
cate by immoral means without vio-
lence to their own characters and
professions. AS only the temperance
people were interested in having an
anti-jug law for the State this charge
of fraud. of doctering a law and turn
ing an honest measure into sneak
bill lies against them and them only.
Let the names be given or the charges
withdrawn.
AS to the repeal of the bill it has
worked so we'll that in some form 1t
should stay on the statute books. II
the General Assembly shall refuse 10
repeal it that will be lust as really a
test of legislative sentiment as if it re-
peaIed the old Jaw and made a new
one. Let there be no confusion OF
mind ON that subject The bill will be |