The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-04-02
Halifax Temperance Forces Urged
to Work fer z Good Cause
and a Gree Vicsory.
ADDRESS TO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES.
The Cause Of Prohibition above Party
Iings.-FIg Danger Of Party Disia-
teggati9l. .-Gaas aieGS Work
is The EEa.g,lEgFli i9g Ill.

You nave been CHOSEN by the
Temperate people oi Halifax County
TO do all that lies IN your power to
promote the cause 0: Temperance in
your township and carry your pre-
cinct for Prohibition on May Goth.
That your task is nc easy under
taking nc one who is familiar with
conditions in Halifax will doubt.
This very fact should make you the
more Jealous and untiring in your
efforts to make a victorious fight.
In our opinion il the ear Of the peo-
pie can be reached, they viii listen
with interest and Increasing under
standing to the plea for the -protec-
ton Of their homes, their children,
their property, and their lives, and
when they hear and listen to the
many arguments in favor Of prohibi-
ton and the nnu1Eatabie reasons to
be advanced why the State Of North
Carolina can 40 longaraffoTd to per-
nit the sale OF Intoxicating liquors
in the social drinking saloon, then
when the time cones 10 act We be-
lieve The great majority Of the voters
Of Halifax county will cast theiFbal-
lot upon the side Of Temperance.
They will only be to- glad 10 wipe
out the stigma that has attached to
the fair name Of tie county since
this issue was before the people in
1881 and instead Of casting d vote
second only to the largest east for
whiskey, Halifax VIII be among the
first on the right sid
But to accomplish tits, work must
be done. Be not decievc1 by the ap-
parent apathy that seems to have
enveloped the whisky forces. Ours
is an adversary which fights in the
dark. The saloon appeals to pas
sion and to prejudice. 1t does not
make an open fight for the good rea-
son that its leaders could not with
stand the onslaught Of the battering
ram Of the prohibition forces. The
fact that the adversary will not come
out IN the open should put US on cur
guard. We must put CUR shoulders to
the wheel. Ours must be an unceas-
ing struggle from now until the day
when it shall be flashed across the
state that Halifax went oVerWfelmn-
ingly for Temperance.
You have been selected in your
township because il was thought
that you know the conditions, that
you are acquainted with the people,
because you have declared yourself
for Temperance and that you are
willing to do your utmost to rid Hal
flax OF the whisky traffic. IF you
are, then to the cause which you
have declared right and proper, it is
necessary to sacrifice part of your
time. The people must be seen.
The voters must be reached. The
campaign must be waged from now
until sunset on election day Donot
stop at simple victory. Make it
overwhelming.
The people OF your township must
be aroused. You must set them
afire with zeal for the cause. Have
meetings. Let your local leaders
discuss the great issue. Appeal to
the women and children. Put them
into the work. Their influence will
stir to action many lechargic voter,
who until they begin to urge him,
hasn't cared whether he voted or
not. Al any time you must feel at
liberty to call for q speaker to ad-
dress your township. Failure to Go
50 may be attributed to lack Of in
terest upon your part. It is inpos-
sible for the Chairman to be every
where at all times. lie will gladly
so anywhere a5 any time the several
townships may need his services. A
house to house canvass must be made.
Talk Temperance at all times, at
home, in the field, OH the road, in
the stores, at church, in town-any-
where you may be and are able to
get anyone to listen. It is q good
subject. Constant talk may make
you a good speaker!
Let the farmer understand that
the Prohibition movement is not di-
rected at him but was inaugurated
! by him. The moving cause Of Pro-
hibition in the South to-day origi-
mated III the conditions that have
confronted our farmers during the
past twenty years. The driving Of
the saloon from the rural district
was long step in the right direction.
| It was not only necessary safe
guard to the protection of the home,