The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-18
Rei.ls vile Weekly.

Reids vile Weekly.
The Weekly was among those who
believed that the Legislature would
have done IA wise thing to enact a
law putting the whole State under
prohibition. We thought it was the
logical completion of a process that
has been going on for twenty years.
The reasoning of Gov. Jarvis along
this line was. we thought, conclusive
But the vets insisted that the only
fair way to settle the question was
by submitting it to the ballot-box.
We have never been afraid of the bal
lot-box, and so had no objection on
the score of doubling the people. If
our friends who insisted on carrying
the appeal to Cesar are satisfied with
Caesars decision, we are more than
happy. Both sides ought to shake
hands and agree to give the law a
fair, honest trial.
1t was objected to the Watts and
Ward Acts that they were never
voted on by the people. We thought
they had been endorsed by one po-
litical party and condemned by
another, and that the people had
voted for the party which endorsed
these measures. However, the brain
lest land as honest as he is brainy)
leader Of the opposition to the pro-
hibition bill, Hon. c. b. Watson,
made this point in his open letter
.cOndemning the bill:
1.-The people OF the State, with the ex-
ception OF one or two counties, have
never been permitted to vote on this
question OF prohibition. They did not
vote on the Watts bill or the Ward bill,
nor were the provisions of either dis
cussed before the people by the members
of the General Assembly when asking for
votes. There are thousands OF men in
North Carolina who have silently acqui-
esced during the trial of the measures
contained in those bills while not en-
dorsing them. Especially is this so as
to the latter
We did Mr.. Watson the Justice OF
saying, while the fight was on, that
his objections TO the prohibition bill
were consistent with the position he
took on the Ward bill. He is consci-
entiously opposed to prohibition,
though we pointed out that his rea.
soning was faulty. But the election
has answered one of his main objec-
tions to the temperance legislation
in this State. 1t can no longer be
claimed that the people have not
passed on prohibition. The issue
has been 70 ught out in every county
and voting precinct in the State
from Cherokee to Currituck. and "a
of the 90 counties have declared for
prohibition. No other issue ever re.
ceived more emphatic endorse
ment.
Nor can it he claimed that the dry
towns and counties have overridden
the will of the wet counties. Rock.
ingham, Forsyth and Rowan the
three strongholds of the vets, West
of Raleigh; all gave majorities for
prohibition. New Hanover, the East
ern stronghold, with more than sixty
saloons, gave less than 300 majority
for the vets.
Better still, there il not the least
suspicion of unfairness i'm the manipu.
lation of the election machinery
The Eastern counties, where the
charge of sk=ewd prac tices has here.
tofore been laid, went against the
bill, or gave only small majorities in
most cases. 1t was the white coun
ties that carried the bill. And wha,
the majority of the white men IN
North Carolina want they are enti
tied to have.
And now for the point Of the moral:
Why can't the people have rest
from further agitation Of this ques
tion? The bill does not go into effect
until the first day of next January
and there has been no opportunity
to demonstrate it's blessings or its
defects. So what is there in it for
the two political parties to divide
over? Local self-government," did
yon say? Why. that has beer
threshed out. and the wet town,
have decided for prohibition. "Blind
tigers?" There can be none of %
| varnints under prohibition this year
seeing the bill does not gn into effect
until Jan. /. 1909. So let the two
parties unite upon the proposition
that there is no politics in this ques
ton any more than in education. TIA,
care of the insane. liberal pension,
for the old soldiers and other non
partisan matters. Knowing Cyrui
B. Watson as we do. we seel safe IL
saying he is willing for prohibition
to have - fair trial, now that thu
people have declared for it at th'
! ballot box. And We believe Judg'
Pritchard's powerful influence vii
prevent the Republican-fro making
"A party matter OF purely mora
issue