The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-07
WILMINGTON. n. G.
TIE MAY ELECTION.

In speaking of the coming state pro-
hibition election the Durham Herald
saws that there is no reason why d
community that has probibitaon Dy
choice should be interested in a state
election On state prohibition unless
thew want to force it on some COM
nunity that apparently does not want
it"
The News aud Observer speaking
editorially on the same subject, ao-
mits that the election as ordered g1Ve1
all the advantage to one side, that, Ill
fact no matter which way the election
goes. only the status OF those to"ns
where there are now saloons or dis
pensaries can be affected. 1t says that
1.-The hill preserves the present status
urlass the voters decide to adopt state
mi ohibition." In other words, no mat
ter how great should be the total ma
icrity of the state against prohibition
or how large should be the ma
jority against prohibition in any
town where now that condl-
ton exists, that town would still re-
main under the prohibition law.
That paper further says that "tEe
temperance people of the state have
won their successive victories by earn
est effort and would never consent to
surrender what they had gained by
popular approval" This means that
towns which have claimed the right
to establish prohibition by local vote
are not going to let their positions be
changed by reason Of an adverse vote
of the balance of the state, at the
same time their voice is to be heard
establishing prohibition in other towns
whether or not the majority Of the
voters of those other towns want pro-
hibition 1t further says that there
is little incentive TO fight the bill; if
it should not be ratified every dry dis
trict remains dry; Il it carries all the
state is embraced under prohibition"
And after making these admissions
that paper goes on to talk about the
people of North Carolina being deter
mined to give state prohibition "a
fair trial" Is there anything fair
in the manner in which this state pro-
hibition trial is to be forced On the
people? 1t is a sham and snare-a
subterfuge by a cowardly set of leg
were afraid to go at it in the open
and manly way as did those of the
states Of Georgia and Alabama. They,
for a purpose, wanted state prohibition,
but were afraid to place 1t on the peo-
pie by direct enactment, so have at
tempted to do the same in a round
about-way, hoping that the people
would not see the trick played on
them.
No one could object to a state cleo
ton on the question of state prohibit
ton, but the election as provided for
is nothing of the kind as The News
and Observer above quoted show.
That element of the prohibition
party understands the advantage it
has-sees the game that has been play
ed on the people-and now 1t is trying
to strengthen it's position by showing
up the true situation in order to keep
from the polls -prohibitionist in
dry towns by arguing to them that
it will not help them at all were their
towns to go wet" Overwhelmingly.
All persons opposed to gag law es-
tablished by legislative chicanery
should take note Of this. The election
to be held is not to pc state election
on state prohibition; it is one of very
different character and principle as
high as prohibition is involved.
CHARGE AGAINST PRITCHARD.