The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-10-10

November and forever put an end
to the liquor agitation in our town.
In the afternoon Mr.. Davis adj
dressed men only. The church was
filled. Men were eager to learn the
truth. They received the gospel.
The speaker was introduced by Mr..
Dunn, who in a few remarks
outlined the conditions when the
saloon was in our midst and those
which obtain now, and paid a just
and we'll deserved tribute TO the
speaker.
The speaker showed how prohibit
ton in Maine, Kansas and other
States had been a success, how in
North Carolina it had taken hold of
the hearts of the people and was re-
the State from crime, pov-
erty and ignorance. He had nothing
but words of love and sympathy for
the misguided barkeeper. He de
sired to show him the error-of his
way. He showed how business was
benefited. Said he, eff it is a fact
that prohibition towns are filed
with blind tigers and whiskey can be
gotten in every alley, what about
this argument of the liquor folks
that people are leaving the dry
towns and going to wet towns to do
their trading?" Let the liquor men
say how it is. In words of burning
eloquence he showed how prohibi-
ton had reduced crime, enhanced
the cause Of education, thrown wide
open the jails, stemmed the imn1i-
grafton of the thousands to the poor
house and made better, ADLER and
wiser citizens wherever it had been
tried. That the reputation of Scot
land Neck had gone abroad, that it
was considered the best place in Hal
ife-r e,4a that III Tie midst or Tic
great black belt Of the saloons, it
stood like a strong, bright beacon
light, radiating its influence through
out it's borders, her people receiving
the commentator Of the lovers of
right everywhere. That we could
not afford to give up to the demon
liquor, and, in closing, appealed to
the voters for the sake of their boys,
their girls, their wives, to go up to
the polls, be strong, courageous
men, and cast their vote that the
fallen might be lifted up, that the
cause of right might triumph. Vo-
tiers, can you afford not to do ii?
At night the church was filled to
overlooking. The news Of the great
speech Of the afternoon had spread
like wild-1ire. All the citizens want
ed to hear the burning truths, and
they heard them. Prohibition
from the Christians Standpoint"
was the theme. That it was hard to
believe a man in this day of en-
hghtenment can be serva mt
of God and at the same time
support. the liquor traffic. That g
church and the saloon could not
thrive in the same town. He com-
pared dry Hartford and wet VII
llamston. That in Hartford the
churches were very stately edifces.
The closed doors of the saloon a
silent monument to the reign Of law.
In WILLIAMSON the frame building
IS the church, the imposing edifce
the saloon! He appealed to any
liquor man present to stand up and
tell him one thing that could COM
mend the saloon. And those present
were as silent as the benches upon
which they sat. That the saloon was
the gateway to hell. That its in
f1uence Slapped the very life out OF
manhood, debasing our youth, max
ing demons and paupers of our men.
And closing said, God is in heaven
and all is right with the world. That
the devil and all his cohorts cannot
withstand the onward march Of tenn
perance. That the great wave that
is sweeping over the State in two
years will envelop ALL" That we
must either rid ourselves Of it now
OR the General Assembly of 1909 take
it away from us. Which-Eill vou
do, voter? Will you get in the line
OF progress, or will you be dragged
in like the "cow's tail in the mea-
dow ?"
Mr.. Davis speech strengthened
the weak with new courage, it arm
ed the ignorant with proper know
ledge, in words of fire it was burned
into the hearts Of thoca who bo,rl