The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-24
THE PROHIBITION QUESTION
Has Taken Ali Interest From Rate
Matter
Question OF State Prohibition Has
Cause Let up III Discussion OF the
Local Movement-How Things APP
pear to be as Viewed on the Scene
OF Operations


eieh Yesterday, has attracted more IN
terest among the people OF North caro-
lima than any session keld IN many
years and IN this city its daily sessions
will be followed with especial interest
The rate question has been thrown
aside in the public mind and all at
tention is directed at the probable
course of the legislature on the matter
Of prohibition.
Governor Glenn's message TO the leg
islature which appears elsewhere IN
this paper. shows thai the states chief
executive comes out strong Ind GER
tain for the passage OF statutory pro-
hibition law for the entire state. 1hat
portion of the message will probably
be more roundly abused and more
heartily praised by the opponents and
supporters Of prohibition, than any
words he has ever written.
Sentiment on this question is diyld-
ed in Wilmington. A petition aSking
for the enactment of such a law was
sent on last week to the anti-saloon
league and yesterday a petition, sign
ed by about $50 representative and
prominent business and professional
men was sent to the legislature eX-
pressing the opposition of the signers
to the enactment Of any prohibition
law.
The question of state prohibition so
prominently before the public mind,
has absorbed ell the interest that was
manifested in the matter of q local
election on prohibition, which for a
time had been the one subject of COM
ment in this city.
A member of the Charlotte Observer
staff, after careful study of the sit
uation at the capital wrote to his pa
per on Monday as follows, concerning
the probable action of the legislature:
'The passenger rate problem, the
disposition Of which, now that the At
lantic Coast Line has agreed to the
in the way of sensational development
The same prophecy, however, cannot
be made Of the prohibition question
and of it's amicable adjustment Before
any bill legislating the whole state
dry is passed it will call forth consid-
cradle debate, for there are many so
berminded, intelligent, conscientious
and patriotic members of the legisla-
ture who will not hesitate to express
their views on this great question A
n q OfJI1 ~ Xya on h. IL
the fact that there are more influential
legislators opposed to state prohibition
at this time than many would think
Their present opposition to a sweeping
bill Is not to be construed as indicative
of their stand on the broad question
Of prohibition Not a FEW of them
in fact the great majority-are fiat
footed in their opposition to the man
ufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages
in the state; it is the manner in which
that makes them opposed to legislative
action at this time They say that
such procedure is not only undemocrat-
ic, but unwise from the prohibition
point of view itself
"Those who have not yet expressed
themselves on the question of prOhi-
bitiOn are those who are doubtful of
it's expediency. Such constitute the
bone and sinew of the legislature and
such will sit in judgment on the merits
o. the case when it is presented and
such will decide it's fate for veal or
for woe.
''It is confidently believed that if the
legislature, which is a strong prohibi-
tion body, at this special session enact
a general prohibition law, thus elimi-
mating local option and the community
vote, it will do so against it's own good
judgment and inimica to what it be-
lieves to be the best interests of the
party.
1t is question now as to whether
the sober minded and conservative
members of the party shall direct the
policy which the legislature shall pur-
sue on this moral issue, or whether
those not quite so conservative and
far-seeing shall impose prohibition
upon communities not yet ready for it
and thus, in the end, not only hurt the
cause they seek to promote, but in
jure the party.
1T is recognized fact that a town
or county having prohibition laws
which are not enforced are in a bad
condition, yet no worse than a town
Or county operating open saloons.
What makes prohibition of value
is its manner of enforcement. To sad
die prohibition laws upon a commun-
ity not in sympathy with them is to
court disaster and confusion. This. in
the estimation of those legislators op-
posed to sweeping laws at this time.
is the danger just now"