The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-11-07
Senator Mitchell OF Berthe.

1 AioiOii, VI beIlle, Tie largest auQl
0 ence Tuesday night, that has yet
!. greeted a speaker during our pres
!. ent fight. Long before the sneakers
a arrival every seat in Madry's Ware
n house was occupied, and many were
q standing. During what is usually a
, tedious wait, before the opening of
I the address, the audience was enter
tanned by band Of Italians, who
happened to be in our town. Mr..
Albion Dunn opened the meeting by
announcing that we had assembled
TO hear one speaker, but we would
near two; for Rev. r. L. Gay, Of
Afander, was present and would
give Us short talk.
Rev. FIR. Gay said that he had
been taken unawares, for he had. at
least. expected to be left until the
last; however, he was always ready
and willing to speak in behalf of the
nome, OF morality, Of manhood. He
then made the statement that the
use OF of lntoxicants is the greatest
evil known to civilized people; that
this fact is recognized by courts
OF justice, Insurance companies, and
business men Of all classes. He then
give statistics and instances from
his own observation, showing its
raVages. AS to the argument that
prohibition kills town and raises
taxes, he named town after town. |
from his own observation, which had
been built up largely under prohibi-
ton. He proved that revenues de-
rived from saloons are nearly always
consumed in the prosecution of the
criminals made thereby. Mr.. GAYS
speech was strong and convincing
and showed that he had spoken, not
becase he had been called upon, but
because he had had something to
say.
Mr.. Dunn introduced Senator
Mitchell as the friend of Scotland
Neck, saying that our people had
been constrained to turn from their
own representatives at Raleigh, and
seek a friend and representative
elsewhere. Senator Mitchell had
been called upon and had fought
for their good with all the force of
MS noble manhood.
Mr.. Mitchell, in the start. said
hat ne was waging no personal fight,
md he appealed to our people to :
-orget persons, and decide this CUES ,
ION on its merits. In opening his :
argument for prohibition, he gave a :
experience from his own
'lstory, saying that the incident, !
mall as it seemed, had been big
With meaning to himself, and had {
.lven him the guiding principles of {
is life. He said that when our {
oters have come to the point where {
hey consider the influence of woman t
S slckly sentimentality, we are get 4
ing to a dangerous place., for upon !
hat influence is founded all the !
obieness and chivalry of our South :
m manhood. He said that Gods !
rst question to man was: Man :
here art thou? his second: Where (
your brother? the two implying &
ANS responsibility to God, and his {
Glow man. Therefore no Christian {
lover CT humanity can vote for c
thing so full of dangers for the {,
nurch and home and do his duty. {,
enator Mitchell, although plain, T,
'actical business man, is yet a !,
atesman. He made the startling !
atement that man who votes for y
looms violates his oath to support =
e Constitution of North Carolina. G.
lr Constitution says, Education, 81
crafty, and religion being essen g
Il to good government, should for 6,
er be encouraged. He holds q
-
at man, who votes for the en-
Engagement of the whiskey traffic, q
voting directly against the above o
DIVISION. "a
Mr.. Mitchell then became specific. g
referred to the deplorable condi- "a
N OF his own town under open sa- q
us, how ladies dared not go on "A
e streets at night under any cir a
how lawless drinkers a
ed pistols at random and defied x
e officers of the law. He gave z
any instances Of worthless drunk y
Is, who now under prohibition are %
'rthy and respectable citizens. %
e saloon keeper himself, he said, g
now a Christian ard supporter g
all that's good in the town. Final g
he said that property has advanc- q
100 per cent since the going q
saloons, and they have one of the a
est graded schools in the whole -
ton. y
Finally he referred to Senator .
ar's statement that the South will %