The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-05-21

malt liquors, so as to gradually wean
our people away from the use of
stronger drinks.
Extravagant in their demands, the
Anti-Saloon League went before the
extra session of the General Assem-
bly, in January with ready -prepared
bill That bill was not drawn by n
cool-headed, fair-minded temperance
man forthe sake of ~temperance but
was prepared by an artful politician.
First: as drawn the people of the
State were deprived, according to the
expressed terms, of any voice in the
matter, and the Legislature was
strenuously urged to pass the bill
without submitting it to the people.
The special session, as is well known,
was called for special purpose, but
this bin was suddenly thrust upon
them, backed by what seemed to be a
demand of the people, and it's pass
age urged by strong men in the
Democratic party. This the Legisla-
ture refused to do without submitting
it to the people. The bill passed the
Senate containing provision that
there should be in each voting pre-
cinct Il quote from memory two bal
lot boxes, one plainly marked, in
Roman letters, "FOr the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors, 'and
the other, Against the manufacture
and sale of Intoxicating liquors"
Why this innovation? There was but
one question to be voted on. We
and our fathers before us have always
voted on one proposition in one box.
If Pharisee wanted to vote and tia
Publican likewise waited to vote, their
ballot passed through the same slot.
This provision was stricken out by
the House and had it not been there
would have been a serious question
as to its constitutionality Section
3, Article of the State Constitution
declares that ''all elections by the
people shall be by ballot and all the
elections OF the General Assembly
shall be viva voice." Members OF the
General Assembly are the agents OF
the psople. They must vote aloud,
viva voce, SO the people may know
how they vote. Elections by the
people must be by ballot so that
neighbor may vote, if he sees fit and
proper folded ticket so as not to
offend his neighbor or friend. This
was extremely important in the pro-
THE BILLS POvIaONS.
This bill, as passed, provides that the
ballots used in the May election by those
favoring the ratification of the prohibit
ton bill shall have printed or written
thereon the words against the manu-
faeture and sale of Intoxicating liquors."
and those opposing the prohibition bill
shall vote ticket "For the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors" Why
did not our prohibition friends provide
that the ticket shall be either for or
against prohition simply? That is what
it amounts to at last. | suspect that in
the zeal of the man who drew the bill,
he concluded that individuals would be
deferred from voting against his bill by
so shaping the bill that the ieering finger
might point to the voter as a man being
in league with the distiller and saloon
keeper
Again, suppose the voter wants the
dispensary but does not want the distil-
lery in the State; he, by sticking to the
letter of the law, could not vote his SEN
timents at all.
But the people will see through this
scheme and will we'll understand that
they are called upon on the day of cleo
ton to say by their ballots whether this
bill, as passed by the General Assembly,
with all of it's provisions, shall become a
law
In large portion Of the State orch
ards are growing upon most OF the
farms. ~ In many instances they were
planted by the fathers and the grand
fathers of the present owners. Since the
first settlement of this country our peo-
pie and their ancestors have had the
privilege of distilling their fruit. If this
bill becomes law, by being ratified by
the people at the polls, this privilege is
gone, and in thousands of instances fruit
will rot upon the ground.
In some sections Of the State the vine
is grown and the fruit of the vine has
been, for years, manufactured into wine
The prohibition bill protects this indus
try by excepting the wine maker and the
cider maker from the provisions OF the
bill. think that provision as to wine
and cider a wise one for reasons already
given; but why this discrimination? Did
the trainers of that bill know that men
could be made drunk on wine? Noah
and Lot learned this fact some years
ago
THE WORST FEATURE.
But the worst feature of this bill is
found in Section Z, which provides that
in case a majority of the people OF the
State votes against Prohibition that such
votes shall not repeal any laws under
which prohibition or a dispensary has
been established. nor shall it have the
effect of restoring license where prohibi-
ton or dispensary now obtains. We
are told by prohibitionists that 80 per
cent. of the State is not only now dry,
but very dry How did these counties
become dry? Ii there are more than two
counties in the State that have had the
privilege of voting on the question, it is
more than know. But are these coun-
ties dry? If SO. why does county like
Robson, or Union, or Rutherford, oe
any other dry county, want to pass
upon the question as to what is best for
Forsyth, or Edgeeombe. or Rowan or
any other county? But are these coun-
ties actually dry? | answer not if any
considerable portion of the people in
such counties use intoxieants, for de-
mand brings supply | am persuaded
that there are many counties in the
State claimings to be dry that are not
dry nor can they be made dry by Ordi-
nary prohibition legislation. | say this
because many OF these dry counties and
some dry cities and towns have found it
necessary TO have the Legislature pass
laws contrary to all the ideas Of the
English speaking race. For generations
we have been taught that our homes are
our castles. Our homes have been SO
safeguarded that no officer dares to
break lock or otherwise forcibly enter
a dwelling house to serve civil process,
not even to attach goods at instance Of
plaintiff who swears that the goods are
subject to attachment and gives bond to
cover damages. Yet the Legislature has
passed laws, passed some at the recent
special session, for dry counties author
izing squire, upon oath OF one citizen.
made uUon information and belief that