Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
'pecial Correspondence Of The Star.


RALEIGH. N. c. May IL. 1907.
Several prominent business men and man
ufacturers from northern and New England
states who were in Raleigh this week after
prospecting tour over a large portion of
North Carolina and part of South Caro-
lima today expressed to this writer their
surprise at the unmistakable evidence Of
the great and rapid growth of late years Of
the prohibition or anti-liquor sentiment in
the south, and particularly in the Caro-
linas
They expressed desire to be more fully
informed on the subject, to learn how and
through just what means and channel the
tremendous reform has been accomplished
without even the existence of a ''prohibi-
tlon party" stating that the people of their
section had no idea or conception Of the
improved conditions that exist here at this
time through the growth OF the sentiment
against liquor selling and drinking and the
practical laws and other means adopted to
check the evil.
At their request a meeting was arranged
with several men of prominence here who
have figured actively in bringing about the
reform and the facts and details which
to their stock Of information on the sub
1ect.
AS some Of these facts are Of general in
terest and seem to be not known by the
people generally beyond this immediate
section. their publication will cause surprise
probably among a large number Of your
readers to degree scarcely less than that
felt by the visitors mentioned above.
4
1t is sthe fact that, with only three ex-
ceptions, there is not city or town Of
any size in the state Of North Carolina
where man can walk into licensed bar
room or saloon and buy a drink of any
kind Of intoxicating liquor or other bev-
erge, either spirituous malt or vinous
At Charlotte. the largest city in the state,
commercially as well as numerically, there
Is an absolute local prohibition law in eff
feet and II is effective. The voters Of the
city voted out the saloons two years ago. in
a local option election. and the law is
strictly enforced. because the sentiment Of
the majority Of the people upholds the law
and they have municipal officers who ap-
prove 1t and see that it is enforced. The
only way by which the drinking men Of
that city can and do get their liquor is by
ordering it from an establishment outside Of
this state and having 1t shipped to them. by
express or freight, directly and without
the intervention Of a middleman or agent Of
the Honor seller.
In Greensboro and Durham, both cities
Of the first class as cities go In North Caro-
fina with population Of from 1900 to
20, 600 each, similar state Of affairs pre-
wallis and has prevailed for two years.
There Is not a saloon in either place where
any. kind Of liquor Is allowed to be dis
pensed The law there is also local op-
ton law and, like that at Charlotte, can
sbe repealed at any time II It should lose
the support Of a majority Of the voters Of
the community
I Many Of the larger towns. like Fayette-
VILE New Berne Concord. Goldsboro, VIII
son and others also have banished the
liquor saloon and have been dry towns"
for two or more years.
1t 1t an important fact that, after fair
trial not one of the places mentioned Is
likely to return to the license system again.
Certainly not in the near future 30 far as
present conditions indicate.
q
There has not been an "open saloon" or
licensed bar room in operation in the city
of Raleigh in nearly three and half
years. In October. 1908, an election was
held here on the liquor sale question and
the thirty saloons were voted out Of exist
ence by a majority as great as the total
vote for the continuance Of the saloons
amounted to. In other words, the vote was
two to one against the bar rooms.
The issue here, however, was not pro-
Inhibition, but the municipal dispensary
method Of selling liquor against the saloon
system. Therefore Raleigh is not dry"
town like Charlotte and Greensboro and