The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-01-26

ENTHUSIASTIC WORKERS FROM ALL
PARTS OF THE STATE.

It was gre.t meeting in which strong
and earnest men of almost all voca-
tons came together to deliberate con-
corning the cause Of tempe ranca, and
to devise plans by which the work may
be made more effective and the curse
of the liquor traffic curtalled.
Lawyers, doctors, preachers, teach :
ers, editors, merchants, farmers and all
came together with one united pur-
pose namely, the suppression OF the
Iiqnor traffic and the lifting from OPP
preston the Thousands Of hopeless Wo-
| men ana he! p!ess children whose lives
are shut IN by the poverty and misery
that fellow IN the wake OF drunken
ness.
The convention met in Metropolitan
Hail, and was called to order by State
Chairman J. w. Bailey. The conven-
ton was opened by prayer by Rev. D.
E. Sampson, of Yadkin county. The
News and Observer wrote OF him:
"a Quaker, long, loose jolnted, Lin
colnesque in movement and enuncia-
ton. He prayed with that sense OF
triumphant humility that distinguishes
the devotional utterances of strong
men who live plainly and think SIM
ply along high lines. With his grey
hair, the vigor of black running
through tho wool of it giving the idea
of his virility Its proper emphasis in
bis appearance, his grey bea I'd, brist-
ling eyebrows, big nose aud mouth
that opens and shuts With the decision
hich marked his character he was an
appropriate selection to start in mo-
ton the battle of conviction against
policy represented by the membership
of the league which was come to-
gether."
Hon. II. A. London, who wss a
strong advocate OF temperance in the
General Assembly two years ago, was
called to the platform and made ring
ing speech. He congratulated the
temperance forces of the State that
they had proved beyond question that
temperance work is something more
than sthe''ebuilltion of fanatics" Point
ing to map that showed in red spots
the counties that now maintain sa-
Icons, he said that he believed 1t
HonId not be long before the State
Will show map OF spotless white So
it relates to the liquor question.
The map which Mr.. J. w. Bailey,
State Chairman of the Antl-Saloon
League, had caused to be painted and
hung on the wall showed that during
the past two years under the Watts
law eighteen towns in the State have
procured prohibition and eight have
procured dispensaries.
Mr.. W. A. Dunn was called to the
chair as temporary chairman. On TAX
ing the chair Mr.. Dunn made strong
speech, the report of which, given by
the News and Observer, is printed
elsewhere in this paper.
A committee was appointed to nom-
mate permanent officers for the con.
vention.
Mr.. H. A. Page, president of the Alb
erdeen and Roxboro railroad, was
named as permanent chairman; John
A. Oates and w. l.. Cohoon as secre-
taries. These officers we're elected
unanimously.
Mr.. Page, who is man of large af-
fairs and we'll poised in every way, on
taking the chair made some very
clear and pointed remarks on the SUBJ
iect of temperance and inspired the
convention to strong work by the free
and clear expressions of his own con-
victiOns
State Chairman J. w. Bailey read
his annual report giving a history of
temperance work in the State through
the league for the past two years. The
report showed gratifying success and
every one felt that the work that has
been done is great. Mr.. Bailey closed
his remarks by saying that he wished
TO be released from the duties of State
Chairman of the League, but the con-
ventlon did not hear to that, He was
unanimously reelected.
We hope to print Mr.. Bailey's report
next week.
The first session closed about 2 .. NJ,
and the convention reassem bled at
Z 80 p. M, the afternoon being taken
up by many of the members in consid-
erlng interests before the Legislative
liquor Committee.
Coming together at Z 80 p. m. it
seemed evident that there were more
delegates present than would attend
the next day; and although the con-
vention was called for two days, it was
decided to finish the work shat night
before adjournment. So the conven-
ton finished Its work, remaining il
session until midnight.
Two minute reports were heard from
the counties and towns represented, and
the reports we're highly pratifvinp and