The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-05-21
TO THE VOTERS OF NORTH
CAROLINA.

iotNiJ hAJ ~
the blessings of Liberty =
Constitution of North Caro-
lima, Art !, Sec. %.
Local self-governmenti is one of the
| fundamental principles upon which
| the safety, the freedom and the liber
ties of the people is built. 1t is prin-
ciple that gave impetus to the forma-
| ton of this government, it is a prin-
ciple inseparably united with the the
DRY of republican government. 1t is
the right OF each state, each county,
of each town, of each township to ad
minister it's own affairs, without the
aid, interference or consent of any
other state, comfy, town Or township.
In state matters it is called estate
| rights" in town, county and city mat
tiers it is usually called ''local SELF
government"
The principle involved as far as
states are concerned is exemplified by
the fact that each state has different
laws affecting the people, for instance
in Colorado women vote, that Is a
state right, in North Carolina negro
cannot vote, except under certain con-
ditions, that is a state right. 1twOuld
be absurd for the people of Colorado
to say to the people of North Caro-
lima, you must let women vote, and it
would be just as absurd for the peO-
pie OF, North Carolina to say to the
| people of Colorado, you shall not let
| women vote.
In Arson county the people under
'1ocal self-government" have voted
that whiskey shall not be made or
sold in that county. In Edgecombe
county they sell whiskey. 1t would be
manifestly unfair for the people OF
Arson county to say the people OF
| Edgecombe county have not the right
| to administer their own affairs, and
that they shall not sell whiskey, and
| itwould be equally unfair for the peo-
pie of Edgecombe to say to-the peo-
pie of Arson you shall sell whiskey.
The same theory applies to cities,
towns and communities of this state.
1t is, and always has been, the priv
ilege and right of each community to
regulate it's own affairs; this princi
pile is the base of all personal and po-
litical rights 1t is right that is
dear to the people, one that they have
| fought for, one which they have died
for. and one they will not surrender.
The time has come in North Caro-
lima when there is to be made an open
attempt to deprive us of this sacred
right and it behooves the people that
| if they value their liberties, their rights
and their privileges, that they be on
their guard. There is unrest in our
state, much of which can be ascribed
to thoughtless legislation, much of
which can be ascribed to this patent
attempt to destroy Local Self-Gov-
| ernment."
Compare the conditions of a year
and a half ago with the present; then
business was prospecting, industries
were thriving. manufacturers we're
busy, the laboring man was employed.
wages were high, the farmers were
! selling all they could raise, true tenn
perance was making strides in our
state without the aid of compulsory
criminal laws Now business is stag
nant, factories are closed, thousands
of good men are out of employment,
wages have decreased, the farmer
does not get the price he once did,
and an attempt is being made to
paralize the right of "Local-Self-
Government, in the name of prohi-
| bitiOn
| These conditions are partly the re-
suit of legislation, but they are not
SO much the fault of the legislators as
it is the fault of certain parties in our
State. who desire promotion in polit-
tical life, men who desire office, who
desire to see unrest, commOtiOn, dis
sensions and dissatisfaction prevail,
men "whO compound for sin they're
inclined to be damning those they
have to mind to, men who in the
name OF democracy are attempting
to do things old Zeb Vance would
never have thought of doing, and they
say that it is for the betterment of
the people, to save the women and
children and all in the name of prohi-
bition.
Believing that such conditions as
enumerated above are repugnant to
a liberty;loving people, and believing
that ii these conditions and the dan
ger which threatens them are explain
ed to the people that it will lead to
the preservation of the right of
"Socal Self-Government," that it will
be conducive to wiser, saner and bet
ter legislation, and that it will insure
the end of dissension and division
among the people, and, that finally,
it will end the pharisee and hyprocrite
in public life, therefore, we, the under
signed citizens of North Carolina COW
citing neither office, emolument OF
rank, and only DESTROYS of the well
fare and preservation of the liberties
OF the people, and having an abiding
faith in their honesty, their fairness
and their patriotism, make this ap-
peal to the people to vote against the
prohibition movement in May for the
reasons stated below:
1. This so-called prohibition strikes
a blow at Local Self-Government"
by allowing one county where whis-
key is not sold to vote to regulate a
county where whiskey is sold.
2. 1t is unfair, unjust and unwise in
that if the State votes dry then ali
the State shall be dry, but, if the
State votes wet, then only that part
which is wet remains wet, and that
part which is dry remains dry.
D. 1t is not a temperance measure
In as much as it transfers the sale OF
whiskey to registered and licensed
pharmacists only
4. 1t does not contain much tenn
perance when it allows the people OF
the eastern part of the State to man
ufacture wine from grapes, and. will
not let the people of the western part
OF the State make brandy from their
apples and peaches, which the Watts