The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-06
POSITION NOT WELL TAKEN.

eipleS as expressly declared IN the \
local option plank in the party's state |
platform that the voters generally OF
the state should dictate 10 this city |
and others that now have saloons
whether or not they should be closed
regardless Of the expressed will OF the
voters of those cities the Charlotte
News speaks of the still more un-
democratic custom now prevailing, OF
Wilmington now flooding neighboring
counties with liquor, wnere the ma
jority OF citizens have said they are
against the business in any shape or
form
There would be some force In the
argument of The News If ii could
show any similarity in the two cases;
but there is none whatever.
In the first place, under what Is
called a state election TO decide wheth-
er or not there shall be state prohioi-
ton the voters in about seVenty-hve
counties are called upon to pass upon
the question whether or not there
shall be saloons or prohibition In the
other twenty-three counties which now
have saloons through the desire or
the voters of those counties Figures
given approximately and at the same
time it is well understood that the
votes in these dry counties, no matter
IL tn nf them
or in the whole state may go. will
have no effect on their present status.
II the state goes wet conditions In
every county will remain as they are.
If it should go dry, but with every
county now having saloons casting
majority vote against prohibition the
will of the voters of the dry counties
will override that Of the voters in
every wet county who declare for con-
tipuance Of existing conditions in their
county.
IN other words, it will be the fore
ing of the will on the question Of the
people of some counties of the state
on the people of other counties who
differ with them on the question. Thar
~e say is unfair, unjust and undemO-
cratic, and there Is no attempt TO
make blind Of the use of the word
democracy" in such contention.
Now as to The News counter pro-
position Does Wilmington attempt TO
force the sale of liquor on the people
. in dry counties? Whatever of the
commodity she Sends to such sections
is it not at the solicitation of the
! people there? Is there any solicita-
! ton, even much less any attempt to
force those people to buy against their
viii II those prohibition people will
let Wilmington alone il the way
OF soliciting sales Wilmington will
them to buy-and certainly not at
tempt to force purchases by them
against their wills II mey will let
Wilmington alone and not send to buy,
Wilmington Will let them alone and
besoontent for them to be as dry ter
ritories as the desert Of Sahara.
Again these dry counties have the
means Of protecting tbemselves-if
they really wish to prevent all impor-
tation of liquor, against the "undemo-
cratic custom now prevailing in Will
mington of flooding neighboring coun-
ties with liquor''-and that is to en-
force the state law which declares
that the place OF delivery shall be
the place of sale Why do they not en-
force that law which was enacted for
their protection instead Of trying to
regulate the affairs of and dictate the
conduct OF their neighbors2
II it is q crime and sin TO manufac-
ture or sell Liquors. surely IL is as
great a crime, If not geater. TO drink
the stuff. Il certainly would not be
manufactured or sold IL there was not
a demand for its consumption. and the
traffic in it would be greatly decreas- |
ed if the persons who outwardIy op-
pose the business would cease to be !
patrons Of such establishments. II the |
dry towns would be dry In fact as /
well as in name and would enforce
existing laws for their own protec-
ton against the Importation Of liquor
there would be no necessity for this
state wide turmoil on what Is entirely
a local question and should be settled,
under democratic doctrine, by the
people OF each community for them
selves?
Does The News give unqualified sup
port to the platform or the democratic
party of the state or not?