The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

forming the duties assigned to him
is proven beyond all question by the
fact that the great railway systems
of this country refuse to employ
those who drink whiskey. This lis a
wise policy. and how much we who
travel on the railway trains should
appreciate the fact that our lives are
placed in the hands Of sober. clear
headed engineers and conductors.
Ii you will consult the captains OF
Industry, they w:ll, without excep-
ton, tell you that they are opposed
to the establishment of bar rooms,
and il you will confer with the con-
tractors who are engaged in the con-
struction of buildings, they will tell
tell you that it is well-night impossi
bic to successfully operate their buSi
ness in community where whiskey
is sold, and il you will talk with the
superintendent of cotton mills, they
Will tell you that they are opposed
to bar rooms and that ii is absolute
ly impossible to operate cotton mill
in community where whiskey can
be purchased When we come to con-
slider the matter, purely with view
of doing what is best for the young
men and women Of the country, we
are forced to the conclusion that
those who drink whiskey not only
forfeit the respect of their neighbors
as well as their own self-respect, but
that they put themselves in a posi-
tion where it is absolutely impossi
BILE for them to secure employment
in any respectable business establish
ment.
Such being the case, | would like
to know upon what theory any one
can advocate the proposition that it
is a good thing for the people to
have a bar room in their midst. His
tory and observation teach ou that
a large percent of our population is
annually destroyed, both soul and
body, by strong drink, to say moth
ing about the vast fortunes that are
either wrecked or squandered by
those who have become addicted to
the liquor habit.
If 1t is true that the presence of
the bar room is a good thing for a
town, then tho greater number of
such enterprises you have in your
midst the better it will be for you
from a business standpoint You
should have one on every square in
the city and give all the people an
opportunity to enjoy the great bene-
fits which flow therefrom If ten sa-
looms are a good thing, then fifty sa-
looms would be much better for the
people. This proposition cannot be
denied, viewing the matter from the
standpoint Of those who think that
the financial status of Wilmington
depends upon the presence OF the
saloons. -.
You will no doubt find many so
ber, upright business men, as i have
said, who will tell you that the >pEos-
.perityof your city will be destroyed
by the adoption of prohibition. Per
nit me to suggest that you ask
some of these gentlemen if they are
willing to have bar room establish
cd ..next door to where they reside?
have never asked any of these
gentlemen this question, but j am
satisfied it will work like a charm.
Itassume that you will agree with
me when l say that the establish
ment Of additional manufacturing en-
terprises in your midst would be a
spler did thing for this community,
and l think l will be able to show
=
keep bar rooms you cannot expect
to have manufacturing enterprises
grow and flourish to any great ex-
tent in your community. There is
not q thriving and prosperous manu-
featuring city in North Carolina to-
day, SO far as l know, that does not
in the main owe its existence to the
establishment of cotton mills and
is significant that the cities Of North
Carolina that are making the great
est progress are those cities where the
sale OF whiskey is prohibited by law.
While engaged in the prohibition
fight In Asheville, | wrote letters to
the mayors of several cities Of our
state and inquired of them whether
prohibition had proven detrimental to
the welfare of their people from a
business standpoint, and in reply I
received a number of letters and,
among Others, one from the mayor
of Charlotte, and here is what he has
to say ABOUT the matter.
CHARLOTTE.
'ReDlying to the query as to
whether prohibition is proving bene-
fetal to the people Of our city, l can
assure you that the benefits are many
and varied. and affect all elements Of
our citizenship. The financial con-
dition of our city is, today, most
promising because of the splendid
business existing and which we all
believe arises from the more sober
condition of our citizenship Cotton
manufacturers as q whole do not
want saloons ia city where they are
because of the demoralizing influence
upon their operatives.
Taxes have not been increased by
our prohibitory laws OF the sale Of
whiskey, and | think we have sew
enty five per cent less crime now than
we had under the old regime of the
licensed saloon. Our real estate val
ues are steadily on the increase, and
vacant house or stores building,
Notwithstanding the fact there is
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