The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-24

seventy members who compose your
honorable body. ali OF whom are just
~ patriotic anil many far wiser than
I: still. after visiting the people I'm
every section and hearing and know
ing their views. as I do. am thor
0ughly satisfied that no act ever pass
ed By any legislative body In North
Carolina woula give the JOY ar be
more generally endorsed than would
he the act or this general assembly
In giving prohibition 70 the entire
state.
Cnder the Watts Ward and other
similar bills. by legislative enactment
prohibition was given te all rural dis
'rcts. until a. least four-fsfths ~ the
States territory thus mad pro...1aory
laws These acts have produced
good. and not evil and have been en-
dorsed by the votes OF the people In
three general elections. Also. under
| the same laws. villages. towns and
| cities throughout the state have de-
clared for temperance. until ninety
per cent of the entire territory of the
state now has prohibition Thus We
know the will OF the people. for they
have spoken by their votes in no un-
certain sound. until ell agree that II
| Is inevitable that liquor must go. So.
| Why, then. entail needles expense aad
when by your act carrying out the
Will OF d majority OF the people. you
can settle, this matter at TINS session?
Pass the law. lei t. go into effect
| July l. 1908, and before the general
| election in November al! agitation
| OF North Carolina's wisest statesmen.
A liquor dealer without his liquor
| is about as weak as samson shorn o.
! his locks" Refuse at this go SIGN to
| dipose Of il. IL will enter into the
! next campaign. he the Issue in many
! counties. and cause confusion ami
| strife; whereas by action now you de-
! Stroy the factor that would make this
agitation.
| There is only one question for Us
| to ask. and that Is, What Is right
! And when we know what Is right, let
| us have courage to do the right: and
| what is right will prove what Is both
| eXpedient and best and will receive
| the approval of all good citizens. All
know the whiskey traffic is an evil
| We talk of the wrongs of q protective
| tariff, the ills and crimes engendered
! by monopolies and trusts. but all the
| evils and iniQuities OF the tarlf. or the
| robberies and opressions Of greed and
| monopoly together do not begin to
| compare with the sorrow. the ruin
| the misery, the crime, the poverty
| the madness, the vice, the degrada-
| ton produced by strong drink; and.
| for the protection Of helpless women
and children, for the suppression OF
crime. the ameioration OF want and
poverty, the prevention OF disease, the
| preservation of life and the sal
! vatiOn Of human souls, In the name
| Of more than a million true, brave.
pure and noble North Carolina men.
nd Nh r a al n
session to abolish this demon OF de-
| struction! II you no this. your act
! will be the wisest and best ever pass
| ed by any legislative body, and viii
/ be ratified and endorsed by the good
| people of the state. But, whether
you follow my suggestion or not, /
| Will always feel that no act that
| ever did was more for the uplifting
| and upbuilding of the entire state
| than my message for state prohibi-
| ton.
Again : commend to you the prop
/ OSrtiOn To settle tl.,- rate controversy
! upon the terms offered ny the state
, and agreed to ty the railroads, sub
iect to your approval. Your action al
the last session was based on the rail-
| roads reports of earnings, and was,
| therefore, just and not wrong. When
! the railroads refused t. recognize
| your law, by q strong hand the roads
! refusing we're compelled TO obey and
to admit the sovereignty Of the state:
| but now. when the railroads have
| agreed 70 the states terms, which
| give fair and reasonable rate. not
only to our own state, but to all the
south, we car afford to lift the hand
| that enforced te law ana give II in
| relief to a needy subject especially
| when in giving relief to the subject
we receive equal benefits to the SOW
| ereign. thus showing how state can
| be strong and at the same time JUST
and protecting.
II this legislature. having seen its
laws enforced and obeyed, VIII at this
session ratify an act that Will bring
peace and harmony among all con-
| tending interests, and al the same
time pass an act lifting the curse Of
| strong drink and bringing order and
soberness into our borders, II will
have performed two acts that will
| ever remembered as a blessing 70 the
| state.
wishing each Of you a happy so
iourn at our capital city, and extend
ing to- all a most cordial and hearty
welcome. 7 close my message by eX-
| pressing the BELIEF that, actuated ny
high and patriotic motives, you vii
do your full duty to the state and
pass such laws as to you seem just
and right I bid you Godsreed In
vonr work and ask Heavens bless
ing on all you do.
Respectfully.
r. 3. GLENN,