The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-01-23
Prohibition


consideration. / allude 10 the qnes-
ton of State prohibition. The people
OF North Carolina are determined 10
make a trial Of prohibition, and the
only thing 70 decide Is when and bow
this can best be brought about. The
curse and degradation Of the liquor
traffic is fast becoming a stencil IN
the nostrils of deeeney, and there is
an imperative demand coming 10 you
from every section Of the State 10
drive out these places of vice and
wiekedness, and 10 convert the money
thus wasted in riot and drunkenness
into channels of business, thrift and
industry. Every one in the State
knows my views on the liquor ques-
ton, for, publicly and privately, |
have eontended that, both from an
economic as well as a moral stand
point, the greatest blessing that could
possibly be given the State would be
the prohibiting of the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage anywhere in lis borders. So
firmly am | convinced of the sound
ness of my views on the subject of
liquor being a curse TO the people of
the State, that, if the power to act
were vested in me, / would not
trouble your body to consider the
matter, but would at once free our
land from this monster evil that, III
nv opinion. is the source OF a thou
sand woes and scarcely single bless
ing.
When I issued the call for this
special session I did not know wheth-
er the voice Of the people could now
be heard, or whether it would have to
wait until the regular session; but
so quickly has the demand for relief
crystauized throughout the entire
State that it would be utterly wrong
to deny the people hearing upon a
matter so vital to their public and
private life.
I would not put my judgment
against that of the one hundred and
seventy members who compose your
honorable body, all Of whom are just
as patriotic and many far wiser than
[; still, after visiting the people in
every section and hearing and know
ing their views, as | do, | am thor
oughly satisfied that no act ever pass
ed by any legislative body in North
Carolina would give the joy or be
more generally endorsed than would
be the act Of this General Assembly
in giving prohibition to the entire
State
Under the Watts, Ward and other
similar bills, by legislative enactment
prohibition was given to all rural dis
tricts, until at least four-ifths of the
States territory thus had prohibl-
tory 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, twns and cit
les throughout the State have declar-
ed for temperance, until ninety pei
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 all agree that i
is inevitable That liquor must go. So
why, then, entail needless expense
and engender bitterness by loca
fights, when by your act, carrying ouI
the will of the majority of the people
you can settle this matter at thi:
session?
Pass the law, let it go into effect
July /, 1908, and before the genera
election in November all agitation
will cease; for, as well said by one o1
North Carolina s wisest statesment
ga liquor dealer without his liquor il
about as weak as Samson shorn Of hi!
locks.' Refuse al this session to dis
pose of it, it will enter into the mex
campaign, be the issue in many coun
ties, and cause confusion and strife
whereas by action now you may de
stroy the factor that would make thi
agitation.
There is only one question for u
20 ask, and that is, What is right
And when we know what is right, le
US have the courage to do the right
and what is right will prove what i
both expedient and best, and will re
ceive the approval Of all good citi
zens.
If this Legislature, having seen it
its laws enforced and obeyed
will at this session ratify a
act that will bring peace an
harmony anon all contending IN
terests, and at the same tim
pass and act lifting the curse o
strong drink and bringing order, an
soberness into our borders, it Wi
have performed two acts that WI,
make its name immortal and be foI
ever remembered as a blessing to tn
State.
Wishing each Of you happy SC
journ at our Capital City, and es
tending to all a most cordial an
hearty welcome, I close my messag
by expressing the belief that, actual
.. | ed by high and patriotic motives, yo
; viii do your full duty to the Stat
,, and pass such laws as to you seer
just and right. I bid you Godspee
In your work and ask Heavens bles:
ing on all you do.
Respectfully,
r. B. GLENN, Governor.